Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair has been suspended by the NFL for three games without pay following his brutal hit on Trevor Lawrence last weekend.
Al-Shaair was ejected from Houston’s 23-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars after taking down Lawrence with a dangerous tackle that led to a bench-clearing brawl between both teams.
He then had to be restrained by his Texans teammates as the fight ensued, while Lawrence, who was eventually carted off the field with a concussion, lay motionless on the turf.
In the wake of his hit against the Jaguars quarterback, the NFL announced that Al-Shaair will serve a three-game suspension without pay, which also includes consideration of his role in the massive brawl and some of his previous offenses.
According to ESPN’s Adam SchefterThe Texan defender will appeal the suspension.
In a letter to Al-Shaair, Jon Runyan, the NFL’s vice president of football operations, told him he had produced a tackle that the league considers “unacceptable and a serious violation of the Laws of the Game.”
Azeez Al-Shaair has been suspended for three games by the NFL after his hit on Trevor Lawrence
Al-Shaair was ejected from Houston’s win over Jacksonville for this illegal tackle on Lawrence
“Video shows you hitting the head and neck area of Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence after he clearly fell to his feet,” the letter continued. “You led with your forearm and helmet and delivered a powerful blow to your opponent’s head/neck area while you had time and space to avoid such contact.
‘After the illegal hit, you started a fight, which escalated when you pulled an opponent to the ground by his face mask. After the referee announced that you had been disqualified for the hit and your unsportsmanlike actions, you removed your helmet and re-engaged with your opponent as you walked across the field, initiating another physical confrontation near the end zone.
“Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all those who play, coach and enjoy watching it is disturbing and does not reflect the core values of the NFL…
“Your continued disregard for the NFL rules of the game endangers the health and safety of both you and your opponents and will not be tolerated.”
Al-Shaair’s goal that gave Lawrence a concussion is not the first controversial action the Houston star has taken on the field of play.
During his final season with the San Francisco 49ers in 2022, the linebacker went for Tom Brady’s throat during a sack attempt.
After Brady released the ball, Al-Shaair wrapped his right hand around the Hall of Fame quarterback’s throat in a moment that quickly went viral.
And during the Texans’ game against the Bears in September, he also hit Chicago’s Roschon Johnson, who wasn’t even in the game at the time of another sideline confrontation.
He also played a role in the massive brawl that ensued between both teams after the tackle
The NFL cited his previous transgressions in their decision-making, with Al-Shaair previously choking Tom Brady during a 2022 game for the San Francisco 49ers.
Al-Shaair apologized to Lawrence, who had to be taken off the field with concussion
Al-Shaair, who has also come under fire for wearing a controversial political message on his cleats against the Jaguars, apologized to Lawrence on Monday while insisting he never meant to hurt him.
He wrote on social media: “I have always played the game as hard as I can. Never with the intention of harming anyone, and anyone who knows me knows that.
“My goal is to hit you as hard as I can, and then I pray that you are still able to get up and play the next game.” And when the game is over, go home unscathed to your family, because it’s not personal, it’s just competition! We’re both trying to do the same thing: take care of our families!
‘I really didn’t see him slide until it was too late. And it all happens in the blink of an eye. To Trevor, I would like to sincerely apologize for what ultimately happened.
“We spoke before the game and I told you how great it was to see you back on the field and wished you the best. I would never want a player to get hurt by a hit I give him, especially if it is deemed ‘late’ or ‘unnecessary’.
“For the rest of his teammates, I can certainly understand standing behind him and defending him in a situation like this.
“To the rest of the people I’ve been called by every name in the book, from reporters with their hands ready for a story to find their villain, to racist and Islamophobic fans and people: you don’t know my heart, nor my character that I don’t have to prove to any of you.
“God knows my intentions and anyone who has ever been a teammate or friend of mine knows my heart.”
He has also come under fire for wearing a pro-Palestine message on his shoes on Sunday
Amid the criticism of his player, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans spoke out in support of Al-Shaair on Monday.
Ryans said at a news conference Monday that the Texans fully support their player and emphasized that he is a “great person” who “plays the game the right way.”
“With the whole Azeez situation, we stand with Azeez and everything that came out of it,” he told reporters.
“Unfortunately he hit a quarterback, but it’s twofold. Many quarterbacks these days try to abuse the rule when they run late and try to gain an extra yard.
‘If you are a defender, there is a lot of pressure on the defender. Whether it’s on the sideline or on the quarterback, you don’t know what anyone is thinking. You don’t know if a man gets up and continues running, you don’t know. And then you get a late slide and you hit the guy.
“It’s a shame that Trevor got hurt, and I hope Trevor is doing well, but also if you’re sliding, you gotta go down, and if you go out of bounds, go out of bounds, because that rule is there to protect the ball. quarterbacks.
“We want our quarterbacks to be safe in the league. So we just have to be safe and if we slide, make sure we keep our heads down.”