Azeez Al-Shaair suspension, explained: Why NFL banned Texans LB for 3 games

[T-post Tom]

Happy not to see your raggedy ass on the 21st mother****er. And your GM can stfu


Azeez Al-Shaair suspension, explained

Al-Shaair has been suspended three games "for repeated violations of rules intended to protect the health and safety of players and promote sportsmanship," the NFL said in an official release.

As noted above, Al-Shaair is considered to be a repeat offender of unsportsmanlike plays, contributing to his three-game suspension without pay. Al-Shaair is eligible to return to the field during Houston's regular-season finale in Week 18.

NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan issued the suspension and had the following to say of Al-Shaair's hit on Lawrence:

During your game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 1, with 4:20 remaining in the second quarter, you were involved in a play that the League considers unacceptable and a serious violation of the playing rules. Video shows you striking the head/neck area of Jaguars' quarterback Trevor Lawrence after he clearly goes down for a feet-first slide…You led with your forearm and helmet and delivered a forceful blow to the head/neck area of your opponent when you had time and space to avoid such contact.

In addition to the hit on Lawrence, the NFL's announcement cited Al-Shaair's escalation of the on-field brawl and the removal of his helmet to reengage with Jaguars players before exiting the field as reasons for the ban.

Al-Shaair is appealing his three-game suspension, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Players are permitted to appeal League-imposed suspensions per the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Texans GM Nick Caserio did not hold back when he addressed the media about Al-Shaair's suspension.

A fiery Caserio cited other examples of punishments handed to other players, claiming there is "no consistency relative to the level of discipline that's been handed down." He went on to speak highly of Al-Shaair's character, calling parts of the NFL's statement "embarrassing" and "bulls—."

Azee Al-Shaair timeline of trouble

Al-Shaair is in his sixth NFL season and his first with the Texans. His hit on Lawrence is the third notable incident of his career and his second notable incident of the 2024 season.

Tom Brady throat grab

In 2022, Al-Shaair put his hands on Tom Brady's throat during a game between the 49ers and Buccaneers. In response, Brady checked in with the officials to ask why the linebacker wasn't called for a penalty.

Roschon Johnson punch

In Week 2 of the 2024 season, Al-Shaair delivered a punch to the helmet of Bears RB Roschon Johnson at the end of a play on "Sunday Night Football." Officials did not see the punch and Al-Shaair was not penalized in the moment.

The punch came after Al-Shaair delivered a hard hit on Bears QB Caleb Williams, though it wasn't a head-to-head blow. He was later fined $11,000 for the punch, and Texans coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters, "we can’t throw punches," while defending the hit on Williams.

Trevor Lawrence hit, ejection

Al-Shaair was ejected Sunday after a devastating hit to Lawrence's head, knocking the Jaguars quarterback out of the game. Al-Shaair continued to fight with various Jaguars after the play, and was escorted off the field by security.

Trevor Lawrence injury update

Lawrence has been diagnosed with a concussion from the hit, the Jaguars announced Sunday.

Following the game, Lawrence emerged from the locker room with his wife, Marissa, walking under his own power. Head coach Doug Pederson did not confirm nor deny whether Lawrence would play again this year, but he did mention he will enter concussion protocol. Lawrence made it home after the game and says that he is feeling better.


https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/...989ec0f1a3920e

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by RedinTexas

Try it yourself.

Okay, so I just did. and fyi, the most common playback speed on YT sn't 20 fps, it's 30pfs.

The first time, I began playback at :06. And it took 58 frames before TL goes into his slide.

However, at :06 TL is still 9 yds short of the line-to-gain and isn't close to going into his slide yet. So I advanced until he passes the front of the '5' in the 50-yd line, because he's still in full stride at that point, with about 4 yds to the line-to-gain.

Then advanced until TL is going into his slide about 2 yds short of the LtG, about 16 frames later, or about 1/2 second after passing the 5 in the 50-yd line.

Then advanced until contact is made by Shaair. That's about 14 frames, or slightly under 1/2 second, assuming it's standard fps.

So, we're talking about Shaair having to make a decision about how to tackle TL and defend the LtG in less than 1/2 second from the first moment he could see that TL was sliding.

That's not a lot of time.



P.S. I checked the fps; it is 30 fps.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by MarkDavis'Haircut

He mentioned Islamphobia in his apology.

Professional victimhood is the big thing now.

It couldn't have possibly been because twitter was going nuts about his cleats, wanting him deported, or calling him a terrorist for an entire day before his apology.

[mr. tegu]

We see this happen to defenders all the time. Even on close ones where they make contact they typically avoid as much as possible, maybe drawing a penalty, but not committing to the hit as hard as possible like he did.

I also think anyone defending this is not understanding how big 5 yards is. Lawrence starts his slide 5 yards in front of him. Go measure 15 feet (12 if you want to be generous) and tell me that’s impossible to pull up on at least somewhat. He doesn’t even get the excuse he was coming full speed because he wasnt. It was like half speed moving diagonally across the field before committing to the hit.

[DaFace]

Not that I'm an advocate for matching injury time with suspension time, but just for the record...

Jaguars placed QB Trevor Lawrence on injured reserve. His season looks to be done.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 4, 2024

[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Not that I'm an advocate for matching injury time with suspension time, but just for the record...

Jaguars placed QB Trevor Lawrence on injured reserve. His season looks to be done.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 4, 2024

In this case it should be since the intention was injure.

[Megatron96]

So, I'm posting the video from the moment TL shortens his stride and his head comes up, which is about the first moment tht Shaair could reasonably be expected to know TL is sliding. He's about 4 yds from the LtG.
https://youtu.be/t4JoJKVhtsM?t=6

I mean, I hate this guy, but that's just not a lot of time.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

So, I'm posting the video from the moment TL shortens his stride and his head comes up, which is about the first moment tht Shaair could reasonably be expected to know TL is sliding. He's about 4 yds from the LtG.
https://youtu.be/t4JoJKVhtsM?t=6

I mean, I hate this guy, but that's just not a lot of time.

Yet it was enough time for him to lower his point of contact and raise his forearm.

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Yet it was enough time for him to lower his point of contact and raise his forearm.

Maybe QBs just shouldn't be allowed to run. Or maybe they can't slide if they're on a designed run. Because TL is a RB in this play; I doubt anyone would be this upset if that were a RB and not TL there. Of course, no RB would be sliding there either.

[NJChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

FloridaMan88 was literally doing just that in CPDC a couple days ago lol

This is wild. I'm all for this suspension but I am always blown away with how ignorant people are willing to be. I always forget attempting to be intelligent is not stock operation for some people.

[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

FloridaMan88 was literally doing just that in CPDC a couple days ago lol

I said deport him out of the NFL.

Learn how to read.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by FloridaMan88

I said deport him out of the NFL.

Learn how to read.

Yes for a man that has never been suspended until now, seems a bit unfair.

[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Yes for a man that has never been suspended until now, seems a bit unfair.

He has a track record of cheap shots/dirty hits, yes?

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by FloridaMan88

He has a track record of cheap shots/dirty hits, yes?

He has 2/3 depending on how you view the Brady thing in 6 years.

[irafreak]

Originally Posted by Mecca

They are going to have to do something, guys are being put in no win situations. To many QB's are slowing up like they are going to slide and not or getting by the sideline and then not dipping out when defenders let up.

You are literally going to hit a point of someone getting completely blasted because "Just hit them anyway" may become something that is coached.

Nah we're not seeing players pretend to slide. Lawrence slid plenty early...enough that no defender should have led forearm fist into his helmet as he was almost parallel with the ground. He really had to try to hit him that low.

[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by Mecca

He has 2/3 depending on how you view the Brady thing in 6 years.