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

[pugsnotdrugs19]

Originally Posted by scho63

He is going to appeal and it may be cut to 2 but hopefully not.

Even if it is, he misses our game. They have a BYE this week.

[old_geezer]

Originally Posted by RollChiefsRoll

Respectfully disagree on the Lawrence hit. Al-Shaair had plenty of time to avoid it. Very dirty.

Once the QB leaves the pocket he is a runner and deserves no more protection than any running back. That being said, that hit was dirty as hell and should have been called no matter who was running.

[Dunerdr]

Originally Posted by old_geezer

Once the QB leaves the pocket he is a runner and deserves no more protection than any running back. That being said, that hit was dirty as hell and should have been called no matter who was running.

But QB's get to give themselves up. And he did. If the runner doesnt give himself up I would agree fully that he should be hit as a runner.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by RollChiefsRoll

Respectfully disagree on the Lawrence hit. Al-Shaair had plenty of time to avoid it. Very dirty.

Yeah, I don't get calling it a late slide. They were 5 yards apart when Lawrence started his slide. That seems like plenty of time to me, and that's ignoring the forearm to the head. If he was trying to go for a chest tackle, why would he do that?

[Garcia Bronco]

If quarterbacks want to run the football this is the risk that they run. I'm going to laugh when the league has to reduce it to one game.

[Wallcrawler]

It's not the same game as it was.

Look, as a qb, if you don't want to get hit, don't run the football. Get out past your tackle box, and throw the football into the stands.

If you do run the football, and don't want to get hit you better slide before there's a player in launch range.

If there's a player in launch range, DO NOT slide, leaving yourself wide open to get ****ed in half. Just brace for the hit and protect yourself.

Some of the most savage quarterback hits and injuries have occurred during the slide, where if the guy just nuts up and takes a hit, he's walking back to the huddle instead of being carted off the field.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Wallcrawler

It's not the same game as it was.

Look, as a qb, if you don't want to get hit, don't run the football. Get out past your tackle box, and throw the football into the stands.

If you do run the football, and don't want to get hit you better slide before there's a player in launch range.

If there's a player in launch range, DO NOT slide, leaving yourself wide open to get ****ed in half. Just brace for the hit and protect yourself.

Some of the most savage quarterback hits and injuries have occurred during the slide, where if the guy just nuts up and takes a hit, he's walking back to the huddle instead of being carted off the field.

[mr. tegu]

Every player that gives themselves up is protected not just QBs. The QB isn’t getting special treatment in that regard.

[RedinTexas]

Sports talk radio in Houston is really defensive about this. They're saying it was a dirty hit and he deserves to be suspended, but that everyone is just after this guy. Some are even saying it's racism and he's being singled out just because he's Muslim.

[Chief Pagan]

If it was Lamar or Josh Allen, you don't know for sure whether Lamar might try to juke or Josh might lower his shoulder, but Trevor isn't doing that.

It was a dirty hit.

I can't imagine any of you defending that hit if it was Mahomes.

[headsnap]

Originally Posted by DaFace

Yeah, I don't get calling it a late slide. They were 5 yards apart when Lawrence started his slide. That seems like plenty of time to me, and that's ignoring the forearm to the head. If he was trying to go for a chest tackle, why would he do that?

add in the fact that he had enough time after the slide was started to get low enough to hit Lawrence...

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by RedinTexas

Sports talk radio in Houston is really defensive about this. They're saying it was a dirty hit and he deserves to be suspended, but that everyone is just after this guy. Some are even saying it's racism and he's being singled out just because he's Muslim.

That's because some idiot on twitter had a thing up 2 hours after that game ended about his free Palestine cleats, it literally turned into a bunch of people wanting him deported..yea he was born in Tampa...or calling him a terrorist sympathizer and all the typical bullshit. If that happened to one of our guys people would be defensive.

Him being a dirty player and his religion have literally nothing to do with each other and it was idiotic someone did that to him.

[chiefzilla1501]

I mean,I know the controversy is that this is harsh compared to how we've enforced off the field conduct. But to me this is way worse. Player conduct only impacts the shield. This type of action gets into competitive integrity. You never ever wanted to reward players for knocking players out of a game. I don't care if that means you misfire sometimes. A few extra suspensions here and there is a way better outcome than knocking out or seriously injuring qbs and WRs.

[Mecca]

GM is a bit pissed off about all this..

Nick Caserio is ANGRY.

Hopefully this suspension can light a fire under this team, it's been much needed.. pic.twitter.com/GPivxsNgUD

— te�� ��☄️��® (@TexanicoYT) December 3, 2024

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

I mean,I know the controversy is that this is harsh compared to how we've enforced off the field conduct. But to me this is way worse. Player conduct only impacts the shield. This type of action gets into competitive integrity. You never ever wanted to reward players for knocking players out of a game. I don't care if that means you misfire sometimes. A few extra suspensions here and there is a way better outcome than knocking out or seriously injuring qbs and WRs.

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.