Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was suspended three games by the NFL on Tuesday after his weekend hit on Trevor Lawrence resulted in the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback being carted off the field.
The NFL cited in its statement that Al-Shaair’s “repeated violations of rules intended to protect the health and safety of players and promote sportsmanship” were considered in the suspension.
ESPN reported that Al-Shaair plans to appeal the suspension.
The Texans (8-5), who are on their bye in Week 14, will host the Miami Dolphins on Dec. 15, visit the Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 21 and host the Baltimore Ravens on Christmas Day. Al-Shaair currently would be eligible to return to action for the team’s regular season finale against the Tennessee Titans.
Hours after the suspension was announced, Texans general manager Nick Caserio ripped the NFL for its characterization of Al-Shaair.
“I think one of the biggest issues and that we sort of take umbrage with as a team and organizationally is the picture that has been painted of Azeez. Quite frankly it’s unfair,” Caserio said. “I probably speak for a lot of teams, not only the Houston Texans, but it’s all that teams ask for is consistency from the league. And I’d say in this situation, I mean quite frankly there’s no consistency at all relative to the level of discipline that has been handed down.”
Caserio provided examples in an attempt to substantiate his point.
“When you go back and let’s look at this season, you have multiple situations, multiple examples. Two really good players, I would say. (Detroit Lions defensive back Brian) Branch ejected against Green Bay, plays the next week against us. Derwin (James of the Los Angeles Chargers) ejected and got suspended for one game.
“… So, we’re gonna say Azeez Al-Shaair, who nobody embodies our program more than Azeez. What he’s about, what he’s been through. You all know his story. There isn’t a more selfless individual, more about the team who has earned the respect about everything that we want this program to represent.”
Lawrence was carrying the ball and went into a feet-first slide at Houston’s 45-yard line during the second quarter of Sunday’s game. Al-Shaair launched into him and delivered a forearm shot near the quarterback’s head and shoulder.
Multiple skirmishes erupted as Lawrence lay prone on the field. Al-Shaair was ejected, along with Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones, while multiple penalties offset.
Lawrence immediately displayed the hand motion known as the fencing posture that is associated with traumatic brain injury. However, he was able to stand after being attended to briefly, and he sat up while being taken to the locker room on a cart.
“You were involved in a play that the (NFL) considers unacceptable and a serious violation of the playing rules,” Jon Runyan, the NFL’s vice president of football operations, wrote in his explanation to Al-Shaair. “Video shows you striking the head/neck area of Jaguars’ quarterback Trevor Lawrence after he clearly goes down in 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.”
Runyan didn’t stop there.
“(Al-Shaair) proceeded to engage in a brawl, which you escalated when you pulled an opponent down to the ground by his facemask.” Runyan added that after being ejected, Al-Shaair removed his helmet and “re-engaged with your opponent while walking down and across the field, which started another physical confrontation near the end zone.”
Al-Shaair, 27, was flagged and later fined $11,255 last week for a late hit out of bounds on Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard. He also was fined $11,817 earlier this season after he punched Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson on the sideline.
“Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all those who play, coach, and enjoy watching it, is troubling and does not reflect the core values of the NFL,” Runyan wrote. “Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules puts the health and safety of both you and your opponents in jeopardy and will not be tolerated.”
Caserio took issue with this portion of the letter as well.
“For the league to make some of the commentary about lack of sportsmanship, lack of coach-ability, lack of paying attention to the rules, quite frankly, it’s embarrassing,” he said. “We’re talking about a player who’s never been suspended, never been ejected. So now we’re saying he’s going to be suspended for three games? Look, it is what it is. … Quite frankly, it’s bull (expletive).”