A decision has been made on a suspension for Azeez Al-Shaair. The Texans linebacker has received a three-game ban, the NFL announced on Tuesday. Al-Shaair will appeal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
“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,” a letter from NFL VP of football operations Jon Runyan reads in part. “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.”
As Runyan’s letter notes, Al-Shaair’s history of personal fouls in recent years played a role determining the length of the ban. This will be the 27-year-old’s first NFL suspension, one which many felt could be handed down in the wake of his hit on Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. After the play, Al-Shaair was involved in a brawl which led to multiple players (including himself) being ejected from the game, which was another factor in the league’s suspension decision. The FAU product has since publicly apologized for his actions.
Lawrence was carted off the field following the hit, and he is now in concussion protocol. That has left his availability for the remainder of the season, while in Al-Shaair’s case today’s news will leave him sidelined until Week 18. If he were to win his appeal though, the ban would be reduced which would open the door to a return earlier in the Texans’ remaining schedule. The team’s bye will take place in Week 14 before a stretch where Houston will look to secure the AFC South.
Al-Shaair has been a full-time starter in 2024, his first season as a Texan. The former UDFA spent four seasons with the 49ers, playing under DeMeco Ryans during that time. After a single campaign with the Titans, Al-Shaair signed a three-year deal with Houston which allowed him to reunite with Ryans. He has posted 68 tackles and pair of sacks to date, and replacing that production will be challenging for the Texans over the near future.
Sitting at 8-5 on the year, a divisional title is firmly within reach for Houston. The team is on track to reach the postseason as a result, and even if Al-Shaair’s appeal is unsuccessful he will be available once the playoffs begin.
Should be out for the year. Trying to drive someone’s head into the ground is criminal.
100%
The NFL demands player safety. That cost him only 3 game checks, pathetic.
I left this under another comment, but I agree because let’s not forget his conduct in the bears game early in the season. Late hit on Caleb going out of bounds, and immediately got up and swung on Roschon Johnson but didn’t get tossed. Dudes brand of violence is Vontaze Burfict territory.
Not excusing the guy at all, but this was the type of brutality that existed in the NFL during the 70-80’s. I haven’t watched a ton of Texans games, but Al-Shaair seemed out of control vs the Bears earlier in the year. Bet Roschon Johnson would like a shot at him.
Three games seems appropriate for a first time offense. Thankfully for everyone, he got a bit of Lawrence’s shoulder in the hit, otherwise it could’ve been tragic.
In his case, it’s more about the fact he’s been a trouble maker in other games. Earlier in the year when they played the bears, he got away with punching a player on the sideline who wasn’t even part of the play.
It’s not a first time offense, just the first time he’s really been held accountable.
… and the result of that brutality in the game is a ridiculous number of players who ended up with CTE and other awful debilitating injuries.
Appealed down to 2 games most likely. Sad that you can potentially end a career with actions like this and get a couple weeks unpaid vacation as a punishment.
What if a player with multiple actions, like he’s had this year, would have to apply for reinstatement with a vote coming from the players as to whether or not the offender would be reinstated?
Houston’s off this week, so Al-Shaair is effectively banned for 4 weeks. Open date, Miami home, Kansas City away (12/21), Baltimore home (Xmas Day).
I’m just waiting to see the blindside block payback. At least that’s one of the ways they did it, back when football players took care of meting out punishment themselves.
I can’t believe Demeco Ryans is trying to blame Trevor Lawrence for the hit
Lawrence showed poor judgement trying to act like a RB (with a bum shoulder no less) but his sliding absolves him of any blame for the ensuing contact. Players have to take some responsibility for their own safety, which is why I always cringe when I see a RB try to hurdle a defender. If you’re doing something like that, you’re practically begging to have a knee blown out.
Ryans was right … Lawrence knew he would get hit and slid too late. He should have got down sooner but made the wrong decision.
Lawrence was on his way down, and Al-Shaair went low to take him out. Dude knew Lawrence was sliding when he started to lead with his forearm. Guy even admits that he’s trying to hurt people when he tackles. No room for dirty players in the league anymore. It’s sport not war. He should enlist in the military if that’s what he wants….
Good take, but you simply cant take the aggression away from defenders. They have no time to consider anything else but stopping the opposing player and sometimes the hits will be brutal. Thats why these players make, MILLIONS.
The fans, at least older ones, pay to see the violence of contact. This league was like war on the field at one time. Those days have long been gone.
But you see plenty of guys rolling off the hit every week when they see the qb start the slide. It’s not like this is a new rule. The rule was implemented way before dude entered the league. And as many others have noted, this is not a first time offense. It’s the 3rd time just THIS season….
He saw the beginning of the slide and launched at him with the forearm to the head. That’s dirty, man. It’d have been different if he tried to roll off the hit and accidentally made contact; but that isn’t what happened. Even guys that have played the game are speaking out against the hit.
Ryans is wrong
You apparently didn’t see what millions of others saw.
Apparently, I saw what Ryans saw … a QB sliding too late, which I also said yesterday.
If Lawrence was sliding too late, he would’ve got hit high, but he was already on the ground finishing up his slide when Al-Shaair went low to hit him. Ryans wasn’t defending his player after the game. He changed his tune this morning….
Weak punishment for a brutal hit on a QB.
Jags should have taken out Stroud’s knee given the lightness of this punishment
Yes, let’s hurt an innocent player. That’ll solve everything
What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
That doesn’t excuse it
Al-Shaair should’ve gotten more games, then.
3-1/2 games without some bum linebacker for a Half without the opposing team’s starting QB? Who wouldn’t take that? A team that knows the other side has an expendable defender they could sacrifice for 3-1/2 games
I agree with that. I just don’t like the idea of physically harming players that have nothing to do with the situation
Someone needs to tell this guy it’s not 1977 anymore….
You were alive and watching football in ‘77 ?
And what was wrong back then? Reckon you hated the ‘60 – ‘76 versions.
Just put the league to flag football they’re headed to it anyway!
It may look great on television, but for the players, the lifetime ramifications of CTE is no joke. You would feel different if you were on the field and not in the stands….
Getting your ‘bell rung’ isn’t specific to the NFL!
I’ve had mine chimed a number of times and I’ve no regrets from the bumps, bruises, broken bones, gunshot wounds or broken heart and heart attack….just part of life get up dust yerself off and continue, don’t need no whimpy cart ride!
It’s called liability. The NFL isn’t interested in paying billions of dollars in healthcare costs for aberrant conduct from rogue employees. Obviously, you’ve taken too many hits to the head if you can’t figure it out….
Blah, blah, blah
Sit in that recliner and stay safe – there’s a big boy world outside your door
Have you ever had a job, or are you some naive high schooler? You can’t even understand workman’s comp….
There is a difference between the roughness there can be in life, and in being stupid. A person should avoid harm to themselves, if possible. It is certainly much nicer getting old without injuries, than with.
Taking a few bumps in pee wee football doesn’t count
“Getting your ‘bell rung’ isn’t specific to the NFL!
I’ve had mine chimed a number of times”
Let me just say that after reading your posts here, I believe it.
What was wrong with player safety in the 60’s-70’s?
You are straight up delusional
The average lifespan of a player from the ’60s and ’70s was much shorter than it is now. Alot of guys in the trenches didn’t make it out of their late 40s-early 50s. Now, the scientists know why….
Are you kidding??
What was wrong with drunk driving being a misdemeanor in the 1970s?
Just as dumb a comment.
unreal account name lol
Ask him if he did anything wrong and wait for the answer…
Seriously, dude’s like, “I’m going to try to injure you and hope you don’t get injured.” Guy’s a total doosh….
Should have been suspended for the rest of the season.
Cheap hits to defenseless players aren’t tough.
The hockey rule. Hurt somebody? You’re out until the guy you injured can play again.
This ain’t an NHL blog!
I imagine Goodell will consider implementing the hockey rule when the NFL schedule is expanded to 82 games a season 🙂
That’s not a hockey rule!
The hockey rule is, you take a run at our guy, we’ll take a run at your’s.
I don’t think that’s reasonable. Not that I’m condoning Al-Shaair’s actions here, but shouldn’t we be consistent in penalizing players based on their actions, rather than the outcome?
The same hit that might take a player out for one week might happen to end the career of another. I believe consistency is warranted
Meant as a reply to the “hockey rule” comment
When it comes to dirty hits such as this one, I don’t believe any type of consistency is warranted. There was absolutely no reason for him to hit a defenseless Lawrence the way he did. So yeah, if that hit ended Trevor’s career -and Al-Shaair’s, as a result- that’s the price he pays. The goal is to dissuade guys from doing this type of thing. As they say, play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
Ridiculous on every level.
Even if it was a late hit, his forearm was locked & loaded as if he was channeling Jack “They Call Me Assassin” Tatum. The penalty doesn’t come close to fitting the crime of a repeat offender.
Ryan blaming Lawrence is the cherry on the sundae
Repeat Offender; obviously trynna hurt Lawrence. Should have been a heavy fine and suspended for the remainder of the year ! I am happy that the Jaguars went after him.
Heavy fine and suspended for the year … this isn’t his first offense.
Well, at least the linebacker wasnt arrested. You guys will probably accept flag football when its implemented.
It’ll be fine. Most guys abide by the rules. Dirty players get punished and weeded out of the league….
Speaking of weed, he would have gotten a much harsher suspension for a J. The NFL is more concerned with pot than head hunters. I strongly am against ANY drugs by sports players, but the NFL has consistently shown that they are inconsistent.
I didn’t realize there wasn’t any type of middle ground between watching a dirty player and flag football; but if those are my only choices, then sure, flag football sounds great.
The Wife Beaters League has reached a new low for knuckle dragging behavior.
Now the GM chimes in with more defense of the hit?
Fine the franchise monetarily or a draft pick
Who cares what type of brutality game was played in 70s and 80s. In today’s world we have learned that type of play hurt players, ended careers and cost lives from brain injuries. Has no bearing on why he deserved more of a suspension than received.