A devastating hit on Sunday sent Azeez Al-Shaair to the locker room after the Houston Texans linebacker was ejected in the second quarter. The collision left Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence unable to continue, as he had to be helped off the field.
The moment Al-Shaair made contact with Lawrence, it was evident the league would review the incident for a potential suspension. By Tuesday morning, the NFL had handed down a three-game ban to the veteran linebacker.
Al-Shaair wasted no time expressing his belief that the punishment was excessive. Per Adam Schefter, he has filed an appeal in hopes of reducing the suspension.
While Al-Shaair disputes the length of the suspension, the NFL emphasized its reasoning by citing past behavior. In a strongly worded statement, they criticized Al-Shaair for his lack of “respect for the game” and stated his actions failed to align with the league’s “core values.”
“You have shown a troubling lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all those who play, coach, and watch it,” NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan wrote in a letter to Al-Shaair.
Houston GM Nick Caserio pushed back against the league’s stance, accusing them of inconsistency in how they enforce discipline. He called the league’s actions “embarrassing,” claiming they overlook some violations while taking a hardline approach in cases like Al-Shaair’s.
While criticisms of the league’s consistency are valid, the hit on Lawrence was difficult to justify. Al-Shaair apologized, but the replay suggests little effort to avoid the contact. This likely influenced the NFL’s decision and may make overturning the suspension through appeal a challenging task.
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