Tag: azeez al-shaair

CBS Sports reveals more insight to Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair’s suspension

There’s more than meets the eye with Azeez Al-Shaair’s suspension coming forward as the 2024 season concludes.

Azeez Al-Shaair won’t be back for the Houston Texans until the Week 18 finale against the Tennessee Titans.

He’s also dealing with more issues surrounding his contract as Houston prepares for its Week 15 battle against the Miami Dolphins.

Al-Shaair, who was suspended for three games because of an illegal hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, will forfeit his next three game checks, but that’s not all he’s losing toward his salary.

According to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, Al-Shaair’s $9 million guaranteed salary for the 2025 season will now automatically void due to the suspension. In total, Al-Shaair will lose $9.34 million because of the over $300,000 he’ll forfeit over the next three games.

The Texans inked the sixth-year linebacker to a three-year deal last offseason for $34 million, $21.5 million of which was guaranteed. Because the $9 million in base salary for 2025 automatically voids, Houston now has the option to release Al-Shaair after this season at no cost to the team.

But will they? According to Jones, no. Houston believes Al-Shaair is an anchor to DeMeco Ryans’ defense and will remain a part of the organization as the defensive captain for the foreseeable future.

“He’s part of our plans moving forward,” a Texans source told Jones. 

That money could be earned back if and when he makes the final 53-man roster next season, but the difference is that it won’t be guaranteed. Per the contract, the $9 million “shall immediately be deemed NULL AND VOID from the beginning and in its entirety regardless of whether or not the 2025 Guarantee had otherwise been earned according to its terms at the time of Player’s Default.”

Jones mentioned that Houston couldn’t use its own discretion and reverse the void. Overall, this is a moot point since Houston knows that Al-Shaair is a part of its foundation.

If he wasn’t, general manager Nick Caserio and Ryans wouldn’t have been so vocal when it was announced his suspension would be upheld by the league office following a hearing with NFLPA rep Ramon Foster. 

“We’re talking about some of the commentary that has been made about his character, about the person that he is, about what his intentions are from people that quite frankly don’t know anything about Azeez Al-Shaair,” Caserio said. “And for the league to make some of the commentary that they made about lack of sportsmanship, lack of coachability, lack of paying attention to the rules – quite frankly, it’s embarrassing.”

Deebo Samuel weighs in on Azeez Al-Shaair being suspended for hit on Trevor Lawrence

Deebo Samuel, a former teammate of Azeez Al-Shaair, weighs in on the Houston Texans linebacker’s suspension for three games.

Several former NFL players have criticized Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair’s hit against Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel is more on the side of his former teammate.

Samuel recently on his podcast, said that Al-Shaair isn’t the type of player to act with malice while on the field. The hit seemed to be a bang-bang play and far from the perceived character that’s currently being painted about his on-field demeanor.

The two were rookies entering San Francisco in 2019 and shared a locker room for four seasons before Al-Shaair left in free agency following the 2022 campaign.

“I know Azeez very well. He’s one of my brothers, for sure. I talked to him afterward and it wasn’t intentional,” Samuel said.

“That clip doesn’t show who he is as a person. If I’m him, and as you’ve seen, he put out an apology to Trevor Lawrence. He apologized to everybody. That kind of shows the person he really is. At the end of the day, he’s not trying to take anybody out. He’s trying to play the way that he was always been taught to play it. 

“If I’m him in that situation as I’m getting up and somebody is beating on the back of my head, it’s like, ‘I got to get in defense mode.’ With his apology and me knowing him personally and knowing it wasn’t intentional, I just think 3-games is a little much.”

Samuel did defend Lawrence, who left the game with a concussion, and the actions of his teammates came to his defense. Even if Al-Shaair was genuinely trying to make a clean hit, anyone who hit his quarterback would be put in line.

“If you hit my quarterback like that, it’s up. I’m crashing, 100%, no question,” Samuel said. “I get that part.”

Samuel also mentioned that defensive players often receive stricter suspension ramifications compared to offensive players who deliver similar hits against opposing players.

“If it was me, would you suspend me for three games?” Samuel asked. “If that was [Baltimore Ravens running back] Derrick Henry, would he be suspended for three games? I think it’s more so about protecting the quarterbacks.”

Al-Shaair, who signed a three-year deal this offseason with the Texans, will be eligible to return in Week 18’s season finale against the Tennessee Titans.

The Texans return to NRG Stadium to take on the Miami Dolphins this Sunday at noon CT.

Trevor Lawrence’s teammate explains support of Azeez Al-Shaair

Arik Armstead explains why he liked Azeez Al-Shaair’s tweet despite being a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

A former teammate of Azeez Al-Shaair explained why he supported the Houston Texans linebacker while also being a teammate of Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Veteran defensive tackle Arik Armstead liked Al-Shaair’s Instagram post following the NFL’s decision to deny his appeal of the three-game suspension he received for an illegal hit on Lawrence during Sunday’s 23-20 win.

Armstead, who signed a three-year deal with Jacksonville following his release from the San Francisco 49ers this spring, addressed the tweet with media Thursday afternoon. While he felt for Lawrence, who now will miss the remainder of the regular season because of a shoulder injury, Armstead said he also felt for Al-Shaair, who was in a rocky position after a bang-bang play.

The two were teammates in San Francisco for four years before Al-Shaair left in the 2023 offseason.

“First off, I love Trevor. He’s a great teammate. Great player. Great person. And what happened, seeing him get injured, was terrible,” Armstead said. “You never want to see that happen to a teammate of yours.

“Also, Azeez is a great friend of mine. We were locker mates for four years, right next to each other, and we have a great relationship as well too.”

Al-Shaair, who won’t be able to return until Week 18’s season finale against the Titans, apologized to Lawrence via social media on Monday. A day later, the NFL slapped him with the suspension, stating that “lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all those who play.”

Armstead took offense to how the NFL and fans portrayed his former teammate in the public eye. He also wasn’t a fan of how multiple people attacked Al-Shaair’s Muslim faith on social media, which prompted the liking of the post captioned in Al-Shaair’s “villainous” narrative surrounding his on-field play.

“To see the ridicule and (Al-Shaair) being ostracized the way he is and the remarks people are making about him is also terrible,” Armstead said. “I feel like I can support my great teammate Trevor andhoust I can also support a friend in a rough situation when people are being racist towards him and a lot of hateful things are being said about him.”

Armstead didn’t defend the actions of Al-Shaair that led to his ejection, but he did call the sixth-year linebacker a “good dude.” He also mentioned that he spoke to Lawrence about the situation, who understood why he was trying to support both sides.

“Seeing a teammate get injured, but also having a friend of mine be in a situation like that,” Armstead said. “He was definitely in the wrong and made a bang-bang play that I wish that (he) could have back.”

The Texans return from the bye week to take on the Miami Dolphins in Week 15 at NRG Stadium.

What are NFL coaches saying about Azeez Al-Shaair’s suspension?

Here’s what one NFL coach said to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini on Azeez Al-Shaair’s hit against Trevor Lawrence.

Azeez Al-Shaair is suspended for the next three games. That won’t change just because fans and coaches are arguing about the decision from the NFL front office.

The Houston Texans linebacker appealed his suspension on the hit against Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, but NFLPA officer Ramon Foster chose to uphold the call. He now won’t be able to return until after Week 17’s Christmas showdown against the Baltimore Ravens.

He’ll also forfeit $112,745 per game in checks.

Not everyone is on board with the call for a hit that easily could have resulted in a flag and an extra 15 yards. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini interviewed several coaches, each offering a different perspective.

One head coach said that with quarterbacks earning egregious salaries, the league will do its best to avoid them missing time.

“The NFL has to protect its $250 million investments — it’s that simple. Nobody wants to watch games with backup quarterbacks, and the league understands that. The refs do a solid job spotting the ball where the first body part touches, and fake slides aren’t really an issue anymore. After Kenny Pickett’s move, they changed the rule to mark players down if they fake a slide, so that’s been addressed.”

He also mentioned that rules must change on both sides. Defenders only have a small window to make a play, meaning coaches must change their tactics when teaching.

“But things happen fast on the field, and late slides are always going to be a gray area. Sometimes quarterbacks are going to get hit, but the key is making sure defenders aren’t targeting the head or neck with a helmet, shoulder or forearms — that’s where the big penalties come in. Defenders need to be coached to lead with their hands, not their heads. Sliding QBs lower their target area, which makes it tougher to land a clean hit.”

The head coach also said he tells his quarterbacks to dive head first like when sliding into t, thus giving them a chance to pick up a few more yards while protecting their noggins.

“I tell my quarterbacks to go for the Superman dive, like Carson Wentz used to do. You can get a few extra yards while still being protected from head and neck hits. The rules are what they are.”

Al-Shaair’s previous fines likely factored into the league’s decision to uphold the suspension. He was fined $11,817 for an incident in Week 2 against the Bears after throwing a punch at Bears running back Roschon Johnson.

He also was fined $11,255 for hitting Titans running back Tony Pollard out of bounds in Week 12’s loss at NRG Stadium.

NFLPA officer who denied Azeez Al-Shaair’s appeal speaks on decision

Ramon Foster reveals his thoughts following the call to uphold Azeez Al-Shaair’s suspension in Week 14.

Ramon Foster might work for the Tennessee Titans, but his decision to uphold Azeez Al-Shaair’s suspension had no bearing on his loyalty to the AFC South franchise.

Foster, a former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman, listened and elected to deny the Houston Texans linebacker’s appeal for his hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence in a virtual hearing on Wednesday.

When asked about the choice to uphold the suspension on his morning show “Ramon, Kayla and Will” on 104.5 FM The Zone in Nashville, Foster declined to talk about the hearing or what transpired after.

“I can’t discuss the case,” Foster said on the show. “I don’t answer to anybody on these cases as it pertains to it.”

Al-Shaair, who previously played for the Titans in 2023, delivered a blow on a second-and-7 hit that knocked Lawrence unconscious. That led to a brawl and the eventual ejection of the sixth-year linebacker, along with Jaguars rookie cornerback Jarrian Jones.

Foster, who faced several penalties for late hits during his playing career, mentioned that the public eye thought there was a perceived bias in his decision given his relationship with the Titans radio staff.

“The league has an understanding, the NFLPA has an understanding, and the teams do also as they are one in the same as it goes with this job,” Foster said.

It would make sense that favoritism would be mentioned, especially given the history of the two franchises. Tennessee’s departure from Houston as the Oilers left a bitter taste among local residents and has carried over into a feud beyond fans of the two clubs.

Tennessee recently debuted its alternate Oilers uniform worn in Nashville instead of Houston, thus adding more fuel to the fire. It didn’t help that Al-Shaair was also fined by the league for a late hit out of bounds on Titans running back Tony Pollard in Week 12’s loss against the Titans at home.

But Foster once again denied any allegiance in the call, stating the decision was based on what’s best for the league’s future.

“My job is to see the tape, evaluate the tape, and move on to how I proceed to evaluate the cases,” Foster said. “There is no emotion or involvements that goes on behind it.”

Al-Shaair, who was third on the team in tackles before the suspension, will return for the season finale road tip against the Titans on Jan. 5 at Nissan Stadium.

Doug Pederson clears the air on Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence’s season-ending injury

Doug Pederson let it be known that Azeez Al-Shaair’s hit against Trevor Lawrence was not why he was placed on the injured reserve.

Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair drilled Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence as he began to slide during the second quarter of Sunday’s 23-20 win.

That’s not why the Jaguars are placing him on the second-ending injured reserve.

Third-year coach Doug Pederson told reporters Friday that Lawrence’s arrival on the reserved list is because of his lingering issue with his non-throwing, not the head injury.

“The reason for IR is not the injury from Sunday,” Pederson said. “It’s not that. It’s more the shoulder.”

Lawrence, who was ruled out with a concussion for the second half of Week 13’s game, missed two games after hurting his left shoulder during Week 9’s loss against the Philadelphia Eagles. He played through the pain while trying to mount a comeback but missed back-to-back weeks of practice.

Mac Jones, who took over for Lawrence and nearly led a comeback in the fourth quarter, replaced Lawrence for the two games while the former No. 1 overall pick was recovering. He’s expected to take over for the remainder of the regular season.

Pederson said that Lawrence now plans to undergo surgery on his left shoulder, thus ending a potential return in Week 18. He also acknowledged that the concussion wasn’t mutually exclusive from the IR placement, but  Lawrence would have likely missed Week 14’s matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

“The injury Sunday doesn’t help, right?” Pederson said. “But it’s just the right decision right now to go ahead and just shut him down and let him get fully healed. Clear the protocol first and then tackle the other injury later on. So that’s our main focus right now, to make sure he’s 100% and get him healthy and get himself ready for the offseason.”

Al-Shaair, who’s suspended for three games because of the hit and later ejection, apologized to Lawrence on social media Monday morning. Pederson said Lawrence’s shoulder “didn’t get any worse” because of the hit.

In 10 games, Lawrence completed 60.6% of his passes for 2,045 yards and 11 touchdowns against seven interceptions. Jacksonville agreed with Lawrence before the start of the 2024 season on a five-year, $275 million extension, which includes a $37.5 million signing bonus and $142 million fully guaranteed

“Where we are in our season, it’s a chance for him to get healthy right now as he looks into the offseason and next season as well.” Pederson said.

Al-Shaair, who appealed his suspension but was denied by NFLPA representative Ramon Foster, will return for the team’s season finale against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium.

Cam Heyward calls out NFL over Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair suspension

Cam Heyward shares his thoughts on Azeez Al-Shaair’s suspension, questioning the NFL’s consistency in enforcing suspensions and fines.

One of the biggest stories in the NFL right now is Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair being suspended for three games following a late hit on Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence, a hit that forced Jacksonville to place their quarterback on IR. Steelers DT Cam Heyward, one of the NFL’s most respected veteran defenders, shared his thoughts on the matter on the most recent episode of his podcast, Not Just Football with Cam Heyward.

Heyward acknowledged the hit on Lawrence was dirty but described it as a “bang-bang call”, arguing defenders must be cautious of fake slides and whether a QB is truly giving themselves up.

Another interesting argument that Heyward made, one that no one seems to be mentioning, is that the NFL’s Vice President of the Policy and Rules administration, John Runyan, has more than his fair share of ‘dirty’ plays.  The Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle argued that Runyan and the NFL suspending Azeez was like “the pot calling the kettle black.”

While Azeez’s appeal was denied, Heyward raises important questions about whether the NFL is consistent in enforcing suspensions and fines.

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Who is the NFLPA officer that upheld Azeez Al-Shaair’s suspension?

Who is Ramon Foster? Well, besides the person who upheld Azeez Al-Shaair’s suspension following the hit on Trevor Lawrence?

Before he became perhaps the most hated man in Houston in 2024, Ramon Foster played football for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He was a broadcaster and sideline reporter for an NFL team

He was a part of a three-person crew on the morning drive radio show in Nashville.

But the people of Houston don’t care about his accolades of accomplishments. They care about his direct call which now affects the Texans’ regular season.

Veteran linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair pleaded his case in a virtual hearing Wednesday with Foster to appeal his three-game suspension for an illegal hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. By 6 p.m., it had reached muted ears.

Foster and the NFL denied the appeal, upholding the suspension and keeping Al-Shaair away from the team until Week 18’s season finale against the Tennessee Titans.

Al-Shaair, who signed a three-year deal this offseason after a breakout season with the Titans in 2023, issued an apology to Lawrence on social media Monday following his ejection from the game, stating he had no intent to harm the quarterback and didn’t see the slide until it was too late.

Foster, who was one of four members of the NFLPA, wasn’t swayed by the appeal, thus choosing to uphold the current three-game ban.

According to The Houston Chronicle, the suspension will cost Al-Shaair all but one of the Texans’ remaining regular-season games, as well as $112,745 in per-game roster bonuses for each game missed.

Here’s a look back at Foster’s career and his involvement in the NFL post-playing days.

Ramon Foster’s playing career

A former teammate of Texans legendary running back Arian Foster at the University of Tennessee, Ramon Foster was not selected in the 2009 NFL draft and signed with the Steelers as a free agent. Initially a backup, the eventual anchor of the offensive line became the team’s starting guard in 2011 and rarely missed action up until he retired following the 2019 season.

In 11 seasons with Pittsburgh, Foster played in 160 regular-season games, including 11 playoff games and Super Bowl XLV against Green Bay.

Ramon Foster, notoriously clean player. https://t.co/gVkd0N4yvb pic.twitter.com/8Zm1dQN1nO

— Patrick Storm (@PatrickStormHTX) December 4, 2024

While known for his run blocking, Foster also was considered a physical player by the league’s office. He was fined four times during his career, including once for an unnecessary roughness call that mirrored Al-Shaair’s hit.

He was flagged twice for on-field fighting, though he was never suspended for his actions.

Ramon Foster’s work with the NFL

Foster was added to the pool of appeals officers this season after the NFL and NFLPA expanded the group from two to four to expedite the appellate process following starting in 2020. He’s a member alongside former linebacker Derrick Brooks, wide receiver Jordy Nelson and former Kevin Mawae.

Foster also is a member of the Titans broadcast team, serving as the sideline reporter for home games starting in 2023. He worked alongside Al-Shaair last season both during and in postgame interviews.

While working for the Titans, Foster also hosts a weekday morning show on 104.5 FM The Zone in Nashville, the radio home of the AFC South rival.

Texans 2024 Schedule

The Texans, who are on a bye in Week 14, will return to take on the Miami Dolphins on Dec. 15. Houston will then take on the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens within five days of each other starting on Dec. 21.

Houston closes out the regular season on the road against the Titans at Nissan Stadium in Jan. 5.

Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair’s ‘Villian’ role is officially underway

Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair is taking on the “villain” role now as the league announced he would serve a three-game suspension.

You wanted a villain, NFL?

Fine, Azeez Al-Shaair will wear the crown.

The Houston Texans veteran linebacker tweeted Wednesday night that he’s embracing the “villain role” after the league elected to uphold his three-game suspension for a hit in Sunday’s win that left Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence concussed.

“If you want me to be your villain, I’ll be your villain,” Al-Shaair wrote, followed by a middle finger emoji. “See you soon.”

Al-Shaair met with NFLPA representative Ramon Foster for his appeal meeting on Wednesday. After further review, Foster elected to make sure that the sixth-year linebacker served all three games.

Earlier this week, Al-Shaair issued an apology to Lawrence for the hit. Lawrence was placed on injured reserve Wednesday afternoon.

“To Trevor i genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening,” Al-Shaair wrote. “Before the game we spoke and I told you how great it was to see you back out on the field and wished you well. I would never want to see any player hurt because of a hit I put on them especially one that was ruled ‘late’ or ‘unnecessary.'”

Jon Runyan, the NFL’s vice president of policy and rules administration, told Al-Shaair in a letter that the hit was “unacceptable” and that his “continued disregard” for player safety rules “will not be tolerated.

“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.

Texans general manager Nick Caserio criticized the league for its language in its letter announcing the initial ruling during Tuesday’s press conference and asked for consistency in how it hands out suspensions.

“For the league to make some of the commentary that it made about lack of sportsmanship … lack of paying attention to the rules,” Caserio said. “Quite frankly, it’s embarrassing.”

With the suspension being upheld, Al-Shaair will miss the Texans’ games against the Dolphins, Chiefs and Ravens on Christmas Day.

He’ll be eligible to return for their regular-season finale against the Titans in Nashville. The sixth-year linebacker will also be forced to give up  $112,745 per game.

NFL comes to decision on Azeez Al-Shaair’s suspension appeal

Appeals officer Ramon Foster has upheld Houston Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair’s three-game suspension.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

The NFL has reached a verdict.

Azeez Al-Shaair won’t be suiting up for the Houston Texans anytime soon.

According to the league office, the NFL will uphold Al-Shaair’s three-game suspension for the hit against Jacksonville Jaguars Trevor Lawrence in Sunday’s win.

Al-Shaair, the Texans’ defensive captain, tried to appeal the suspension on Wednesday in a meeting with former NFL offensive lineman Ramon Foster. After further review, Foster upheld the length, meaning Al-Shaair won’t return until Week 18’s season finale against the Tennessee Titans.

During the second quarter on a second-and-7 play, Al-Shaair drilled Lawrence in the head as Lawrence was trying to slide, knocking him out and giving him a concussion. The hit led to a brawl between the two sides, eventually factoring into Al-Shaair’s ejection.

Since the incident, Al-Shaair has apologized for play on social media.  Lawrence was placed on injured reserve Wednesday afternoon, thus ending his season.

After the verdict,, Al-Shaair posted on social media, “IF YOU WANT ME TO BE YOUR VILLAIN, ILL BE YOUR VILLAIN! SEE YOU SOON…

Jon Runyan, the NFL’s vice president of policy and rules administration, wrote in his letter to Al-Shaair that the league deemed the hit “unacceptable” and that his “continued disregard” for rules governing player safety “will not be tolerated.”

“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.

Texans general manager Nick Caserio called out the league Tuesday afrernoon for its language in its letter against Al-Shaair and asked for consistency in how it hands out suspensions.

“We’re talking about some of the commentary that has been made about his character, about the person that he is, about what his intentions are, from people who, quite frankly, don’t know anything about Azeez Al-Shaair,” Caserio said.

“Quite frankly, it’s embarrassing.”

Al-Shaair, who signed a three-year, $34 million contract with the Texans this offseason after a breakout year with the Tennessee Titans, will also forfeit $112,745 per game,