Tag: Azeez Al-Shaair suspension

Azeez Al-Shaair suspended three games? Not so fast for Texans LB

Azeez Al-Shaair should have an answer on his suspension in the coming days after making his case on Wedensday.

Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was hit with a three-game suspension on Tuesday from the NFL office following his hit against Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

It might be three games now, but Al-Shaair is going to do his best to lessen the penalty.

According to multiple reports, Al-Shaair will meet with the NFLPA representative on Wednesday afternoon to appeal his suspension. While the suspension likely will be upheld, it could be reduced to either one or two games.

Al-Shaair was ejected following the hit that left Lawrence in concussion protocol during the second quarter of a 23-20 win. On Tuesday, Jon Runyan, the NFL’s vice president of football operations, wrote that the linebacker was involved in a play that the league considers “unacceptable and a serious violation of playing rules.”

“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.”

Texans general manager Nick Caserio defended Al-Shaair, ripping the NFL for its wording in the letter of Al-Shaair’s character.

“Nobody embodies our program more than Azeez — what he’s about, what he’s been through,” Caserio said. “There’s not a more selfless individual more about the team, who has earned the respect, that represents everything we want this program to be about.”

This isn’t the first time the Texans have had to deal with a suspension because of on-field play. Last season, Denzel Perryman was suspended three games for violating the league’s player safety policy. Following the appeal, it was reduced to two games.

Al-Shaair, the Texans’ defensive captain, has been fined twice this season due to on-field play. He was fined $11,817 for an incident in Week 2 against the Bears after punching running back Roschon Johnson following an altercation with multiple Bears players.

Al-Shaair was also fined 11,255 for hitting Titans running back Tony Pollard out of bounds in Week 12.

Should the suspension be upheld, Al-Shaair would forfeit $112,745 per game, according to The Houston Chronicle.

Texans LB plans to appeal 3-game suspension like former 2023 starter

Azeez Al-Shaair will do everything possible to make sure his three-game suspension is diminished.

Azeez Al-Shaair might have gotten hit with a three-game suspension, but the fight is not over.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Houston Texans linebacker plans to appeal the three-game suspension to the league office for a lesser sentencing following his hit and later ejection against Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence in the second quarter of Sunday’s win.

The appeal will be heard by one of the appeals officers jointly appointed by the league and the NFLPA: Derrick Brooks, Ramon Foster, Kevin Mawae or Jordy Nelson.

In a letter to Al-Shaair, Jon Runyan, the NFL’s vice president of football operations, stated that the Texans’ defensive captain was involved in a play that the league considers “unacceptable and a serious violation of playing rules.”

“Video shows you striking the head/neck area of Jaguars’ quarterback Trevor Lawrence after he clearly goes down in a feet-first slide,” Runyan wrote. “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.

“After the illegal hit, you proceeded to engage in a brawl, which you escalated when you pulled an opponent down to the ground by his facemask.”

On Monday, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans defended Al-Shaair, stating that the fight occurred after Jaguars players instigated the altercation by shoving him after the play.

“It wasn’t our guys. Their team overreacted,” Ryans said. “Pushed our guy, dragging our guy to the sideline. That’s uncalled for on that side. We have to be better on the sideline as well.”

On Tuesday, general manager Nick Caserio took offense to how the league portrayed Al-Shaair in their letting when offering up the suspension.

“Quite frankly, it’s bulls—, and it’s unfair to the individual, it’s unfair to the organization,” Caserio said. “We love everything about Azeez Al-Shaair and everything he brings to this team.”

The three-game ban has been the longest one dished out of the 2024 season for on-field violations. Caserio also asked for more consistency from the league on punishments for players who have conducted similar hits in the past.

“I‘d say in this situation, quite frankly, there’s no consistency at all relative to the level of discipline that’s been handed down,” Caserio said.

Sunday isn’t the first time that Al-Shaair has been at the center of controversy surrounding hits. He was fined $11,817 earlier this year in Week 2’s win over the Chicago Bears after he punched running back Roschon Johnson on the sideline during a scuffle that started after hitting rookie quarterback Caleb Williams near the sidelines.

In Week 12, Al-Shaair was fined  $11,255 for a late hit out of bounds on Titans running back Tony Pollard. 

The Texans have been here before with a player for violating the NFL’s player safety policy. Linebacker Denzel Perryman was suspended three games for his on-field play. He appealed his case and eventually saw the suspension dropped to two games.

If Al-Shaair’s suspension is upheld, Al-Shaair won’t be cleared to return until the regular-season finale against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville.

According to KPRC2 Sports Aaron Wilson, Al-Shaair has a base salary of $1.5 million this season, meaning it will cost him about $265,000 in game checks should he miss all three games.

“Nobody embodies our program more than Azeez,” Caserio said. “What he’s about, what he’s been through. There’s not a more selfless individual more about the team, who has earned the respect, that represents everything we want this program to be about. “

Texans GM rips NFL for suspension and portrayal of LB Azeez Al-Shaair

Nick Caserio didn’t hold back in breaking down the poor portrayal made by the NFL against Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair amid suspension.

On Monday, Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans went to bat for linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair amid a suspension in the works.

A day later, it was Nick Caserio’s turn to call out the NFL.

Caserio, along with multiple members of the organization, took exception with the league’s characterization of Al-Shaair following his three-game suspension. With owners in attendance, Caserio ripped the NFL for its choice wording and description of Al-Shaair in the letter laying out the sixth-year linebacker’s suspension.

“Nobody embodies our program more than Azeez,” Caserio said. “What he’s about, what he’s been through. There’s not a more selfless individual more about the team, who has earned the respect, that represents everything we want this program to be about.

“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 also called out the league office for its lack of consistency regarding suspension lengths, pointing to other instances around the league where players have received underwhelming punishments for similar hits on players.

“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,” Caserio said. “So I think the big thing from our perspective — talk about a player who’s never been suspended, never been ejected. So now we’re saying that he’s going to be suspended for three games. Look, it is what it is. I think the big thing from our standpoint — and all teams want this — is just some level of consistency.”

Caserio, who’s set to close on his fourth season as the Texans’ GM, said they spoke to the league office and still feel as if there’s not a good explanation for the punishment. Al-Shaair, who can’t return until the Week 18 season finale, plans to appeal the ruling in hopes of limiting the suspension to either one or two games.

While Caserio defended his player, he also hoped that Lawrence continued to get healthy following a hit that left him unconscious and forced him into the concussion protocol.

“The most important thing is the health and safety of our players and I would say the health and well-being of Trevor,” Caserio said. “Hopefully Trevor is going to be okay.”

Much like Ryans, Caserio made sure to let the NFL know where he stands.

“Where we take umbrage is the picture that has been painted about Azeez, his intentions, who he is as a person,” Caserio said. “Quite frankly, it’s bulls—, and it’s unfair to the individual, it’s unfair to the organization. We love everything about Azeez Al-Shaair and everything he brings to this team.”

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