Tag: Jagaurs

Was Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair’s hit dirty? Several NFL players weigh in

Michael Strahan, Ryan Clark and several other former players weigh in on Azeez Al-Shaair’s hit against Jags quarterback Trevor Lawrence

The Houston Texans won 23-20 on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but that was a footnote in the biggest takeaway from the afternoon at EverBank Stadium.

Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was ejected just before halftime after delivering what appeared to be a late hit against quarterback Trevor Lawrence. A fight broke out following the play while Lawrence lay sprawled out on the grass knocked out.

Al-Shaair will likely receive a fine and a potential suspension from the league office later this week. Even if he attempted to slow down, the hit seemed to be avoidable before the sixth-year linebacker ever left his feet.

But was the hit dirty? That’s the question everyone is trying to figure out entering the bye week as Houston heads home. Some fans think that because he led with his elbow, it shouldn’t lead to a suspension. Others think that despite being a member of the team, it’s a bad look.

Of course, several other former players voiced their opinions of the play on social media. Most believed the indecent was avoidable and didn’t agree with the decision.

Former Texans cornerback Steven Nelson called the play “crash-out behavior.” Former Heisman Trophy winner and No. 2 overall pick Robert Griffin III called the play “dirty” from Al-Shaair.

Former NFL quarterback and Baylor Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III, called it a dirty play by Al-Shaair.

During the halftime broadcast, former Super Bowl defensive end Michael Strahan called the play “inexcusable” but mentioned his antics likely were to get him thrown out of the game to avoid further problems.

“I personally think he did that because he realized if he had stayed in that game, he was not going to be protected,” Strahan said. “What he did, everybody knows as a defensive player you don’t do that.”

ESPN analyst and former Super Bowl safety Ryan Clark called the hit “bull” and without question avoidable.

While Al-Shaair doesn’t have many on his side, defensive tackle and teammate Tim Settle defended the captain’s actions, stating that he’s not a dirty player and it was a bang-bang play.

“I don’t think his intentions were towards to hurt [Lawrence]. He was just trying to get us off the field. He was trying to get our offense back on the field,” Settle told reporters postgame. “We praise how he plays, but we know he’s not intentional like that.”

The Texans enter the bye week with an 8-5 record. Al-Shaair and the team will return to the field on Dec. 15 to take on the Miami Dolphins.

Jags tied for most top-100 picks in the 2021 NFL draft

Jacksonville has made a number of high profile trades in recent years, and that has resulted in a lot of draft capital in 2021.

Jacksonville has had to trade away several talented players in recent years who could’ve been solid long-term pieces. Though that has certainly helped put the franchise in the hole it’s in now, at least it resulted in lots of draft capital as the team attempts to undergo a rebuild with a new general manager, head coach, and (likely) franchise quarterback.

Assuming the Jaguars invest the first overall pick in Trevor Lawrence, the next order of business will be building around him. They got a nice start in free agency, making several value signings that build up the team’s depth. But Jacksonville has 10 picks in this upcoming draft, and with its five picks in the top 100, it’s tied with the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets for the most in the draft.

https://twitter.com/FieldYates/status/1376507549445410818?s=20

In addition to the first pick, the Jags have another first-round pick at No. 25 by virtue of the Jalen Ramsey trade with Los Angeles. The Jaguars also have an extra second-round pick at No. 45 from the trade with the Minnesota Vikings involving Yannick Ngakoue.

Further, the team has two picks in the fourth round (also from the Ramsey trade) and in the fifth (from the Ronnie Harrison trade with Cleveland). The Jaguars initially had 11 picks in this draft, but they shopped their original seventh-round selection to the Saints for defensive tackle Malcom Brown, though they received a seventh from Tennessee in a rare divisional trade involving linebacker Kamalei Correa, who they later released.

The team may add another pick in this draft, as it’s rumored to be receiving interest for quarterback Gardner Minshew. Though Minshew will likely be on a different roster next season, it remains to be seen if that move will potentially occur before the draft. Coach Urban Meyer has said the team is not shopping Minshew “at this point.”