Houston player suspended 3 games without pay following violent hit
HOUSTON– Houston’s Azeez Al-Shaair was suspended Tuesday by the NFL without pay for three games for repeated violations of player safety rules following his violent blow to the head by Trevor Lawrence of Jacksonville, which resulted in a concussion.
Al-Shaair’s punishment was announced by NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan. In his letter to Al-Shaair, Runyan noted that he had committed multiple infractions for personal fouls and violations of sportsmanship rules in recent seasons.
Returning to the starting lineup after missing two games with a sprained left shoulder, Lawrence rushed left on a second-and-7 play in the second quarter of the Houston game. 23-20 victory on Sunday. He initiated a slide before Al-Shaair raised his forearm and lashed out at the helpless quarterback.
In his letter to Al-Shaair, Runyan called the hit “unacceptable and a serious violation of the rules of the game.”
“The video shows you hitting the head and neck area of Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence after he clearly fell in a feet-first slide,” Runyan wrote. “You led with your forearm and helmet and delivered a powerful blow to the head/neck area of your opponent when you had time and space to avoid such contact.
Al-Shaair is appealing the suspension, according to a person with knowledge of the decision.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the appeal is ongoing.
If the suspension stands, Al-Shaair will not be able to return to Houston’s active roster until after the team’s Christmas game against the Baltimore Ravens. Al-Shaair has a base salary of $1.5 million this season, meaning it will cost him around $265,000 if the three-game suspension stands.
Lawrence clenched both fists after the blow — movements consistent with what’s known as the “fencing response,” which can be common after head trauma. He remained on the ground for several minutes as his teammates came to his defense and mobbed Al-Shaair in what escalated into a brawl.
As Al-Shaair left the field after being sent off, fans started shouting at him. Jaguars veteran guard Brandon Scherff joined in, sparking another altercation with Al-Shaair. Texas teammate Will Anderson grabbed Al-Shaair and was escorting him off the field when a fan threw a water bottle and hit Anderson in the helmet. The fan was then ejected.
Runyan also described Al-Shaair’s behavior after the fact in announcing the suspension.
“After the illegal hit, you engaged in a fight, which you escalated when you pulled an opponent to the ground with his mask,” he wrote. “After the referee announced that you were disqualified for the hit and your unsportsmanlike actions, you removed your helmet and regained contact with your opponent while walking on the field, which triggered another physical confrontation near the court. end zone.”
This is the third time this season that Al-Shaair has been sanctioned by the league. Last week, he was flagged and fined $11,255 for a late out-of-bounds hit on Titans running back Tony Pollard.
He was fined earlier this year after hitting Bears running back Roschon Johnson on the sideline during Week 2. It happened during a scuffle that started after his hard throw at quarterback Caleb Williams near the sideline went unreported.
“Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for football and all those who play, coach and enjoy watching it is troubling and does not reflect the core values of the NFL,” Runyan told Al-Shaair in the letter. Continued disregard of the NFL rules of play endangers the health and safety of you and your opponents and will not be tolerated.
Al-Shaair apologized to Lawrence in a long post on Mondaywhere he first stated that he only saw Lawrence slip “it was too late” and that it happened “in the blink of an eye” before saying he was sorry for the cut.
Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said Sunday that it was a play that “really doesn’t belong in our league,” and said Monday that the team was considering stop Lawrence for the season.
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AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi contributed to this report.
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