Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair suspended three games

Azeez Al-Shaair (Tennessee Titans, Wikimedia Commons)

According to the Associated Press on Tuesday, the National Football League has suspended Azeez Al-Shaair of Tampa, Florida for three games. The suspension is because of a hit to the head of Jacksonville Jaguars’s quarterback Trevor Lawrence on Sunday, which left Lawrence suffering a concussion.

A major reason for the suspension was because Al-Shaair “had time and space to avoid such contact” according to NFL Vice-President of Football Operations Jon Runyan. The NFL executive played 14 seasons with the Houston Oilers, Tennessee Oilers, Tennessee Titans, Philadelphia Eagles and San Diego Chargers from 1996 to 2009 as an offensive tackle before being part of the NFL’s policy and rules administration.

This was Al-Shaair’s first season with the Texans after signing a three-year contract worth $34 million on March 15. In 10 games, he has 68 combined tackles (45 solo tackles and 23 assisted tackles), seven tackles for a loss, seven quarterback hits, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles and two sacks.

Twice this season Al-Shaair was fined for inappropriate behaviour. On September 19, he was fined $11000 for punching Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson according to Charean Williams of NBC Sports, and then after week 12 was fined $11,255 for a late hit on Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard.

Al-Shaair is appealing the suspension. One person who is supporting Al-Shaair is Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, who believes that Lawrence slid late to try and pick up an extra yard according to Kristen Wong of Sports Illustrated.

The Texans went on to beat the Jaguars 23-20. They lead the AFC South with a record of eight wins and five losses.

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