Azeez Al-Shaair has come under fire after it emerged that the Houston Texans star is appealing his suspension for his sickening hit on Trevor Lawrence.
The linebacker was handed a three-game ban – without pay – by the NFL after Jaguars quarterback Lawrence suffered a concussion from the dangerous tackle on Sunday.
Al-Shaair was ejected from Houston’s 23-20 win over Jacksonville over the incident, which sparked a bench-clearing brawl.
On Tuesday, the NFL announced that Al-Shaair will serve a three-game suspension without pay, having also taken into account his role in the mass brawl and some of his previous offenses.
In a letter to Al-Shaair, NFL chief Jon Runyan told him that the league considered the tackle an ‘unacceptable and a serious violation of the playing rules.’
It was soon reported that the Texans defender would appeal the punishment – a day after apologizing to Lawrence and blasting ‘racist and Islamophobic’ fans.
Azeez Al-Shaair has come under fire after it emerged that he is appealing his suspension
Al-Shaair was ejected from Houston’s win over Jacksonville for this hit on Trevor Lawrence
Al-Shaair previously choked Tom Brady during a 2022 game for the San Francisco 49ers
Following the news that Al-Shaair would appeal, fans criticized the linebacker, with many suggesting he was fortunate not to have received a longer suspension.
‘Unbelievable. Thought Azeez Al-Shaair regretted the hit?’ one supporter wrote on social media. ‘I agree with the appeal. It should be much longer,’ another joked. Several other fans shared their sentiment.
‘He should be thanking them. More fitting punishment would’ve been permanent expulsion from the league. It’s a terrible look for football,’ a third added. ‘He should be grateful he got a 3 game suspension. He should’ve been suspended for the rest of the season,’ a fourth said.
Al-Shaair had to be held back by his Texans teammates as the melee ensued while Lawrence, who was eventually carted off the field with a concussion, laid motionless on the turf.
During his final season with the San Francisco 49ers in 2022, the linebacker went for Tom Brady’s throat during a sack attempt.
After Brady released the ball, Al-Shaair wrapped his right hand around the Hall of Fame quarterback’s throat in a moment which quickly went viral.
And during the Texans’ game against the Bears in September, he also punched Chicago’s Roschon Johnson, who wasn’t even in the game at the time of another sideline confrontation.
