Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair’s blunt Instagram response after NFL upheld three-game suspension

The NFL’s suspension on Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair has been upheld following a Wednesday appeal hearing.

Al-Shaair is suspended for three games following a late hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The tackle occurred while Lawrence was sliding on a 6-yard scramble and Al-Shaair led with his helmet and arm, hitting Lawrence in the head/neck area and causing a concussion that has landed Lawrence on Injured Reserve.

A brawl broke out shortly after and Al-Shaair was given the suspension as a result of both the hit and for instigating after the brawl began.

Al-Shaair’s clownish reaction to suspension

As the Texans are on a bye this week‚ Al-Shaair will miss their Week 15 game against the Miami Dolphins, their Week 16 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, and their Week 17 Christmas Day game against the Baltimore Ravens. He will be eligible to return for their Week 18 finale against the Tennessee Titans.

After the suspension was appealed and upheld, Al-Shaair reacted with a post on Instagram which included a photo of the Joker from the Batman series and this caption: “IF YOU WANT ME TO BE YOUR VILLAIN, ILL BE YOUR VILLAIN!🖕🏾SEE YOU SOON…🃏"

Al-Shaair had previously issued an apology for the hit on Trevor Lawrence in which he said it “all happened in the blink of an eye” and that he “genuinely didn’t see him sliding until it was too late.”

“To Trevor I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening. Before the game we spoke and I told you how it was great to see you back out on the field and wished you well,” Al-Shaair wrote. “My goal is to hit you as hard as I can then I pray you’re still able to get up and play the next play.”

This is Al-Shaair’s sixth season in the league and first in Houston and while Texans general manager Nick Caseiro pointed out that he has never been suspended before, the league’s vice president of football operations, Jon Runyan, stated that the ruling was in part for a “continued disregard for NFL playing rules”.

Video emerges of Azeez Al-Shaair’s other cheap shots in the NFL

The whole ordeal has sparked controversy amongst analysts, fans, and coaches with some defending the play as physical. Tom Brady, who was once put in a momentary chokehold by Al-Shaair in 2022, said he has “mixed emotions” and that some responsibility should be put on the quarterback as well. Many called the play dirty. Others said it deserved a penalty, but not a suspension. Others said the suspension is warranted, but the length too harsh. The other topic of conversation is the lack of consistency in the NFL’s enacting of these kinds of punishments.

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