HOUSTON – As the Texans adapt to the loss of veteran linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair for the next three games due to an NFL suspension for his controversial concussion-causing tackle on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the AFC South leaders are determined to not regress on defense.
This marks the second time this season Al-Shaair is out for an extended portion of the schedule. He previously missed three games due to a knee injury.
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Losing Al-Shaair’s hard-hitting presence and range and skill in pass coverage represents a blow to the team, though.
One week after a feisty reaction from general manager Nick Caserio primarily due to the scolding final paragraph of disciplinary officer Jon Runyan’s letter to Al-Shaair explaining the suspension and inconsistent applications of the NFL rulebook, coach DeMeco Ryans’ answers to questions about the team captain were short and to the point. His overriding message: the Texans are turning the page toward a Sunday game against the Miami Dolphins.
This marked Ryans’ first public comments since appeals officer Ramon Foster upheld Al-Shaair’s original three-game suspension.
“It’s going to hurt losing Azeez, but we’re pressing forward,” Ryans said Monday. “We’re onto Miami. Nothing we can do about that, we’re onto Miami and that’s our focus. That’s the main thing for us right now is how do we go out and handle Miami.”
The Texans and Al-Shaair have been one of the biggest stories in the NFL over the past week. Ryans took issue with how long Lawrence took to commit to a slide along with the Jaguars, including tight end Evan Engram, attacking Al-Shaair by their sideline after the hit. Only Engram was fined by the league office. No other Texans players were punished except for Al-Shaair for two melees that broke out and an NFL referee noted that the Jaguars behaved worse than Houston after the incident.
Now, the Texans are moving forward without Al-Shaair. That means a combination of Henry To’oTo’o, Devin White and Neville Hewitt filling in the gaps on defense without a talented linebacker and emotional team leader who signed a three-year, $34 million free agent deal this offseason to reunite with Ryans.
'Not having Azeez will hurt but we're moving on to Miami' #Texams coach DeMeco Ryans @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/4rxQjwQfY0
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) December 9, 2024
That was the overall message Monday inside NRG Stadium a few days after Al-Shaair’s suspension was upheld.
“That’s one of my best friends,” To’oTo’o said. “I’m going to ride for him no matter what. He means so much to this team, but we’ll hold it down for him.”
Al-Shaair reacted after the decision, in outspoken fashion on social media and posted a photo of the Joker: “If you want me to be your villain, I’ll be your villain. See you soon.”
Al-Shaair has been criticized heavily on social media for his Muslim faith, including several racist comments, and his support through My Cause, My Cleats of a Palestine children’s relief fund.
The deeply religious former Florida Atlantic standout also wrote: ‘There is beauty in being rejected. Misunderstood. Unseen and unprotected by people. It teaches you to rely on Allah for everything.”
#Texans linebacker Henry To'oTo'o reflects on Azeez Al-Shaair suspension, return of Christian Harris and competing with his friend #Dolphins Tua Tagovailoa @KPRC2 https://t.co/SkQ2V8p9BI
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) December 9, 2024
Caserio pointed out the inequity of Al-Shaair’s punishment compared to other players who were ejected but weren’t suspended, including Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch. Al-Shaair had never been suspended previously, but has been fined twice this season, including $11,817 for punching Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson after being surrounded by their players on the sideline after a legal hit on rookie quarterback Caleb Williams that enraged the Bears and $11,255 for his late hit on Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard, which was penalized.
In an impassioned press conference last week, Caserio spoke out about what’s been said about Al-Shaair.
“One of the biggest issues that take umbrage with, as a team and organizationally, is the picture that’s been painted of Azeez,” Caserio said. “Quite frankly, it’s unfair. I think that’s all teams ask for is consistency from the league. I would say in this situation -- I mean, quite frankly, there’s no consistency at all relative to the level of discipline that’s been handed down. Nobody embodies our program more than Azeez, what he’s about, what he’s been through. You all know his story. There’s not a more selfless individual, more about the team, who’s earned the respect, that represents everything that we want this program to be about. We’re talking about some of the commentary that has been made about his character, about the person that he is, about what his intentions are, from people that, quite frankly, don’t know anything about Azeez Al-Shaair.
“For the league to make some of the commentary that they made about lack of sportsmanship, lack of coachability, lack of paying attention to the rules, quite frankly, it’s embarrassing. From our perspective, talk about a player who’s never been suspended, never been ejected. So, now we’re saying that he’s going to be suspended for three games. I think the big thing from our standpoint, and all teams want this, is just some level of consistency. We’ve talked to the league. Quite frankly, we don’t have a good explanation. I think where we take umbrage is the picture that’s been painted about Azeez, his intentions, who he is as a person. I mean, quite frankly, it’s bull--- and it’s unfair to the individual, it’s unfair to the organization. We love everything about Azeez Al-Shaair, what he means to this team, what he brings to this team.”
In the NFL disciplinary letter from Runyan to Al-Shaair explaining the suspension, he cited repeated violations of the rules intended to protect the health and safety of players and promote sportsmanship.
“During your game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 1, with 4:20 remaining in the second quarter, you were involved in a play that the League considers unacceptable and a serious violation of the playing rules,” Runyan wrote. “Video shows you striking the head/neck area of Jaguars’ quarterback Trevor Lawrence after he clearly goes down in a feet-first slide...You led with your forearm and helmet and delivered a forceful blow to the head/neck area of your opponent when you had time and space to avoid such contact.”
“After the illegal hit, you proceeded to engage in a brawl, which you escalated when you pulled an opponent down to the ground by his facemask. After the referee announced that you were disqualified for the hit and your unsportsmanlike acts, you removed your helmet and reengaged with your opponent while walking down and across the field, which started another physical confrontation near the end zone. Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all those who play, coach, and enjoy watching it, is troubling and does not reflect the core values of the NFL. Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules puts the health and safety of both you and your opponents in jeopardy and will not be tolerated.”
It’s the final paragraph that enraged the Texans.
IF YOU WANT ME TO BE YOUR VILLAIN, ILL BE YOUR VILLAIN!🖕🏾SEE YOU SOON…🃏 pic.twitter.com/GA5FMglMjz
— Azeez Al-shaair (@A_train2_) December 5, 2024
#Texans coach DeMeco Ryans on return of Christian Harris and being back from bye @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/dgg33FJgly
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) December 9, 2024
“When you put information and make a statement in a letter with not having talked, ever talked to a player, not knowing the player, and then to basically paint a picture ‘Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all those who play, coach, and enjoy watching is troubling and does not reflect the core values of the NFL,’” Caserio said. “So, that essentially implies that Azeez doesn’t give a crap about the fans, doesn’t give a crap about playing football the right way, is not coachable. It couldn’t be further from the truth.”
Several players, including running back Joe Mixon and offensive tackle Tytus Howard, have posted their support for Al-Shaair, who has 68 tackles, seven for losses and two forced fumbles in just 10 games, on social media.
Ryans was asked if not having Al-Shaair can be a rallying motivational tool for the team.
“For us, as I said earlier, we’ve moved on from that, and it has no bearing on what we’re doing right now,” Ryans said. “Our focus is on Miami.”
“As I said earlier, we’ve moved on from that, and it has no bearing on what we’re doing right now,” Ryans said when asked if Al-Shaair’s absence was something they could use for motivation. “Our focus is on Miami.”
The suspension costs him $112,745 per week, including $83,333 per week in salary, plus $29,411.76 in per game active roster bonuses.
Al-Shaair will be eligible to return following a Week 17 game against the Ravens.
The hit, a forearm blow to Lawrence’s facemask from Al-Shaair, was immediately characterized as a “dirty hit,” by Jaguars players and by former players and television analysts. Texans players rose to Al-Shaair’s defense. Some Jaguars players, including standout pass rusher Josh Hines-Allen questioned whether Al-Shaair should even be fined, let alone suspended.
“We gone step for you, bro,” Mixon posted on Instagram in support of Al-Shaair.
Al-Shaair apologized in a statement to Lawrence and defended his character.
“I’ve always played the game as hard as I could,” Al-Shaair wrote on social media. “Never with the intent to harm anyone and anybody that knows me knows that. 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. And when the game is over go home to your family because it’s not personal, it’s just competition! I genuinely didn’t see him sliding until it was too late. And it all happened in the blink of an eye.
“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. I would never want to see any player hurt because of a hit I put on them, especially one that’s deemed ‘late’ or ‘unnecessary.’ To the rest of his teammates, I can definitely understand you having his back and defending him in a situation like that.”
Mixon spoke out against Runyan, who was known for his roughneck tactics during his playing days as a Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman. There’s a widely-shared video clip of him delivering a flying headbutt to an unsuspecting player.
“Is this not the same person that just suspended agent 0?” Mixon wrote. “Dude had no integrity for the game.. Does anybody else not see the hypocrisy in this… WHAT ARE WE DOING!?!?”
Retired Super Bowl MVP quarterback Tom Brady took Al-Shaair’s side during an appearance on FOX Sports noting how it’s on the quarterback to slide properly.
“If you slide, everyone can argue: Was it black and white, or was it a gray area?” Brady said. “Did you slide late, or was it unnecessary roughness? Or is it a late hit? To me, a late hit is very late. I think it’s gone to a point where everyone will label someone as a dirty player. I don’t like that one bit.”
Last week, Ryans defended Al-Shaair’s character. Ryans has known Al-Shaair since he entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent six years ago.
“I talk to Azeez every day,” Ryans said. “Azeez is a great person, exceptional leader for us. And Azeez is a really good player. And he plays the game the right way. His intent is never to hurt anyone as he’s playing the game. If anybody that knows Azeez and talks to Azeez, nobody with a bigger heart than Azeez. I mean, this guy is a special guy.
“A special young man, love working with him and for any picture that’s painted that Azeez is a dirty player or doing something intentional, that’s the exact opposite of what Azeez is. People who know Azeez, they know him, they know how he plays the game. Yes, he plays it fast, he plays it physical, but sometimes that physical nature gets misunderstood in today’s game. Azeez, the type of guy he is, he’s just a very caring guy.”
During the suspension, Al-Shaair will be isolated from the Texans’ ‘training facility at NRG Stadium.
That’s a long time for Al-Shaair to be away from his support system with the Texans.
“Another thing that no one’s really talking about, the way the suspension is designed specifically, essentially you’re saying you can’t have any contact with a player for however many weeks,” Caserio said. “So, if the league says they care about the well-being of their players, I would say in a time like this I am sure Azeez is probably going through a lot of things, like we can’t even provide support on a multitude of levels.
“So, it’s a little bit hypocritical to be able to say, ‘Yeah, we want to support the players, but you know what, organization can’t have contact with him for weeks.’ So what do you want us to do? Does he got to just go float by himself? So there’s just a lot of layers of this, and I think we’ve got to take a step back and try to absorb it and try to understand it. Again, I think the big thing from our perspective is just consistency. That was the main thing.”
Over the years, football has changed significantly. Hits that were celebrated in different eras are now illegal and lead to heavy fines and suspensions. Not everyone agrees with the changes, but the NFL wants to protect players from concussions, especially with so many diagnosed with CTE and other brain issues after they’re done playing and dying prematurely.
“The game has evolved, we all understand that,” Caserio said. “Some of us grew up at a different time, and football was played a different way. The rules are what the rules are. We try to play within the rules, try to play good, clean football. That’s how we coach it. That’s what we believe in. We never walk out on the field with the intention of trying to harm someone.
“It’s a physical sport. It’s a physical nature. Things happen during the course of games. The league has to mandate the rules and regulations however they see fit. I think the biggest issue is just the overall level of consistency and just trying to establish some level of precedent, which that’s all we’re trying to grapple with and understand.”
Al-Shaair’s teammates came to his defense, including defensive tackle Tim Settle Jr. providing his perspective on what happened.
“Azeez plays fast, man, he plays physical,” Settle told KPRC 2. “He’s one of the faster linebackers. He’s not a dirty player, at all. I don’t think his intentions was to hurt him. He’s just trying to get us off the field, he’s trying to get the offense back on the field and we praise how he plays. We know he’s not intentional like that. Plays like that happen.
“I’m behind Azeez. That’s my brother. Even though it was a bad play, I’m behind him. He plays good ball. That was nothing back in the day. Obviously, the game has changed. We got to abide by the rules. I feel like we’ll do better in that situation next time. we don’t need to lose one of our stars on defense I feel like it’s a learning experience.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com
