The NFL upheld the three-game suspension of Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.
Ramon Foster, one of the hearing officers jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA, announced the decision Wednesday, one day after the punishment was handed down for repeated violations of player safety rules following Al-Shaair’s hit to the head of Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence on Sunday.
Al-Shaair’s hit was made while Lawrence was sliding to the ground, causing the Jaguars star to sustain a concussion. Lawrence was put on injured reserve Wednesday, probably ending his season.
Al-Shaair took to social media after Wednesday’s ruling, writing, “IF YOU WANT ME TO BE YOUR VILLAIN, ILL BE YOUR VILLAIN! SEE YOU SOON…”
When Al-Shaair’s suspension was announced Tuesday, Jon Runyan, the NFL’s vice president of policy and rules administration, wrote in his letter to Al-Shaair that the league deemed the hit “unacceptable” and that his “continued disregard” for rules governing player safety “will not be tolerated.”
Runyan added in his letter that Al-Shaair “proceeded to engage in a brawl, which you escalated when you pulled an opponent down to the ground by his facemask,” and also added that after being ejected, the six-year veteran “removed your helmet and reengaged with your opponent while walking down and across the field, which started another physical confrontation near the end zone.”
Al-Shaair will be eligible to return for Houston’s regular-season finale against the Tennessee Titans. Al-Shaair has a base salary of $1.5 million this season, meaning it will cost him about $265,000.
