Week 13, 2024
Azeez Al-Shaair suspended 3 games for flagrant hit and subsequent brawl
Hit and reigniting brawl cited in disciplinary letter
Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair has been suspended three games after a flagrant hit to the head of Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence on Sunday. Lawrence was sliding to end his run when he was contacted. The league instructs defensive players to go over the top of a sliding runner and they are prohibited from contacting the head or neck area; the rule is the same for any sliding runner, regardless if it is the quarterback.
Al-Shaair committed two flagrant acts that got him ejected from the game. First, he launched himself into the tackle, then lead with a forearm to the facemask and neck area of Lawrence. The letter that the league sent to Al-Shaair did not mention the launching aspect, according to the text of the letter included with the league’s press release.
Jon Runyan, the head of the on-field disciplinary wing of football operations, added in the disciplinary letter that Al-Shaair reignited the fighting on the field after Land Clark’s officiating crew had mostly restored order.
“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,” Runyan stated in the letter. “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.”
The Texans are on a bye week in Week 14, so the suspension will be served beginning in the Week 15 game against the Dolphins. Al-Shaair is allowed to appeal the decision in a procedure outlined in the league’s collective bargaining agreement with the players. Typically, the appeals are heard on an expedited basis, so that teams know if the suspension is upheld or not prior to the next game. But in this case, there is no time constraint due to the Texans bye week.
There are four appeals officers, all former players: Derrick Brooks, Ramon Foster, Kevin Mawae, and Jordy Nelson. They are paid by the league and the players union to remain independent.
Update 12/5: Foster, the retired Steelers lineman, served as the appeals officer and upheld the 3-game suspension.
Based on past suspensions and the appeals process, multiple-game suspensions have been reduced when there wasn’t a prior one-game suspension. It appears here that the seriousness of the hit, coupled with his persistence in fighting after the play, that Runyan may have factored a possible reduction on appeal to ensure that at least 2 games are served.
The league has assessed a multiple-game suspension 15 other times for an on-field incident. Most of those suspensions were handed down since the 2011 season.
Multiple-game suspensions for on-field infractions
| Player | Team | Season | Suspension | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vontaze Burfict | OAK | 2019 | 12 games* | flagrant lowering helmet to initiate contact, numerous past infractions in a continuous span (ejected) |
| Myles Garrett | CLE | 2019 | 6 games* | removing a player’s helmet and using it as a weapon (ejected) |
| Albert Haynesworth | TEN | 2005 | 5 games | stepping on face of prone, helmetless player (ejected) |
| Kareem Jackson | DEN | 2023 | 4 games | flagrant lowering helmet to initiate contact, 3rd play following 2-game suspension (no penalty) |
| Azeez Al-Shaair | HOU | 2024 | 3 games | flagrant hit on a sliding player and reigniting post-play fight (ejected) |
| Damontae Kazee | PIT | 2023 | 3 games‡ | flagrant defenseless player hit with previous safety violations (ejected) |
| Vontaze Burfict | CIN | 2017 | 3 games‡ | preseason blindside block/unnecessary roughness with prior suspendable infractions (no penalty) |
| Vontaze Burfict | CIN | 2015† | 3 games | AFC WILD CARD multiple infractions of defenseless player hits (no penalty) |
| Denzel Perryman | HOU | 2023 | 2 games | flagrant hit by lowering helmet, multiple offenses |
| Kareem Jackson | DEN | 2023 | 2 games‡ | flagrant defenseless receiver hit, second ejectable offense of season (ejected) |
| Javon Wims | CHI | 2020 | 2 games | punching an opponent (ejected) |
| Maurkice Pouncey | PIT | 2019 | 2 games‡ | punching and kicking (ejected) |
| Brandon Meriweather | WAS | 2014† | 2 games | preseason defenseless player hit, multiple prior illegal hits (prior suspension reduced 2 games to 1 on appeal) |
| Ndamukong Suh | DET | 2011 | 2 games | stomped on prone player (ejected) |
| Charles Martin | GB | 1986 | 2 games | slamming quarterback long after pass thrown (ejected) |
| Antonio Smith | HOU | 2013 | 1+ game§ | preseason using a helmet as a weapon, but no contact (no penalty) |
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*Remainder of the season, including postseason (did not miss postseason games). |
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