CNN
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Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans defended Azeez Al-Shaair after the linebacker was ejected from Sunday’s sport for throwing a late hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Ryans stated Monday the group stands behind the sixth-year participant and defined the incident must be thought of from either side of the ball.
“We’re not deliberately attempting to harm anybody, however I believe there’s an overreaction when somebody will get harm however we simply have to have a look at all of it, from all views.
“Numerous the quarterbacks these days, they attempt to reap the benefits of the rule the place they slide late, and so they attempt to get an additional yard. And now you’re a defender, a number of onus is on the defender, proper?”
Ryans added, “Unfortunately, Trevor obtained harm. We hope Trevor is okay.
“But – it’s additionally if we’re sliding, we’ve got to get down. If we’re getting out of bounds, we get out of bounds. That rule is there to guard the quarterbacks, and we wish our quarterbacks to be protected within the league, so we simply need to be protected and we’re sliding, be sure we’re holding our heads down.”
A league supply tells CNN’s Coy Wire that the NFL is leaning towards disciplining Al-Shaair within the type of a suspension.
It’s customary for the NFL to overview a success just like the one seen Sunday for potential self-discipline, with earlier guidelines violations as a part of the consideration.
Al-Shaair was beforehand fined $11,255 for a late hit that occurred November 24 in a sport towards the Tennessee Titans. He additionally was fined $11,817 for punching a participant in Houston’s sport towards the Chicago Bears in Week 2.
Ryans stated Al-Shaair performs the sport “the appropriate approach” and would by no means intend to harm one other participant.
“For any image that’s painted that Azeez is a grimy participant or doing one thing intentional, that’s the precise reverse of what Azeez is.
“People who know Azeez they know him, they understand how he performs the sport.
“Yes, he performs it quick, he performs it bodily and generally that bodily nature will get misunderstood in in the present day’s sport.”
On Monday, Al-Shaair issued an apology to Lawrence for the hit, whereas additionally calling out “racist and Islamophobic” abuse he has acquired since.
“I genuinely didn’t see him sliding till it was too late,” he wrote on social media.
“And all of it occurs within the blink of a watch. To Trevor I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up taking place. Before the sport we spoke and I instructed you the way it was nice to see you again out on the sphere and wished you properly. I might by no means wish to see any participant harm due to a success I placed on them particularly one which’s deemed ‘late’ or ‘pointless.’”
He continued, “To the remainder of the individuals who I’ve been referred to as each single identify within the e-book from reporters with their arms prepared for a narrative to seek out their (villain), to racist and Islamophobic followers and folks, you don’t know my coronary heart nor my character which I don’t have to show to any of you.”
Earlier, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson was requested what he thought an acceptable punishment is perhaps for Al-Shaair. Peterson referenced the skirmishes and fights at a number of NCAA soccer video games on Saturday.
“I believe the league goes to deal with these conditions as they arrive up. Just have a look at what even occurred in school soccer, a few of these rivalry video games and issues of that nature over the weekend. It’s unlucky as a result of it escalates to a stage that doesn’t should be on the sphere.
“We maintain ourselves to a excessive regard. We’re within the National Football League. Defend the protect. All that stuff. We obtained to determine a approach as a league to by some means decrease or at the very least get these performs out of the sport, if doable,” Pederson stated.
The Texans are actually on a bye week and can play once more on Dec. 15 towards the Miami Dolphins.
