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EXCLUSIVE: NFL legend Joe Theismann hosted the Jacksonville Jaguars’ game against the Houston Texans on December 1st.
Seven 1 p.m. games were held that day, including one with Theismann’s former team, the Washington Commanders. But by pure coincidence, he tuned in to watch a game that ended in one of the most controversial moments of the NFL season.
Theismann watched the Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence take a brutal illegal hit from Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair in the second quarter when the quarterback attempted to slide down on a play. It was the last play by either player this season, as Al-Shaair was ejected and received a three-game suspension, while Lawrence was placed on season-ending injury reserve.
“It’s a violent sport, people hit each other and sometimes things happen,” Theismann told Fox News Digital. “Evidently the league actually made the decision and gave him a three-game suspension, so they felt like maybe (Al-Shaair) could have controlled the hit a little bit more.”
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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence slides down as Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair makes a late hit, Dec. 1, 2024, at EverBank Stadium. (Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union)
For Theismann, it was a moment that felt like the last time he played a down in the NFL 39 years ago. In November of the 1985 season, Theismann was tackled by New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor on a play that broke the former quarterback’s leg and ended his playing career.
The hit to Lawrence won’t have the same impact, but it did give him a concussion and sparked a massive fight between teammates. But Theismann also believes it’s a moment that should also spark a discussion about quarterbacks sliding.
“The quarterback slides, now they’re going to have to look at it a little bit. As a quarterback you have to consider how you want to protect yourself. I’ve always told this to the players, don’t let the rules or the officials protect you, protect yourself. yourself,” Theismann said.
“If you’re going to slide, man, now because of this, maybe it’s going to slide a little faster, a little sooner, so try and hope something like this is used in a positive way so we don’t do it.” “I don’t see this happening again.”
Theismann declined to comment on whether he thought Al-Shaair’s suspension was justified.
Fellow famous NFL quarterback Tom Brady expressed a similar opinion to Theismann during an interview on “The Herd” on December 3.
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Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence slides in front of Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, on Dec. 1, 2024. (Images by Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn)
“Defensive players have to be aggressive, that’s their nature,” Brady said. “Quarterbacks need to take better care of themselves… When you run, you put yourself in a lot of danger. When you do that, I don’t think the responsibility of protecting an offensive quarterback who is running should fall on a defensive player. I don’t think that’s really fair. for a defense.”
Brady also said he disagreed with the idea that Al-Shaair’s hit indicates the linebacker is a “dirty player.”
However, others have been much more critical of Al-Shaair.
Jon Runyan, NFL vice president of football operations, published a scathing statement on Al-Shaair shortly after the incident, amid a wave of intense reactions against the linebacker for the hit.
“Their 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… Their continued disregard for the NFL’s rules of the game jeopardizes the health and safety. Both you and your opponents are in danger and will not be tolerated,” Runyan said.
Al-Shaair apologized for the hit and insisted it was not intentional. But the reaction has been so strong that he has reacted in multiple ways.
Al-Shaair also spoke out against “racist and Islamophobic fanatics” following the public response to the incident. Many fans scrutinized him for using pro-Palestinian tacos.
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Players fight after Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair hits Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence on Dec. 1, 2024, in Jacksonville. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
“To the rest of the people who have called me every name in the book, from journalists with their hands ready for a story to find its villain, to bigots and racist and Islamophobic people, you do not know my heart or my character “I don’t need to prove it to any of you. God knows my intentions and anyone who has been a teammate or friend of mine knows my heart,” he wrote in a statement.
After it was announced that Al-Shaair’s appeal of his three-game suspension had been rejected, he sent a message with a different tone on Wednesday.
Al-Shaair posted a collection of photos on Instagram with the cryptic caption: “IF YOU WANT ME TO BE YOUR VILLAIN, HE WILL BE YOUR VILLAIN! SEE YOU SOON.”
The four photos he posted were of him entering the field, a pro-Palestinian shoe, a photo of Heath Ledger as the Joker and a quote that said: “There is a beauty in being rejected, misunderstood, invisible and unprotected by people. It teaches you to trust in Allah for everything.”
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