Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was suspended by the NFL for three games following the hit to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence was knocked out of the game, and the hit resulted in a concussion.
Read more: Texans LB Given Huge Suspension For Brutal Hit That Knocked Out Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence
Al-Shaair posted a lengthy apology to Lawrence, and also apologized to the league and players for the fight that also occurred following the hit. However, despite the kind words, he was given a steep suspension for a hit he claimed was not intentional.
Now, Texans general manager Nick Caserio has ripped into the NFL for the treatment of Al-Shaair, claiming the inconsistency with punishments is "embarrassing" and "bullshit."
Caserio spoke to reporters about the suspension and attacked the NFL for the inconsistency in terms of punishment.
"I think one of the biggest issues that we sort of take umbrage with is, I would say as a team and an organizationally is the picture that has been painted about Azeez. Quite frankly, it's unfair. I would say one of the biggest issues, and I probably speak for a lot of teams, not only the Houston Texans...That's all teams ask for is consistency from the league. I would say in this situation, quite frankly, there is no consistency at all relative to the discipline that has been handed down."
Caserio brings up Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch being suspended only one game, along with Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James also receiving only a one-game suspension, compared to Al-Shaair receiving three.
"We're gonna say Azeez Al-Shaair, who nobody embodies our program more than Azeez. What he's about, what he's been through. You all know his story. There is not a more selfless individual, more about the team, who has earned the respect that represents everything that we want this program to be about. This morning, he was at a United Way event. So, 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 from people who quite frankly do not know anything about Azeez Al-Shaair. And for the league to make some of the commentary they made about lack of sportsmanship, lack of coachability, lack of paying attention to the rules. Quite frankly, it's embarrassing ... Talk about a player that who has never been suspended, never been ejected. Now we are saying he is gonna be suspended for three games? So, it is what it is. I think the big thing from our standpoint is, and all teams wants this — is some level of consistency."
Caserio then ends his comments by referring to the treatment of Al-Shaair as being highly unfair.
"I'm sure Azeez is going to go through whatever process he is going to go through, and we will deal with it accordingly. But I think where we take umbrage is the picture that has been painted about Azeez, his intentions, who he is as a person. I mean it's quite frankly bull****, and it's unfair to the individual, it's unfair to the organization..."
Caserio let the NFL have it in terms of the punishment given to Azeez. The Texans linebacker is also set to appeal the decision, though there is no telling what the league will do in terms of lessening the suspension in any way.
For more on the Texans, head to Newsweek Sports.
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