A couple of weeks ago, Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair put a nasty hit on Jacksonville Jaguars franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who is now out for the year with a concussion.
Al-Shaair was suspended three games for the hit.
Now, Carolina Panthers veteran edge-rusher Jadeveon Clowney has both stood up for Al-Shaair and called out the NFL in front of the media.
“They don’t look out for the defensive players. They only look out for the offensive players,” Clowney said Thursday in front of the Charlotte media.
Must Watch: #Panthers OLB Jadeveon Clowney DEFENDS #Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair's hit on Trevor Lawrence:
“They don’t look out for the defensive players. They only look out for the offensive players."
Clowney explains the situation perfectly ?pic.twitter.com/mIr9IqustD
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 12, 2024
Defensive players are put in a tough spot because they can’t necessarily hit the quarterback after a certain point.
They also can’t lead with the crown of their helmet on other tackles.
Defensive players are now in a more difficult position than ever because they can’t get too physical or do whatever it takes to stop the offense.
They are at risk of hefty fines and suspensions.
Al-Shaair’s hit looked extremely violent a couple of weeks ago and at least warranted some sort of fine considering the severity of Lawrence’s season-ending concussion.
But there are multiple sides to every debate and perhaps the NFL may need to re-evaluate its rules for defensive players.
Time will tell if the league decides to have any discussions moving forward this offseason regarding the concerns of the defensive players around the league when it comes to tackling and pursuing the quarterback.
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