Joe Theismann reveals his stance on Azeez Al-Shaair’s controversial song on Trevor Lawrence

INTERMEDIATE: NFL legend Joe Theismann just happened to play the Jacksonville Jaguars game against the Houston Texans on Dec. 1.

Seven games took place at 1 p.m. that day, including Theismann’s former team, the Washington Commanders. But coincidentally, he watched what ended up being one of the most controversial moments of the NFL season.

Theismann saw Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence take a bad illegal hit from Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair in the second quarter when the linebacker tried to slide on a play. It was both players’ last game of the season, as Al-Shaair was ejected and suspended for three games and Lawrence was placed on season-ending injured reserve.

“It’s a violent game, people hit each other, sometimes things happen,” Theismann told Fox News Digital. “The league has really made a decision and gave him a three-game suspension so they can see if it’s possible [Al-Shaair] it would have controlled the beating a little.”

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For Theismann, it was a moment like the last time he played on the NFL floor 39 years ago. In November of the 1985 season, Theismann was hit by New York Giants quarterback Lawrence Taylor on a play that broke the former quarterback’s leg and ended his playing career.

Lawrence’s hit song may not have had the same impact, but it distracted him and caused a lot of conflict between the band’s players. But Theismann also believes it’s time to rekindle the conversation about sliding quarterbacks.

“The quarterback slide, now he’s going to have to revisit a little bit. As a quarterback you have to think about how you want to defend yourself. I always tell the players this, don’t let the rules or the rules. The officials protect you, protect you,” said Theismann.

“If you’re going to slide, boy, now because of this, maybe slide a little bit faster, a little bit earlier, so you try and hope that something like this will be used in the right way so that we don’t.” I will see this happen again.”

Theismann declined to comment on whether he thought Al-Shaair’s suspension was justified.

Fellow legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady offered a similar take on Theismann during an interview with “The Herd” on Dec. 3.

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Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence slides down the field in front of Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, Dis. 1, 2024. (Photos by Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn)

“Defensive players have to be aggressive, that’s natural,” said Brady. “Quarterbacks need to take better care of themselves… When you run, you take a lot of risk. When you do that, I don’t think the job of protecting the running back should be on the defensive player. I don’t think that’s really bad for the defense.”

Brady also said he doesn’t agree with the idea that Al-Shaair’s song shows that the quarterback is a “dirty player.”

However, others were more critical of Al-Shaair.

Jon Runyan, the NFL’s vice president of football operations, released a stinging speech about Al-Shaair shortly after the incident, amid a wave of backlash against the defender of the song.

“Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all who play, coach, and enjoy it is troubling and does not reflect the core values ​​of the NFL … you and your opponents are at risk and will not be tolerated,” Runyan said.

Al-Shaair apologized for the song and insisted it was not intentional. But the backlash has been so strong that he has responded to it in many ways.

Al-Shaair also spoke out against “racist and Islamophobic fans” after the public response to the incident. Many fans were looking closely at what she was wearing Palestinian cleats.

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Players fight after Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair hits Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Dis. 1, 2024, in Jacksonville. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

“To all the other people who have called me every name in the book from journalists who are ready for the story of finding their criminal, fans and people who are racist and Islamophobic, you do not know my heart or my heart. I do not need to prove it to anyone of you. God knows my intentions and anyone who has ever been it’s the team or my friend knows my heart,” he wrote in a statement.

After Al-Shaair’s three-game suspension was announced, he sent a different message on Wednesday.

Al-Shaair posted a set of Instagram photos with the cryptic caption, “IF YOU WANT ME TO BE YOUR WIFE, BE YOUR VIIIN! SEE YOU SOON.”

The four pictures he posted were of him entering the field, a pro-Palestinian cleat, a picture of Heath Ledger playing the Joker and the quote, “There is beauty in being rejected, misunderstood, unseen, and not protected by people. It teaches you to trust Allah in everything.”

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