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Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans has sparked controversy by ionately defending linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after his ejection during Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Al-Shaair was penalized for a late hit on quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who had already slid to the ground. The hit resulted in a concussion for Lawrence and triggered a sideline brawl, drawing widespread criticism and calls for Al-Shaair's suspension.
Ryans stood firmly behind his player during a Monday press conference, praising Al-Shaair as an "exceptional leader" and rejecting claims that the linebacker is a dirty player.
Azeez plays the game the right way," Ryans said. "His intent is never to hurt anyone. For anyone to paint him as a dirty player is the exact opposite of who he is.
Ryans also criticized the NFL's sliding rule, which protects quarterbacks but, in his view, puts defenders in difficult situations.
Quarterbacks often slide late to gain extra yards, making it hard for defenders to judge whether to commit to a tackle," Ryans explained. "It's unfortunate Trevor got hurt, and we hope he's OK, but the rule needs clarity.
A question of hypocrisy
While defending Al-Shaair's actions, Ryans described the Jaguars' sideline reaction as an "overreaction" that escalated the situation unnecessarily. However, his comments are drawing scrutiny due to his contrasting stance on discipline just months ago.
During Texans training camp in July, Ryans addressed in-house scuffles between players, acknowledging the intensity of the sport while cautioning against actions that could hurt the team during a game.
"If you throw punches in a game, you're thrown out. It's not representative of who we are as a team," Ryans said at the time, emphasizing the importance of protecting the team's reputation.
Critics are now questioning the inconsistency in Ryans' handling of the two incidents. While he condemned unnecessary aggression within his team during practice, he downplayed the Jaguars' retaliation and ed Al-Shaair's controversial hit.
The fallout
The NFL has yet to announce whether Al-Shaair will face suspension. However, the incident has sparked debates about player safety, sliding rules, and the role of discipline in professional football.
For now, Ryans' defense of his linebacker highlights the challenges coaches face in balancing loyalty to their players with maintaining the integrity of the game.