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Azeez Al-Shaair posts unhinged Joker meme, embraces 'villain' role after suspension appeal denial

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz12/04/24

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Trevor Lawrence
Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

After his suspension appeal was denied, Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair responded via social media. He posted a Joker meme with a message saying he’ll embrace the “villain” role.

The NFL upheld Al-Shaair’s three-game suspension for a hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, which knocked him out of the game. Jacksonville placed Lawrence on injured reserve Wednesday, ending his season.

“IF YOU WANT ME TO BE YOUR VILLAIN, [I’LL] BE YOUR VILLAIN!” Al-Shaair wrote on X. “SEE YOU SOON…”

Al-Shaair included another quote in his post: “There is a beauty in being rejected, misunderstood, unseen and unprotected by people. It teaches you to rely on Allah for everything.”

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Azeez Al-Shaair was suspended three games by the NFL following the hit and subsequent ejection from the game. He planned to appeal, but also issued an apology on social media in the aftermath.

“I’ve always played the game as hard as I could. Never with the intent to harm anyone and anybody that knows me knows that,” Al-Shaair wrote, via X. “My goal is to hit you as hard as I can then I pray you’re still able to get up and play the next play. And when the game is over go home to your family unharmed because it’s not personal it’s just competition! We both are trying to do the same thing which is provide for our families! I genuinely didn’t see him sliding until it was too late. And it all happens in the blink of an eye.

“To Trevor I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening. Before the game we spoke and I told you how it was great to see you back out on the field and wished you well. I would never want to see any player hurt because of a hit I put on them, especially one that’s deemed ‘late’ or ‘unnecessary.’ To the rest of his teammates I can definitely understand you having his back and defending him in a situation like that.”