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Referees ejected linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair from Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars after the Houston Texans defender executed a dangerous cheap shot on a sliding Trevor Lawrence.
The field erupted in a brawl immediately after the hit, which left Lawrence laying motionless on his back as chaos erupted around him. Team doctors eventually carted the quarterback off of the field, and the team has yet to officially update his status.
After the melee finally subsided, officials booted Al-Shaair from the contest. Jaguars fans pelted him with objects from the stands as he exited the field, barking angrily at the crowd as he did so.
Aziz Al-Shaair with a NASTY cheapshot on Trevor Lawrence and the cart is coming out. Oh no. pic.twitter.com/ezPoa2nOt8
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 1, 2024
The incident garnered heavy reaction across social media, much of it negative and directed at Al-Shaair who has a history of dirty play. That history includes grabbing the throat of former NFL quarterback and current FOX Sports color commentator Tom Brady.
Video of that play resurfaced online in the aftermath of Al-Shaair's ejection. The linebacker was a member of the San Francisco 49ers at the time, while Brady was playing QB for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
A reminder of when Azeez Al-Shaair went for the throat against Tom Brady. pic.twitter.com/dpoM9qJppS
— Nash Henry (@NashJagsNats22) December 1, 2024
"A reminder of when Azeez Al-Shaair went for the throat against Tom Brady," an X user captioned the video.
The good news for Lawrence and the Jaguars is that the QB left the field conscious and sitting up in the cart as he headed to the locker room with what announcers dubbed a head injury, which could be a concussion.
As for Al-Shaair, he will likely face further punishment from the NFL, potentially including a fine and/or suspension.
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Jordan Love’s surprising anecdote about Aaron Rodgers changes what everyone assumed
When Jordan Love was drafted by the Green Bay Packers, the media immediately made his relationship with Aaron Rodgers a rivalry. In a recent post on the Players’ Tribune, Jordan Love finally addressed the noise. Many were stunned by the Green Bay Packers’ decision to draft Jordan Love in 2020. It was the first round. Aaron Rodgers had just thrown for over 4,000 yards, and there was no indication that he was going to be hanging up his cleats anytime soon. The Packers made a move out of left field, selecting the developmental quarterback out of Utah State with the 26th pick in the first round. Jordan Love was immediately engulfed in a media circus with a legendary quarterback he hadn’t even met yet. The media wanted Rodgers and Love to be rivals, but a recent post from the heir himself denies the claim There are endless rumors in the media about Aaron Rodgers being a bad teammate. Some will claim that where there’s smoke, there’s fire, while others will deny the claim. 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There’s nothing like it. When him and Davante were out on that practice field, they wouldn’t miss. Literally. They had some kind of telepathic thing going on. Aaron would snap the ball, and he’d just glance over at Davante’s release, and within a split second, he knew where to put it — doot — back shoulder. Perfect. There was no check, no communication. Just a look.“ The Green Bay Packers quarterback revealed how much he learned from Rodgers. That in the league, the game is so much more than just playing, and that Rodgers was the master of manipulation. He closed the segment by saying that when he finally took over in 2023, his mom said: “Big shoes to fill. You going to be alright? You gotta play good, or they’ll get another quarterback.” So far, Jordan Love has done just fine, and 2025 could be a breakout year for the third-year starter. 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There has to be value in studying those reps, and then sitting down with the man himself to watch the tape and understand what he saw. Jordan Love is poised for a big year in 2025, and it’s a beautiful touch to pay homage to the mentor he felt so fortunate to have. Barring any unforeseen injuries, the two will face one another for what may be the first and only time in their careers. The Green Bay Packers will play the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road on October 26th, on Sunday Night Football.
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