"Like when you choked Tom Brady?" - NFL fans refuse to buy Texans LB’s apology for Trevor Lawrence controversy

Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair sparked widespread controversy after a devastating hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The incident happened on Sunday during Houston's 23-20 win.

His late hit left Trevor Lawrence with a concussion, triggering an immediate ejection and criticism.

The incident occurred midway through the second quarter. Lawrence scrambled for a six-yard run and slid down when Al-Shaair lunged forward. It resulted in Al-Shaair striking him around the head and neck with his left elbow. The hit was so severe that Lawrence was carted off the field, with the Jaguars confirming his concussion.

This wasn't Al-Shaair's first brush with controversy. Earlier this season, he received an $11,817 fine for punching Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson on the sideline in Week 2. His history of aggressive plays includes a notorious incident with Tom Brady in 2022.

During a game with the San Francisco 49ers, Al-Shaair wrapped his hand around Brady's throat after a pass release. Despite Brady pointing out the action to officials, no penalty was called. This pattern of behavior has raised serious questions about his playing style.

Al-Shaair posted a lengthy social media apology on Monday to address the mounting criticism.

"I genuinely didn't see him sliding until it was too late," Al-Shaair wrote.

He emphasized that his goal was to play hard while ensuring players return home safely to their families.

Fans quickly took to the comments section to share their reactions.

"Like when you choked Tom Brady and punched Johnson on the Bears?! Take accountability!" a fan said.

"Nah. It'd be different if it were a one-time thing but you been dirty all year," another fan said.

"This might mean something if you weren't already a dirty player," a fan wrote.

"forced apology. good job to whoever media trained this guy," one fan commented.

Here are more fan reactions.

"Brother you launched while he was on the ground," a fan said.

"If the announcers hadn’t made a big deal of it, no one would care," a fan wrote.

League intervention and team response to Trevor Lawrence controversy

Jaguars players were equally unimpressed. Tight end Evan Engram called the hit to Trevor Lawrence "not clean," and told reporters he reacted on instinct to defend his quarterback. The hit triggered a brief scuffle between Jaguars and Texans players, with Jarrian Jones and Brandon Scherff confronting Al-Shaair directly.

Texans coach DeMeco Ryans attempted to mitigate the situation. He said after the game that the play was "not what we're coaching" and "not representative of who Azeez is." Ryans also plans to meet with Al-Shaair to discuss the incident.

The linebacker also included in his apology that "God knows my intentions" and emphasized that teammates and friends understand his character.

As the NFL contemplates potential disciplinary action, fans and players remain divided. The controversy continues to spotlight the fine line between aggressive play and dangerous conduct in professional football.