Tom Brady has interesting solution to avoid Azeez Al-Shaair-Trevor Lawrence situation from repeating
Tom Brady believes offenses should be penalized for putting their quarterbacks in danger after Azeez Al-Shaair tackle on Trevor Lawrence.
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Tom Brady has a different opinion on Azeez Al-Shaair getting suspended for his tackle on Trevor Lawrenc (Image via Open Source/X)
Azeez Al-Shaair is the story of the NFL now with his three-game suspension after his hit on Trevor Lawrence. The NFL penalizing him has sparked debates across the community where many felt the Houston Texans star’s aggressive history had anything to do with the length of it. But the legend of the game Tom Brady has a slightly differing opinion.
The seven-time Super Bowl winner has played for more than two decades. In his time, he has seen how the game has evolved to the point where quarterbacks have it much easier than during his first years in the league.
When the topic of the Azeez Al-Shaair’s hit on Trevor Lawrence came up on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, the now FOX broadcaster understood why the Texans linebacker was penalized. The hit could have hurt Lawrence worse than what is now. Tom Brady had a solution to curtail this issue.
Maybe they fine or penalize a quarterback for sliding late. And say look, if we don’t want these hits to take place, we’ve got to penalize the offense and the defense. Rather than just penalize a defensive player for every single play that happens when there’s a hit on a quarterback.
Tom Brady said
The 47-year-old pointed out that there are more designed quarterback runs now than ever. That means offensive coordinators are putting their quarterbacks in harm’s way. Brady understood that the really good runners of the ball know how to avoid hits.
.@TomBrady discusses late hit on Trevor Lawrence:
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) December 3, 2024
"If we don't want these hits to take place, we've got to penalize both the offense and the defense." pic.twitter.com/fnmCJ7oZwj
He clarified that a QB running out of his pocket will invite defenders to stop him. Brady believes when considering all this, the defensive player should not be penalized for being the one that stops the quarterback.
Former Browns great echoes Tom Brady’s words
Former Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas was one of the best offensive tackles to play in the league. He too has seen how the league has evolved up until his retirement in 2017. Then onwards, he has worked as an analyst and has kept tabs on all games.
When he saw the Azeez Al-Shaari-Trevor Lawrence situation develop, he felt there were two sides of the coin no one was talking about. Fans and analysts were quick to blame the linebacker, especially considering his previous history. But Joe Thomas felt it was not completely his fault.
This hit was malicious and has no place in our game… But the NFL needs to get the ‘weaponized quarterback slide’ out of the game. A late slide, fake slide, or acting like you’re gonna go out of bounds and then skirting forward for a few more yards; these all need to be 15-yard penalties against the offense.
Joe Thomas wrote on X
This hit was malicious and has no place in our game…
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) December 3, 2024
But the NFL needs to get the “weaponized quarterback slide” out of the game.
As dangerous as hits on a quarterback are when the quarterback chooses to slide, we need to stop allowing quarterbacks to fake slide or late slide… https://t.co/6sRYCqeRWQ
The eight-time All-Pro echoed Tom Brady’s words when suggesting that the quarterback had that much of a hand in that suspension inducing tackle as Al-Shaair. This different perspective from two offensive greats suggests the league needs to rethink its officiating around this tackle.
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Joseph Varghese
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