STRONG WORDS
Houston Texans GM puts NFL on blast for handling of excessive Al-Shaair suspension
Dec 3, 2024, 12:12 pm
Nick Caserio was hot! Composite Getty Image.
Following the NFL's three-game suspension of linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair for his controversial hit on Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence, Texans GM Nick Caserio met with the media and aired some grievances, calling the decision “Bullsh*t.”
Caserio took issue with the consistency in how the NFL hands out punishments, and the shots taken at Al-Shaair's character by NFL VP Jon Runyan.
Caserio brought receipts about the league's decision when noting that Al-Shaair has never been suspended or ejected from a game, yet he's being suspended for three games for his actions on Sunday.
The Texans GM provided examples of how the league has handled players like Kareem Jackson and Brian Branch who engaged in similar behavior but didn't receive similar punishment. Especially with Jackson, who was suspended four games for his second suspension in 2023.
Be sure to watch the video below as Caserio goes scorched-earth on the NFL's decision.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.