If it were up to Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair would be suspended for the rest of the season for his hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
The NFL on Tuesday announced that it had suspended Al-Shaair for three games as a result of the hit and his actions afterward. The 27-year-old had to be restrained by his teammates to prevent a brawl and was ejected from the game moments later.
Shortly after the announcement of the suspension, it was reported that Al-Shaair planned to appeal it.
Speaking on Wednesday’s episode of First Take, Russo explained why he felt the three-game suspension wasn’t harsh enough.
“I’d throw the player out for the rest of the year,” Russo said. “Oh, what a rough, nasty, garbage hit! That guy’s a clown for hitting him like that, and he thinks his big deal is, ‘I sent him an apology via X.'”
“You laid the guy [out]! Did you send him the apology when he was in the hospital, not moving? This is — think about this! This is an incredible — he threw his arm in there, his head! Oh my God! And then he gets ticked off, takes his helmet off! This is the nasty, nasty, nasty play. I was totally down on this guy!” he concluded.
Watch above via ESPN.