Brady weighs in on Lawrence injury, Al-Shaair suspension, and QB rules.
Tom Brady’s take on Azeez Al-Shaair’s hit on Trevor Lawrence is stirring up some debates. The NFL handed Al-Shaair a three-game suspension for what they deemed an illegal hit, but Brady’s questioning how much blame should really be on defenders and whether quarterbacks need to step up when it comes to their own safety.
On The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Tom Brady admitted he has “mixed emotions” about these situations. And honestly? It’s not hard to see why.
Brady went back to his early days, talking about a 2001 game in Buffalo where he slid late and got absolutely crushed by Nate Clements. Nate Clements hit him so hard his helmet flew off. His teammates didn’t sugarcoat it either. They told him straight: “If you’re gonna slide, you better get down. These guys are coming to get you.”
For Brady, that was a lesson he never forgot. He realized the second he left the pocket, he wasn’t just a quarterback anymore—he was a target. And defenders are trained to finish plays. Split-second decisions don’t leave much room for “what ifs.”
“Defensive players have to be aggressive,” Brady said. “That’s their nature.”
Here’s where Brady’s perspective gets interesting—and kind of controversial. He believes quarterbacks need to own their role in these situations.
“When you run, you put yourself in a lot of danger. I don’t think the onus of protecting an offensive quarterback who’s running should be on a defensive player,” he said. It’s a valid point. When quarterbacks take off, they’re inviting contact. Defenders aren’t mind readers; they can’t always predict when a QB is going to slide.
His comments weren’t directed explicitly at Lawrence but addressed the broader issue of balancing player safety with the physicality of football. He even suggested a potential rule change: penalizing quarterbacks for late slides.
“Maybe they fine or penalize a quarterback for sliding late… penalize the offense and the defense rather than just the defensive player,” Brady added.
Now, Tom Brady also offered a solution. And it’s bold. He thinks quarterbacks should face penalties for sliding late. “Maybe they fine or penalize a quarterback for sliding late,” he suggested. His argument? If you want to stop these kinds of hits, hold both sides accountable. Don’t just punish the defender every time.
Let’s not forget, the league came down hard on Al-Shaair. NFL VP Jon Runyan’s statement didn’t pull any punches, calling out his “lack of sportsmanship” and saying his actions don’t reflect the league’s values. And yeah, Al-Shaair has a history of similar infractions, which didn’t help his case.
The hit on Lawrence left the Jaguars quarterback with a concussion and sidelined for the rest of the game. It also sparked a sideline brawl—because of course it did. Al-Shaair apologized afterward but stopped short of admitting fault. Meanwhile, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans had his player’s back, saying defenders are stuck between a rock and a hard place when QBs slide late.
Tom Brady also turned his attention to offensive coordinators, questioning their role in protecting quarterbacks. “Are we really trying to protect quarterbacks? Because if you are trying to do it through the rules, then why are the offensive coordinators not keeping them in the pocket and not designing as many quarterback runs?”
He also rejected the label of “dirty player” for Al-Shaair, a term fans have thrown around since the incident. “I don’t like that one bit,” Brady said, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that doesn’t unfairly penalize defenders in every instance.
The league’s focus on player safety remains firm, but Brady’s comments highlight a broader debate about how to handle the growing trend of mobile quarterbacks. While the NFL has implemented rules to protect quarterbacks, defenders argue that the responsibility can’t rest entirely on them.
Al-Shaair’s suspension will undoubtedly reignite discussions about fairness in penalizing hits, especially in fast-paced game situations. Meanwhile, Lawrence’s injury serves as a reminder of the risks quarterbacks face when choosing to run.
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