Former New England Patriots star and two-time Super Bowl champion Logan Ryan knows the game of football can have some outlandish hits.

He also knows it’s part of the game, which is why he’s not a fan of the recent suspension against Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.

Ryan said on CBS Sports that the three-game ban on Al-Shaair for the hit on Trevor Lawrence was “way too harsh,” especially given the impact of the Bang-Bang game.

“Take a guy out three games? “His job is to appeal to people,” Ryan told Brandon Baylor. “That tackle was outrageous. This tackle was unsportsmanlike. This tackle should have thrown him out of the game, which it did. That tackle will earn him a fine, which it did. But three game controls will be necessary?

“I understand everything that happened after the attack. I would like to see a game. I think that’s a lesson enough; It’s enough of a good teaching. He’s not going out there. He has no history of it.”

“Far too hard”@RealLoganRyan on Azeez Al-Shair’s three-game ban for a hit on Trevor Lawrence. pic.twitter.com/aG9LtO7rPS

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 3, 2024

Al-Shaair, who plans to appeal the suspension, was informed by the NFL on Tuesday that he would be out for “persistent behavior” and as a “repeat offender” because of his tackling style.

“Their lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all those who play, coach and enjoy watching it is concerning and does not reflect the core values ​​of the NFL,” said former Houston player Jon Runyon, NFL vice president of football operations Oilers, wrote. “Your continued disregard for the NFL rules of the game endangers the health and safety of you and your opponents and will not be tolerated.”

Ryan, who spent years on the same sideline as seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, can understand why Al-Shaair was fined, suspended and even embroiled in fights by Jaguars players trying to defend their quarterback.

He can’t understand how the NFL can suspend a player from his job.

“The fine is way too high,” Ryan said. “Maybe it’s designed to be attractive so it comes down to two games or one game, but I think one game would have been enough.”