Trevor Lawrence's brutal hit by Azeez Al-Shaair leaves Tom Brady with mixed emotions.

The three-game suspension of Houston Texans captain Azeez Al-Shaair after his hit on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence during a slide attempt in Week 13 of the NFL has been a major storyline.

During an interview on "The Herd with Colin Cowherd," Tom Brady admitted to having mixed emotions about the hit that caused a brawl and led to Al-Shaair's immediate removal.

Lawrence was ruled out for the rest of the game due to a concussion after his head collided with the grass.

In 2001, I remember sliding late and getting crushed by Nate Clements while playing for the Bills. My helmet flew off and I got back to the huddle. The next day, my teammates advised me to get rid of the football and slide safely to avoid getting hurt.

"I had a great learning experience because I realized that when I'm not in my pocket, things move faster for me. The defense is becoming more aggressive, and over time, the NFL has taken steps to protect players' health and safety."

The NFL has intensified its crackdown on hits to the head and neck area in recent seasons. Defenses must exercise caution when targeting the quarterback while he slides.

The NFL deemed Al-Shaair responsible for his hit on Lawrence, stating that he could have changed his approach in the heat of the moment.

Brady questioned if the NFL's evolution, which involves quarterbacks running more frequently than ever before, is a factor in the offense's responsibility for the hits he has received.

"While it's challenging to see someone get hurt, it's the reality of a physical sport. Defensive players are naturally aggressive, and we try to be aggressive on offense. We also block aggressively, and the defense tries to tackle aggressively," Brady said.

"The quarterbacks need to prioritize their self-care, as I have observed Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson frequently utilizing their running skills. While this skill set is valuable, I often wish I possessed it. Running exposes quarterbacks to significant risks, and I believe it is the responsibility of the defense to protect them while they run."

Brady stated that he dislikes the label "dirty player," which has been directed at Al-Shaair by fans, despite the league citing his past football field misdeeds as the reason for the three-game suspension.

"Brady expressed dislike for the dirty player label, stating that maybe quarterbacks should be fined or penalized for sliding late instead of just the defensive player being penalized for every hit on a quarterback. He argued that offense and defense should be penalized for hits on a quarterback to prevent them from occurring."

In the NFL, game speed requires quick decision-making to execute plays on both sides of the ball.

On Sunday afternoon in Duval County, Al-Shaair's decision to drive full speed into Lawrence's sliding will keep him out of action until Week 17.

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