Sports
Texans’ Azeez Al-Shaair talks fine for pro-Palestinian message on eye tape: ‘It’s bigger than me’
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Houston Texans pass rusher Azeez Al-Shaair spoke out about the fine he received for wearing a pro-Palestinian message across his eye tape during a playoff win against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Al-Shaair talked to reporters outside his locker in the wake of the Texans’ loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday. He was hit with a fine of $11,593 for having “Stop the genocide” emblazoned across the tape, according to ESPN.
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Azeez Al-Shaair of the Houston Texans during the national anthem before the wild-card playoff game against the Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
He told the media he was aware what he did would garner a fine.
“I knew that that was a fine. I understood what I was doing … I was told that if I wore that in the game, I would be pulled out the game,” he said, via ESPN. “I think that was the part that I was confused about because I understood that was a fine but I never seen Stef (Stefon Diggs) get pulled out of a game for having eye tape with writing on it.
“At the end of the day, it’s bigger than me, the things that are going on. If it makes people uncomfortable, imagine how those people feel. I think that’s the biggest thing. I have no affiliation, no connection to these people other than the fact that I’m a human being. If you have a heart and you’re a human being and you see what’s going on in the world, you check yourself real quick. Even when I’m walking off this field, that’s the type of stuff that goes on in my head. I check myself when I’m sitting here crying about football when there’s people who are dying every single day.”
The NFL rulebook states in Rule 5, Section 4, Article 8 what players are allowed and not allowed to wear on game days. The rule states, “Throughout the period on game-day that a player is visible to the stadium and television audience (including in pregame warm-ups, in the bench area, and during postgame interviews in the locker room or on the field), players are prohibited from wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office.
Azeez Al-Shaair of the Houston Texans exits the field during the playoff game against the Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
“The League will not grant permission for any club or player to wear, display, or otherwise convey messages, through helmet decals, arm bands, jersey patches, mouthpieces, or other items affixed to game uniforms or equipment, which relate to political activities or causes, other non-football events, causes or campaigns, or charitable causes or campaigns. Further, any such approved items must be modest in size, tasteful, non-commercial, and non-controversial; must not be worn for more than one football season.”
Al-Shaair has supported Palestinians in the past, including wearing “Free Palestine” cleats for the NFL’s “My Cause My Cleats” campaign during the 2024 season.
Al-Shaair had “Free” written on one side of his shoes in the colors of the Palestinian flag. On one shoe, “Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we will all return,” was written. On the side of his other shoe, he included the number of Palestinians reportedly killed and wounded in their war with Israel.
The shoes were for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, which he also supported in 2023.
“I feel like it’s something that’s trying to be almost silenced,” Al-Shaair told the Houston Chronicle at the time. “On either side, people losing their life is not right. In no way, shape, or form am I validating anything that happened, but to consistently say that because of [Oct. 7] innocent people [in Gaza] should now die, it’s crazy.
Azeez al-Shaair of the Houston Texans shakes hands with Aaron Rodgers of the Steelers after their playoff game at Acrisure Stadium on Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
“[Other people] try to make a disconnect and dehumanize people over there. And it’s like, they’re human beings. Being a Muslim, we see everybody the same; Black, White, Spanish, whatever you are; you can be orange, like, we’re all human beings.”
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Al-Shaair was also part of the Athletes for Ceasefire organization.
Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.
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Port Vale boss Jon Brady admitted a long FA Cup run was a “pain in the bum” amid his side’s League One relegation scrap, but that did nothing to dampen huge celebrations after they stunned Premier League Sunderland 1-0 to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 1954.
Ben Waine’s 28th-minute header was their only attempt on target but still enough to secure a famous win at Vale Park as they beat top-flight opposition for the first time since a fourth-round win over Everton 30 years ago.
Despite an uptick in form since Brady replaced Darren Moore in early January, Vale remain rooted to the bottom of League One, 11 points from safety, and could arguably do without further distractions as they fight for their lives at the foot of the division, yet performances like Sunday’s also offer belief.
“It’s a bit of a pain in the bum, to be honest!” Brady said. “It is really because what it’s doing for us is adding to our fixture list and as you saw we lost one of our best centre-halves [Cam Humphreys] and we haven’t got the size of the squad to cope with the amount of games at the moment.
“It’s a privilege, but it’s tough as well.”
Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal are now all potential opponents, but Brady insisted he was giving no thought to Monday’s draw as he focuses on trying to get out of trouble.
“I wouldn’t have a clue because I’m thinking about Bradford on Wednesday,” he said.
Waine has now hit the winner in three of Vale’s FA Cup ties this season, scoring in extra time of Tuesday night’s fourth-round victory over Bristol City as well as an earlier tie.
But for a boyhood Newcastle United fan to do it in a match against Sunderland was something extra special — with the 24-year-old almost lost for words when shown that Alan Shearer had retweeted an image of Waine mimicking his trademark celebration.
The New Zealand international grew up in Wellington, but his mum’s family hail from the northeast, and this was a special occasion.
“I always watched the Newcastle games against Sunderland and to be involved in this game and to score the winner is pretty special,” Waine said. “Not just for me, but the whole family…this is the dream, so you’ve got to enjoy living it.”
In a week where they reached the 40-point mark in the Premier League, Sunderland blew their chance to reach the FA Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2014.
“I was really disappointed,” Regis Le Bris said. “We went strong with the ambition to win, with the knowledge as well, that it was a tough challenge because of the challenge here, with the crowd, the team fully involved, full credit them.
“In this competition, it’s more about mindset, fighting spirit, rather than the tactical or technical qualities, and probably we were not consistent enough. I think some of the players were at their level, but especially to create situations today, we were not good enough.
“I don’t think we were complacent. It’s not my feeling. It’s more about the ability to reset.”
Sports
2026 NCAA Tournament Berth Tracker: Automatic Bids, Championship Game Times, and Defending Champs
Conference tournaments are underway and March Madness has officially arrived. Teams that win their conference tournaments clinch automatic bids into the 2026 NCAA Tournament, which begins with the First Four on Tuesday, March 17.
Bookmark this page — OutKick will update as automatic berths are locked up through Selection Sunday.
Last updated: Sunday, March 8, 2026 (5:30 p.m. ET). All times ET.
Selection Sunday
The 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket is revealed Sunday, March 15 at 6 p.m. on CBS.
Automatic Bids Clinched (5)
ASUN: Queens
Big South: High Point
Missouri Valley (MVC): Northern Iowa
Northeast (NEC): Long Island (LIU)
Ohio Valley (OVC): Tennessee State
University of Northern Iowa Panthers guard Geon Hutchins kisses the MVC Tournament trophy. (Ron Johnson/Imagn Images)
Completed Conference Tournaments
Ohio Valley Conference (OVC)
Championship: Saturday, March 7
Tennessee State def. Morehead State, 93-67
Big South Conference (Big South)
Championship: Sunday, March 8
High Point def. Winthrop, 91-76
Missouri Valley Conference (MVC)
Championship: Sunday, March 8
Northern Iowa def. UIC, 84-69
Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN)
Championship: Sunday, March 8
Queens def. Central Arkansas, 98-93 (OT)
Upcoming Championship Game Schedule
*All times ET
Summit League (Summit)
Championship: Sunday, March 8, 9 p.m. (CBSSN) — Denny Sanford PREMIER Center (Sioux Falls, SD)
No. 1 North Dakota St. Bison vs. No. 3 North Dakota Fighting Hawks
Sun Belt Conference (Sun Belt)
Championship: Monday, March 9, 6 p.m. (ESPN2) — Pensacola Bay Center (Pensacola, FL)
2025 champion: Troy
Southern Conference (SoCon)
Championship: Monday, March 9, 7 p.m. (ESPN) — Harrah’s Cherokee Center (Asheville, NC)
2025 champion: Wofford
Coastal Athletic Association (CAA)
Championship: Tuesday, March 10, 7 p.m. (CBSSN) — CareFirst Arena (Washington, DC)
2025 champion: UNC Wilmington
Horizon League (Horizon)
Championship: Tuesday, March 10, 7 p.m. (ESPN) — Corteva Coliseum (Indianapolis, IN)
2025 champion: Robert Morris
Northeast Conference (NEC)
Championship: Tuesday, March 10, 7 p.m. (ESPN2) — Steinberg Wellness Center (LIU Campus)
No. 1 LIU vs. No. 3 Mercyhurst
*NOTE: LIU clinches automatic bid regardless of result (Mercyhurst is ineligible for NCAA Tournament)
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC)
Championship: Tuesday, March 10, 9 p.m. (ESPN2) — Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall (Atlantic City, NJ)
2025 champion: Mount St. Mary’s
West Coast Conference (WCC)
Championship: Tuesday, March 10, 9 p.m. (ESPN) — Orleans Arena (Las Vegas, NV)
2025 champion: Gonzaga
Southland Conference (Southland)
Championship: Wednesday, March 11, 5 p.m. (ESPN2) — The Legacy Center (Lake Charles, LA)
2025 champion: McNeese
Patriot League (Patriot)
Championship: Wednesday, March 11, 7 p.m. (CBSSN) — campus site (higher seed hosts)
No. 2 Lehigh Mountain Hawks vs. No. 4 Boston University Terriers
Big Sky Conference (Big Sky)
Championship: Wednesday, March 11, 11:30 p.m. (ESPN2) — Idaho Central Arena (Boise, ID)
2025 champion: Montana
Western Athletic Conference (WAC)
Championship: Sunday, March 15, 12 a.m. (ESPN2) — Orleans Arena (Las Vegas, NV)
2025 champion: Grand Canyon
America East Conference (America East)
Championship: Saturday, March 14, 11 a.m. (ESPN2) — campus site (higher seed hosts)
2025 champion: Bryant
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC)
Championship: Saturday, March 14, 1 p.m. (ESPN2) — Norfolk Scope Arena (Norfolk, VA)
2025 champion: Norfolk State
Big 12 Conference (Big 12)
Championship: Saturday, March 14, 6 p.m. (ESPN) — T-Mobile Center (Kansas City, MO)
2025 champion: Houston
Mountain West Conference (MWC)
Championship: Saturday, March 14, 6 p.m. (CBS) — Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas, NV)
2025 champion: Colorado State
Big East Conference (Big East)
Championship: Saturday, March 14, 6:30 p.m. (FOX) — Madison Square Garden (New York, NY)
2025 champion: St. John’s
Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)
Championship: Saturday, March 14, 7:30 p.m. (ESPNU) — Gateway Center Arena (Atlanta, GA)
2025 champion: Alabama State
Mid-American Conference (MAC)
Championship: Saturday, March 14, 8 p.m. (ESPN2) — Rocket Arena (Cleveland, OH)
2025 champion: Akron
Conference USA (C-USA)
Championship: Saturday, March 14, 8:30 p.m. (CBSSN) — Propst Arena (Huntsville, AL)
2025 champion: Liberty
Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)
Championship: Saturday, March 14, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN) — Spectrum Center (Charlotte, NC)
2025 champion: Duke
Big West Conference (Big West)
Championship: Saturday, March 14, 10 p.m. (ESPN2) — Lee’s Family Forum (Henderson, NV)
2025 champion: UC San Diego
Ivy League (Ivy)
Championship: Sunday, March 15, 12 p.m. (ESPN2) — Newman Arena at Bartels Hall (Ithaca, NY)
2025 champion: Yale
Atlantic 10 Conference (A10)
Championship: Sunday, March 15, 1 p.m. (CBS) — PPG Paints Arena (Pittsburgh, PA)
2025 champion: VCU
Southeastern Conference (SEC)
Championship: Sunday, March 15, 1 p.m. (ESPN) — Bridgestone Arena (Nashville, TN)
2025 champion: Florida
American Athletic Conference (AAC)
Championship: Sunday, March 15, 3:15 p.m. (ESPN) — Legacy Arena at the BJCC (Birmingham, AL)
2025 champion: Memphis
Big Ten Conference (Big Ten)
Championship: Sunday, March 15, 3:30 p.m. (CBS) — United Center (Chicago, IL)
2025 champion: Michigan
Sports
Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase delivers expletive-filled reaction to Ravens trading for Maxx Crosby: ‘Oh my God!’
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Cincinnati Bengals star receiver Ja’Marr Chase wasn’t happy at all to hear news of the Las Vegas Raiders trading five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby to his rival Baltimore Ravens.
Chase was on a livestream playing video games when he said he got a text from his quarterback, Joe Burrow, about the Ravens’ move for Crosby. He let an expletive-laden rant once he read the text.
“Joe just f—ing texted me. Ravens traded for Maxx Crosby,” Chase was heard saying over the livestream. “No f—ing s—. No f—ing s—, brother.
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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1) looks on after the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on Sept. 29, 2025. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
“I’m f—ing highly pissed right now. Oh my God.”
As he processed the information, Chase couldn’t believe Crosby is yet another high-end pass rusher being added to an already stacked AFC North, which has Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garrett, who rewrote the single-season sack record in 2025, and Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro T.J. Watt, among others.
“How do we let this n—- go to the f—ing division bro?” Chase questioned. “… Oh my god.”
The Raiders received two first-round picks from the Ravens, including their No. 14 overall selection in next month’s NFL Draft, to land the 28-year-old Crosby. Baltimore, with new defensive-minded head coach Jesse Minter, are not playing around about bolstering the defense, and they finally got the Eastern Michigan product out of Las Vegas after seven seasons.
But Chase knows that Crosby could be affecting his workload twice a year, as the Bengals haven’t had the most offensive lines in recent seasons.
Since entering the NFL in 2020 as the first overall pick, Burrow has been sacked 213 times, the fourth-most among active quarterbacks in that timeframe. Justin Herbert, Russell Wilson, and Baker Mayfield have been sacked more.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) looks on from the sideline during the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at Allegiant Stadium on Sept. 28, 2025. (Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images)
The Bengals certainly need to keep addressing their O-line heading into 2026, and they have around $47 million to currently work with during the legal tampering period, which begins on Monday. Perhaps they will look to shore up that spot, or look in the NFL Draft to make sure Burrow is covered on all ends.
Meanwhile, the Bengals are likely moving on from their top pass rusher, as they didn’t use the franchise tag on Trey Hendrickson, who is expected to get a large deal in free agency – one he was hoping the Bengals would give him last offseason. Instead, he played on a one-year deal, and he is an unrestricted free agent this time around.
Since losing in the AFC Championship Game in 2022, which came one season after falling to the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl, the Bengals haven’t since the success they were used to. That partially has to do with serious injuries to Burrow in 2023 and this past season, where the team finished 6-11 as the signal caller played only eight games.
The Bengals still have the offensive firepower to go along with Burrow and Chase, as fellow receiver Tee Higgins re-signed to an extension last offseason, and running back Chase Brown has been quite the addition since being drafted in the fifth round in 2023. He rushed for 1,019 yards and caught 69 passes for 437 yards in 2025.
Cincinnati Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase had quite the reaction to Maxx Crosby being traded to the Baltimore Ravens — his AFC North rival. (GETTY)
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But it’s always tough going against AFC North defenses six times a year, and the Ravens will be more formidable with Crosby on their side.
Chase clearly knows it.
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