NFL Sends Mixed Signals In Its Stance On Genocide

After a 30-6 playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair appeared in an ESPN postgame interview and drew national attention for the message written on his eye black: "Stop the Genocide." He had expected a fine for the customized accessory, and did receive one at the cost of $11,593. But when, willing to eat another fine, he planned to do it again for his team's divisional-round game against the New England Patriots this past Sunday, he said he was told that the consequences would be disproportionately steeper the second time around.

As seen in the photo above, Al-Shaair did wear the same message prior to facing the Patriots, but he changed it to regular eye black before kickoff. Following Houston's 28-16 loss to New England, Al-Shaair said to reporters that he was told if he didn't remove it, he wouldn't be allowed to play.

"I knew that that was a fine," Al-Shaair said, before using the example of former teammate and current Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs, who regularly puts personalized messages on his eye black. "But I was told that if I wore that in the game, I would be pulled out the game. So I think that was probably the part that I was confused about, because I understood that was a fine, but I ain't never seen Stef get pulled out of a game for having eye tape with writing on it."