The Tennessee Titans introduced all five of their free-agent signings thus far on Monday, with former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair being among them.
Al-Shaair joins the Titans on a one-year deal worth up to $6 million, and it’s thought he will assume one of the vacant starting linebacker roles after the departures of both David Long and Zach Cunningham.
Admittedly, there wasn’t much of note from Al-Shaair’s introductory presser like the others ones before his, but he did have a funny exchange with Titans beat writer, Paul Kuharsky.
When Kuharsky asked Al-Shaair, who stands at 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds, if he wants to be playing at a higher weight moving forward, the 25-year-old said he wants to be heavier but joked, “not like you.”
“Do I want to be heavier? Well, hopefully I could be heavy but just not like you,” he joked as the room erupted in laughter. “I’m just playing. I’m giving you a hard time.
“No, honestly, I feel pretty comfortable about where I am. I’m playing around like 227, 225. I prefer to be up probably two or three pounds at most. But I feel like my perfect weight for me is like 228, so my goal is to be like 230 going into training camp because you usually shed a couple.”
When Kuharsky asked Al-Shaair what he thinks the Titans beat writer’s weight actually is, Al-Shaair guessed 25 pounds over.
“I’m going to say, 210 or something like that,” Al-Shaair guessed before Kuharsky admitted he was 185. “It’s that mid section, though. He’s holding all that weight in the wrong spot.”
So @A_train2_ called me fat when I asked him if he wants to be heavier. #Titans!
More time at @IronTribe and better diet it is! pic.twitter.com/WPvtmabmZD
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) March 20, 2023
Now, getting back to actual football.
As was the case with Arden Key, Al-Shaair sees all the talent Tennessee has on defense and feels it’s a situation in which he can really thrive. He also feels he can contribute in coverage, which is a big need for the group.
Al Shaair said he sees the pieces of the #Titans defense and said he knows this is a situation where he can thrive.
— Terry McCormick (@terrymc13) March 20, 2023
Azeez Al-Shaair says a lot was required of LBs with 49ers. Said he believes he can both cover receivers and take on offensive linemen. pic.twitter.com/I5ymfX1tuy
— Terry McCormick (@terrymc13) March 20, 2023
Al-Shaair already has a major connection with the Titans, as general manager Ran Carthon was with him for all four of the linebacker’s years in San Francisco. He considers Carthon like family.
Azeez Al-Shaair said that GM Ran Carthon feels like family to him from their days together in San Fran. Said Carthon would watch film with him and talk to him.
— Terry McCormick (@terrymc13) March 20, 2023
