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The NFL has a problem: quarterback slides.
In recent years, QBs have been accused of exploiting league rules regarding sliding that were intended to prevent them from serious injuries. Things hit new levels of fan frustration in recent months with dubious calls surrounding Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and a serious hit on Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence, and it is clear that something needs to be done.
For all those complaining that Patrick Mahomes gets too many calls, relief soon could be on the way.
NFL replay assist is expected to expand this offseason into plays that could include the quarterback slide, league sources told ESPN.https://t.co/4w3haqOW7i
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According to NFL Insider Adam Schefter, "For all those complaining that Patrick Mahomes gets too many calls, relief soon could be on the way. NFL replay assist is expected to expand this offseason into plays that could include the quarterback slide, league sources told ESPN."
The rules designed to protect quarterbacks have become a double-edged sword, with some quarterbacks using them to gain an advantage.
Defensive players are at risk of severe penalties—sometimes even ejections—if they hit a quarterback who is running out of bounds or preparing to slide.
This vulnerability has led some quarterbacks to take advantage of the situation, feigning an attempt to end a play, only to spring back into action once the defender lets up.
The issue revolves around the rule governing how a player declares themselves down, which can be done by falling to the ground, kneeling, or sliding.
According to the rulebook: "When a runner slides feet or head first or simulates sliding, the ball is dead the instant he touches the ground with anything other than his hands or feet or begins to simulate touching the ground." This provision has sparked debates, especially after a key moment in the 2024 playoffs.
During a postseason matchup between the Chiefs and the Houston Texans, Mahomes found himself at the center of a controversial unnecessary roughness penalty.
As Mahomes slid to the ground to avoid a sack, two Texans defenders, Folorunso Fatukasi and To'oTo'o, collided and hit him after he had already started his slide.
Despite the seemingly innocuous nature of the play, the officials threw a 15-yard penalty flag on Houston, even though replays showed the contact appeared to involve To'oTo'o more than Mahomes. While such penalties often lead to fines, this particular hit did not meet that threshold, though the flag was still thrown.
The incident sparked further discussion about the blurred lines surrounding quarterback slides, a topic that's been raised repeatedly throughout the 2024 season.
Dallas Cowboys pass-rusher Micah Parsons has been vocal about the need for clarity in the rules. He argued that if a quarterback begins to slide or heads out of bounds, the play should be immediately marked dead at that point.
"If a quarterback acts like he's going out of bounds, he should go out of bounds, that's where you should mark him at. If he's acting like he's going to slide, that's where you should mark him at," Parsons said, emphasizing that these situations create a vulnerability that can be exploited.
With mobile quarterbacks like Mahomes able to stretch plays and gain extra yards, Parsons worries that these deceptive movements are fundamentally altering the game.
But the issue isn't one-sided. In a separate incident during the 2024 season, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was on the receiving end of a brutal hit against the Texans.
As Lawrence slid to the ground near the first-down marker, Houston linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair lowered his forearm and smashed Lawrence's head into the turf.
Despite the rapid pace of NFL plays, Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen stressed that there is no excuse for a hit like that on a sliding quarterback. "When the quarterback goes into a slide, we have an aiming point, and if that aiming point drops, we try to jump over the top of them," Nielsen explained, underscoring that safe tackling techniques must be followed.
The growing controversy has already captured the attention of the NFL's competition committee, which is set to meet during the offseason to discuss potential rule changes, including expanding the replay assist system.
It is anyone's guess if that calms anyone down or keeps anyone safer.
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