Houston Texans A hit by linebacker Aziz Al-Shair on the Jacksonville Jaguars sparked a debate about quarterbacks’ tactics when it came to sliding after star Trevor Lawrence scrambles.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Thomas The NFL weighed in on the debate Tuesday after announcing a three-game suspension for Al-Shayr. He wrote in a post on X that the league needed to overcome what the sport called the “quarterback slide of arms.”
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Former Cleveland Browns player Joe Thomas reports before the game between the Browns and the New York Jets at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Dec. 28, 2023, in Cleveland. (Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports)
“We need to stop allowing quarterbacks to fake slide or late slide to gain yardage and confuse defenders as to whether or not the quarterback is sliding, just as dangerous as hits on the quarterback when the quarterback chooses to slide,” Thomas wrote. “It goes a long way toward taking those dreaded hits out of the game and making things much safer for the quarterback and the defender.
“A late slide, a fake slide, or acting like you’re going out of bounds and then going forward a few more yards; all of these should be 15 yard penalties against the offense. And it’s time NFL referees started recognizing that when the quarterback starts to slide, drop the ball immediately… it’s the rule!
“If this happens, big hits on quarterbacks as they slide will be completely taken out of the game. Do we all want that?”
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, #16, slides in front of Houston Texans linebacker Aziz Al-Shair, #0 during the second quarter at EverBank Stadium on December 1, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagine Images)
NFL All-Pro defender Trevor Lawrence sees ‘both sides’ of hit: ‘It’s tricky’
The play in question occurred late in the second quarter of Sunday’s game between the Texans and the Jaguars.
Lawrence scrambled for a few yards and then decided to slide. At the same moment, Al-Shair came in and nailed Lawrence in the head and neck with his forearm. The hit sparked a brawl between Texans and Jaguars players.
NFL Vice President of Football Operations John Runyon released A harsh statement The league announced its suspension of Al-Shair on Tuesday.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, #16, hits Houston Texans linebacker Aziz Al-Shair, #0, late in the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, at EverBank Stadium. Jacksonville, Fla. (Corey Perrin/Florida Times-Union)
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“Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all who play, coach and enjoy it is troubling and does not reflect the NFL’s core values … Your continued disregard for the rules of the NFL game puts the health and safety of you and your opponents at risk and will not be tolerated,” Runyon said in part. Said.
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