The subject of quarterback slide in the NFL has been talked about a lot these days. And for the wrong reasons. This movement in which a quarterback slides his feet forward to end the possession is far from being all white. If the unfortunate example of Trevor Lawrence (QB, Jaguars) which led to the suspension of Azeez Al-Shair (LB, Texans) illustrates one of his faults, it is far from being the only one. But first, it is appropriate to look at what the rule says in the NFL.
The movement is described among the ways of declaring oneself down and thus put an end to the current possession. Other ways are to fall, put your knee on the ground or not make a clear effort to move forward. The definition given by the NFL is as follows:
“When a runner slides his feet or head forward or feigns a slide, the ball is dead the moment he touches the ground with anything other than his hands, or his feet, or begins to feign to touch the ground. »
Three notes complete this rule.
- Defenders must treat the sliding runner as they would a runner down by contact.
- A defender must remain “up” when the slide begins. This does not mean that contact is illegal. If a defender has already engaged in a tackle, and contact is unavoidable, it is not a foul. Unless the player is hit in the head or neck area with the helmet, shoulder or forearm or an unnecessary act of violence is committed.
- A runner who wants to benefit from this protection must begin his movement before imminent contact with a defender. Otherwise he exposes himself to the danger of contact.
In the case of Azeez Al-Shair and Trevor Lawrence, the defender is clearly at fault.
The question of banning sliding in the NFL
In any case, the movement can be dangerous and the NFL could consider banning sliding. If the argument to protect the player can be heard, the latest example shows that the opposite effect can be obtained. To satisfy everyone, the solution could be to consider the quarterback as a runner whenever he decides to run. Indeed, only throwers really use this movement. To protect themselves, they would always have the option of going out of bounds or getting on the ground without slipping.
The subject must in any case be addressed by the NFL because even if the sport is violent by nature, actions like that of last week must be avoided at all costs.
