Trevor Lawrence's injury sparks NFL legend's call for league to address 'weaponized quarterback slide'
Azeez Al-Shaair, a Texan, was suspended for three games due to the hit.
The debate about quarterbacks' tactics when it comes to sliding after scrambles was sparked by Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair's hit on Jacksonville Jaguars star Trevor Lawrence.
On Tuesday, Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Thomas weighed in on the debate surrounding the NFL's three-game suspension of Al-Shaair. In a post on X, he argued that the league needed to eliminate the "weaponized quarterback slide" from the game.
To make the game safer for both the quarterback and the defender, we need to stop allowing quarterbacks to fake or late slide in order to gain yardage and confuse the defenders on if the quarterback is sliding or not.
The NFL should penalize late, fake, or out-of-bounds slides by the offense with 15 yards. It's time for referees to mark the ball down immediately when the quarterback starts to slide, as per the rule.
"Eliminating big hits on quarterbacks when they slide is what we all want."
The play happened in the second half of the Texans and Jaguars game on Sunday.
Lawrence slid after a few yards, but Al-Shaair hit him in the head and neck with his forearm, causing a brawl between Texans and Jaguars players.
The NFL Vice President of Football Operations, Jon Runyan, released a critical statement about Al-Shaair as the league announced his suspension on Tuesday.
Runyan stated that the NFL does not tolerate your disregard for NFL playing rules, which puts the health and safety of both you and your opponents at risk. Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all those who play, coach, and enjoy watching it is concerning and does not align with the core values of the NFL.
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