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Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair’s hit on Jacksonville Jaguars star Trevor Lawrence kicked off a debate about quarterbacks’ techniques when it got here to sliding after scrambles.
Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Joe Thomas weighed in on the controversy on Tuesday after the NFL introduced a three-game suspension for Al-Shaair. He wrote in a publish on X that the league wanted to get the so-called “weaponized quarterback slide” out of the game.
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Former Cleveland Browns participant Joe Thomas reviews on the sidelines earlier than the sport between the Browns and the New York Jets at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland on Dec. 28, 2023. (Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports activities)
“As harmful as hits on a quarterback are when the quarterback chooses to slip, we have to cease permitting quarterbacks to pretend slide or late slide so as to achieve yardage and confuse the defenders on if the quarterback is sliding or not,” Thomas wrote. “It could go a great distance in direction of taking these horrible hits out of the sport and making issues extra protected for the quarterback and for the defender.
“A late slide, pretend slide, or appearing such as you’re gonna exit of bounds after which skirting ahead for a number of extra yards; these all have to be 15 yard penalties towards the offense. And it’s about time the NFL referees began marking the ball down instantly when the quarterback begins to slip… Which is the rule by the way in which!
“If this occurs, the large hits on quarterbacks once they’re sliding will probably be fully eradicated from the sport. That’s what all of us need proper?”
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, #16, slides down in entrance of Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, #0, within the second quarter within the second quarter at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, on Dec. 1, 2024. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Photographs)
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The play in query occurred late within the second quarter of the Texans and Jaguars’ matchup on Sunday.
Lawrence scrambled for a number of yards after which determined to slip. At that very same second, Al-Shaair got here in and nailed Lawrence within the head and neck space along with his forearm. The hit sparked a brawl between Texans and Jaguars gamers.
NFL Vice President of Soccer Operations Jon Runyan launched a scathing assertion about Al-Shaair because the league introduced his suspension Tuesday.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, #16, slides for a down as Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, #0, makes a late hit throughout the second quarter of an NFL soccer matchup on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. (Corey Perrine/Florida Occasions-Union)
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“Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the sport of soccer and all those that play, coach, and revel in watching it, is troubling and doesn’t mirror the core values of the NFL … Your continued disregard for NFL enjoying guidelines places the well being and security of each you and your opponents in jeopardy and won’t be tolerated,” Runyan stated partly.
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