In the second quarter of the Jaguars-Texans game, QB Trevor Lawrence scrambled before sliding, but Azeez Al-Shaair violently tackled him using his forearm, which resulted in the QB hitting his head on the ground. He suffered a concussion and Al-Shaair got suspended for three games for his actions. While a majority of viewers agreed the tackle was too violent, there is a section of fans who believe that there is another issue: QBs faking slides.

Yes, Lawrence didn’t fake it, but there have been several instances where quarterbacks have faked a slide, only to get in more yards. This results in confusion for the defenders and that’s the argument Houston Texans HC DeMeco Ryans used to defend his player. He stated:

“A lot of the quarterbacks are trying to take advantage of the rule where they slide late and they try to get an extra yard. A lot of onus is on the defender…you don’t know what a guy is thinking. You don’t know if a guy is staying up, if he’s continuing to run. You don’t know and you get a late slide and you hit the guy.”

And when NFL fans heard this, they couldn’t help but think about the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, who has a tendency to fake slides and give-ups to confuse defenders. For instance, during a game between the Chiefs and the Lions in 2023, the QB looked like he was about to give himself up, but then, picked up the first down with a third-quarter scamper. The defensive back avoided tackling him due to the fear of a penalty, but Mahomes was still on his feet.

While the NFL doesn’t have a rule against this, college football has got it right. The rule is: “Any time a ball carrier simulates or fakes a feet-first slide, the ball should be declared dead by the on-field officials at that point.” This rule has been effective in avoiding situations like the  Azeez Al-Shaair-Trevor Lawrence one in college football. But what did Patrick Mahomes have to say about the situation?

In a new press conference posted on YouTube, a media member asked the QB about the unwritten rules surrounding not hitting quarterbacks, in the light of the Azeez Al-Shaair-Trevor Lawrence incident. He stated:

“I’m just playing football at the end of the day and I don’t fee like I have ever put anybody in jeopardy of not wanting to hit me. I mean I know when you get an open field, guys want to hit you and I get down when I feel it is necessary to get down. But there’s times in big spots in the games where I know I need to get first downs and I go for it.”

“And so, it’s not taking advantage of any rules. I think more than anything, it’s me being smart of knowing when not to and when to go for it. And you’ve seen that for me in the playoffs and I think you see that for me in big spots in games cause I know that sliding at that moment is not going to get us the win and I’m all about the winning,” Patrick Mahomes stated. That brings up one more question.

Does the QB feel vulnerable or protected when they slide? Taking about this, Mahomes stated:

“I’m big on when I do slide to try to get the head down. At the end of the day, man, it’s a split-second decision. I know guys playing the sport, I mean for the most part, 99% of the guys are not trying to hurt anybody. They’re just trying to make plays. And those guys are flying down, trying to stop you from getting first down. So when I do slide, I try to get my head down as quickly as possible and try to avoid those situations but that stuff happens in football and luckily Trevor is alright cause, I mean, that’s the most important thing. But in the end of the day, I think everybody is just going out there, playing the sport that they love as hard as they can and sometimes bad things happen but hopefully we can move through it and learn from it.”

Regardless, fake or late slides are being highly criticized after the Trevor Lawrence incident and this includes NFL legends Joe Thomas and Tom Brady. The latter even suggested penalties for QBs who took advantage of late slides.

However, Mahomes’ take offers a middle ground. While he acknowledged the challenges defenders face, he also emphasized respect and intent.

The NFL rulebook is under the microscope…

The Trevor Lawrence injury has cast a harsh spotlight on the NFL’s sliding rules, which many argue are counterproductive. The league’s goal of protecting quarterbacks often leads to moments of confusion for defenders, who must decide in milliseconds whether a hit is legal or penalizable. Many find it problematic, as it doesn’t prevent unnecessary injuries.

Former quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick sided with defenders, highlighting the difficulty of adjusting to a quarterback’s last-second movements: “You’re asking guys to defy physics.” His comment underscores the reality defenders face, a reality further complicated by the NFL’s inconsistent enforcement of these rules.

But penalizing quarterbacks for late slides would require a cultural shift in how the NFL views offensive players’ responsibilities. Until then, the blame game between defenders, quarterbacks, and officials will likely persist.

In its statement, the NFL stood firm in suspending Al-Shaair. In the suspension letter, NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan mentioned, “Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all those who play, coach, and enjoy watching it, is troubling and does not reflect the core values of the NFL. Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules puts the health and safety of both you and your opponents in jeopardy and will not be tolerated.”

But what did Al-Shaair say about the whole incident? He feels sorry. He apologized to Lawrence in a post on social media and wrote, “I would never want to see any player hurt because of a hit I put on them especially one that’s deemed ‘late’ or ‘unnecessary,’… To the rest of his teammates I can definitely understand you having his back and defending him in a situation like that.”

However, Patrick Mahomes’ comments provide a thoughtful lens through which one can view this contentious issue. The debate over sliding isn’t just about rules. It’s about respect, decision-making, and fairness on the field too.