Micah Parsons calls out the NFL to address the exploitation of quarterback protection rules
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons wants the NFL to eliminate the gray areas set in protection of quarterbacks.
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Micah Parsons (Image via Open Source)
Dallas Cowboys star rusher Micah Parsons is calling for change within the NFL. The 25-year-old from Pennsylvania has urged the league to address the gray areas in its rules that protect quarterbacks.
The quarterback slide rule in the NFL has been criticized for allowing quarterbacks to avoid hits unfairly, sometimes taking advantage of the protection it offers. Quarterbacks are known to deliberately initiate a slide at the last moment to draw a penalty, even when defenders are not truly in a position to hit them.
In some cases, quarterbacks may slide early or unnecessarily, knowing the rule will prevent any physical response from the defense. The slide rule has created a lot of frustration among defenders, who feel the rule is overly protective. The rule can be exploited by quarterbacks to avoid taking hits while still gaining yardage.
Micah Parsons addressed the slide rule amongst other things including Zack Martin, and the impending MNF against the Cincinnati Bengals in an interview posted by the team on their channel. Parsons has previously spoken about the issue as well. He admitted that the league should hold the quarterbacks responsible for their actions.
I just think the NFL should do a better job clearing up the gray area. If a quarterback acts like he’s going out of bounds, he should go out of bounds, that’s where you should mark him at. If he’s acting like he’s going to slide, that’s where you should mark him at. Because at that point, it’s the contact issue.
Micah Parsons said
Parsons went on to name-call Patrick Mahomes, accusing the three-time champion of misusing the rule to win games. He also added that these are crucial gameplays that could affect the game result.
You see a lot of guys taking advantage and getting extra yards off that. Mahomes wins games off that. We can’t act like these aren’t game-changing opportunities and plays that they’re extending drives on
Micah Parsons added
Seven-time champion Tom Brady vocalized the need for a shift in quarterback protection rules
A few days earlier, ex-Patriots and Bucs QB Tom Brady also weighed in on the need for changes to the NFL’s current rules. Reflecting on the controversy surrounding the incident between Azeez Al-Shaair and Trevor Lawrence, Brady emphasized that the offense should share responsibility for improving both the game’s fairness and player safety.
Brady argued that adjustments are necessary to ensure a more balanced and secure environment for everyone on the field, via Colin Cowherd.
Maybe they fine or penalize a quarterback for sliding late. And say look, if we don’t want these hits to take place, we’ve got to penalize the offense and the defense rather than just penalize a defensive player for every single play that happens when there’s a hit on a quarterback.
Tom Brady said
.@TomBrady discusses late hit on Trevor Lawrence:
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) December 3, 2024
"If we don't want these hits to take place, we've got to penalize both the offense and the defense." pic.twitter.com/fnmCJ7oZwj
Lawrence suffered a massive concussion while Al-Shaair would sit out for three games. Although there are several against arguments to the assumptions, Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans also expressed a desire to understand the two-fold nature of the same.
Related: Browns guard praises Jameis Winston’s unique personality as he calls him ‘one of a kind’
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Mohammed Bazim
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