Houston Texans Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair’s hit on Jacksonville Jaguars star Trevor Lawrence kicked off a debate over quarterbacks’ tactics when it came to sliding after scrambles.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Thomas weighed in on the debate Tuesday after the NFL announced a three-game suspension for Al-Shair. He wrote in a post on
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Former Cleveland Browns player Joe Thomas reports from the sideline before the game between the Browns and the New York Jets at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland on December 28, 2023. (Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports)
“As dangerous as hits on a quarterback are if the quarterback chooses to slide, we must stop allowing quarterbacks to fake a slide or late slide to gain yardage and confuse defenders as to whether the quarterback slides or not,” Thomas wrote. “It would go a long way toward taking those horrible hits out of the game and making the situation safer for the quarterback and the defender.
“A late slide, a fake slide, or pretending to go out of bounds and then move forward a few more yards; these should all be 15-yard penalties on the foul. And it’s time for the NFL referees to start with marking the ball immediately down if the quarterback starts to slide… That’s the rule by the way!
“If this happens, the big hits from quarterbacks while sliding will be completely eliminated from the game. Isn’t that what we all want?”
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, #16, slides down the field for Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, #0, in the second quarter at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, on December 1, 2024. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)
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The play in question took place late in the second quarter of Sunday’s game between the Texans and Jaguars.
Lawrence scrambled a few yards and then decided to slide. At that same moment, Al-Shaair came in and nailed Lawrence in the head and neck area with his forearm. The hit led to a brawl between Texans and Jaguars players.
NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan released a message damning statement about Al-Shair when the league announced his suspension on Tuesday.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, No. 16, slides as Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, No. 0, makes a late hit during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville , Florida. (Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union)
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“Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all those who play, coach and enjoy it is disturbing and does not reflect the core values of the NFL… Your continued disregard for the Rules of the Game jeopardizes the health and safety of both you and your opponents are in danger and will not be tolerated,” Runyan said in part.
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