“Do a better job”: Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons is advocating for the NFL to enhance rules protecting quarterbacks

Concern over quarterback sliding rules has resurfaced in the NFL after Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was suspended for a late hit on Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, triggering criticism from players including Micah Parsons and Jahlani Tavai. Parsons pointed out how quarterbacks exploit the flexibility of sliding to gain unfair advantages, adding that the likes of Patrick Mahomes are known for so-called "fake-slide" tactics.

Parsons wants the NFL to get its act together when it comes to running quarterbacks

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons is calling for the NFL to improve rules protecting quarterbacks, as they are being exploited by defensive players. Defensive players can receive harsh penalties and ejections for hitting a QB while they're running out of bounds or sliding. QBs have been known to fake end plays to burst back into game speed. Speaking with reporters on Thursday, Parsons called for change.


“I just think the NFL should do a better job clearing up the gray area,” Parsons said. “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.”

Parsons pointed specifically to Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes. “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,” Parsons said. “You just never know. There’s so many mobile quarterbacks in the NFL right now.”

The league could be more proactive in preventing aggressive plays, but the line between aggression and trickery is blurry. It's unclear when a move is a hesitation step or an indication of a player going out of bounds. A rule similar to the NBA's flopping ban could help, but it would put another judgement call on officials. Parsons's solution does suggest that if a person is playing for the slide or sideline, their play is dead. However, elite offensive minds like Mahomes will probably continue working to make their next move had the NFL implemented such a rule.

Patrick Mahomes addressed criticism by defending his decision-making process while sliding. "I'm just playing football at the end of the day," Mahomes explained, emphasizing he doesn't aim to put defenders in jeopardy. He acknowledged, however, the challenges defenders face. "99% of guys are not trying to hurt anybody," Mahomes concluded.

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The NFL values player safety, especially for quarterbacks, but the vagueness surrounding sliding rules makes it difficult to play for defenders. Players like Parsons are calling for clearer guidelines to ensure fairness while still maintaining safety as the league tries to balance offensive advantages with defensive integrity.