Interesting Blog about QB's sliding in the NFL and the unfair advantage they get from doing so. Not surprisingly, they use Peyton Manning as an example.
http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/...urn=nfl-282167
Quote:
Manning began his slide well before getting the first down. By rule, he's still a live ball carrier because he hasn't hit the ground yet. But if Bernard Pollard(notes) (the flash in white on the left) had been closer and hit Manning during the beginning of the slide, you can be assured he would have earned a 15-yard penalty for his actions. Hit a quarterback in the midst of the fall to the ground and it will draw a flag every time.
So, basically, a quarterback is protected from the instant he begins his slide to the moment he touches the ground. For Manning on this particular play, that covered 2 yards. Two yards in which he couldn't be hit, but was free to gain more yards.
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