Quote:
Originally Posted by OILFAN #81
To be completely honest, I am not sure what the sliding rule is myself. I have been told multiple things from different people. What would make sense is that it is where a player's body part first hits the ground which is why IMO that it was a first down. The MNF crew was saying it was a first down when the referee was under the hood so they probably made the right call.
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But if you can't hit the QB when he's sliding, than I think it should be when he starts the slide. You can easily get 2 yards from when you start a slide to when you hit the ground. If you can't hit the QB and stop his progress when he starts the slide, than you have to down the ball at the point where the slide starts to make it fair. Otherwise it's 2 free yards or a 15 yard penalty. I think it is important to protect QB's and letting them slide without taking a hit gives fans the oppurtunity to see the better guys stay in games from not taking violent hits. But at the same time, you can't be giving these guys free yards in my opinion.
I think the rule currently reads when the QB is down that's where the forward progress stops, but it should be where he starts the slide, or any contact from when the slide starts to before he hits the ground without being touched should be fair game.