I don't think any QB should ever slide. It's pretty dangerous and costs yards.
Sorry I missed this reply.
Must be a reason why there is a 15yd penalty for tackling or even hitting a QB that is sliding. I think this recent penalty was imposed to protect the QB when in the open field and about to be tackled straight up.
Have you ever seen a sliding QB get hit and not get a concussion? I'm not sure I have. I've also never seen a penalty for hitting a sliding QB. I suppose it's illegal to hit him after he's already on the ground, but he usually gets hit while he's on the way down.
Which is also a penalty
I watched Alex Smith get injured sliding twice in the same game without penalty a few weeks ago. It just seems a lot safer to me to never slide. You are in a very vulnerable position while starting a slide.
The rule is different in college, it was changed this season. As soon as the legs come out from under the runner he's dead. I thought that not only did the college referees do a good job of protecting the sliding QBs but they did a good job properly spotting the ball, from what I saw, at the spot where the QB starts the slide.
