Similar to LeBron James within the NBA, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes may now be the explanation the NFL lastly addresses the rising concern of flopping.
In current seasons, quarterbacks across the league have taken benefit of their untouchable standing in a wide range of artistic methods. Faking slides and persevering with to run, baiting defenders into hitting them late on the sidelines, exaggerating their response after being hit, and intentionally flopping after performs after not being touched.
All of those situations have elevated with the NFL’s guidelines defending quarterbacks, and Mahomes has been flopping’s poster boy, typically perceived because the participant most frequently pushing the boundaries. That popularity was heightened all through the present playoffs when allegations of flopping ran rampant with followers, opposing groups and even Troy Aikman, who was commentating on Kansas Metropolis’s recreation towards Houston within the divisional spherical.
“He’s making an attempt to attract the penalty. Fairly than simply run out of bounds, he slows down,” Aikman protested. “And that’s been the frustration, and I get it. I perceive it. That’s been the frustration for these defensive gamers across the league.”
The NBA knew they’d a flopping epidemic a number of years in the past, and so they took strides to right it. Their first flopping rule was adopted in 1997, nevertheless it didn’t go far sufficient, in order that they’ve continued to strengthen the rule many occasions.
Simply final season, because of gamers like James and different frequent floppers, the NBA agreed to permit coaches to make use of a video problem once they imagine flopping has occurred. To their credit score, the NFL is realizing a flopping downside exists of their league as properly. And so they’re now taking comparable steps to deal with it, because the NBA did.
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Based on Adam Schefter, the league could comply with the NBA’s lead and contemplate increasing their replay guidelines to incorporate quarterback slides.
“For all these complaining that Patrick Mahomes will get too many calls, reduction quickly could possibly be on the best way,” Schefter wrote. “NFL replay help is anticipated to broaden this offseason into performs that would embrace the quarterback slide, league sources instructed ESPN.“
If that possibility existed throughout these present playoffs, no less than three penalties Mahomes induced towards the Texans and Payments could not have been assessed, which may’ve altered the result of every recreation considerably.
After all, there’s no assure any new guidelines go into impact subsequent season, or ever for that matter. However even the opportunity of the principles committee taking a look at it means it’s seemingly one thing will change and alter shortly. And when it does, it’ll most actually be identified throughout the league because the Patrick Mahomes Rule. Whereas Mahomes isn’t going to love being caught with that moniker, that’s what comes with the territory if you’re the most effective participant on the earth, but nonetheless making an attempt to push the envelope.