KC Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes weighs in on latest NFL controversy that some are blaming him for

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes was asked on Wednesday about a major NFL controversy surrounding the Week 13 game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans. 

During the game, Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence was carted off with a head injury after a violent hit during a slide was delivered by Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair. The NFL later suspended Al-Shaair for three games. The decision prompted some backlash from fans, players, coaches, and executives alike.

So, what does any of this have to do with Mahomes? Some have suggested that Mahomes is a quarterback who exploits and takes advantage of rules to gain extra yards. They've pointed to specific examples like the perceived "fake slide" in the Week 1 game against the Lions in 2023 and even his 30-yard scamper against the 49ers this season.

Some have called for the league to step in and change the rules because they think Mahomes is putting defenders in a bad position, toeing the line, and that he should be punished for it. He certainly doesn't see it that way, though. 

"I'm just playing football at the end of the day, and I don't feel like I've ever put anybody in jeopardy of not wanting to hit me," Mahomes said. "I know when you get in the open field, guys want to hit you, and I get down when I feel like it's necessary to get down, but there are times and big spots in the games where I know I need to get first downs and I go for it, and so, not taking advantage of any rules. I think, more than anything, it's me being smart in the moment of knowing when not to and when to go for it. And you've seen that for me in the playoffs, and I think, like, you see that for me in big spots in games because I know that sliding at that moment is not going to get us the win. I'm all about winning."

At the end of the day, Mahomes and every other NFL player are out there putting their body on the line for the love of the game. They're going to do whatever it takes to win, especially in the biggest moments of the game. Mahomes is always going to fight for extra yards at great personal risk, whether it's running the ball or absorbing a hit to deliver a throw. 

"I'm big on, when I do slide, trying to get the head down because at the end of the day, man, it's a split-second decision," Mahomes said. "And I know guys playing the sport, I mean, for the most part, 99% of guys are not trying to hurt anybody. They're just trying to make plays, and those guys are flying down trying to stop you from getting first down. So when I do slide, I try to get my head down as quickly as possible and try to avoid those situations. But that stuff happens in football, and luckily, [Jaguars QB] Trevor [Lawrence] is alright because I mean that that's the most important thing. By the end of the day, I think everybody's just going out there playing the sport that they love as hard as they can. Sometimes bad things happen, but hopefully, we can move through it and learn from it."

A logical and easy solution to the QB slide problem exists for the NFL

The way the rule is written, the ball is spotted wherever a quarterback begins their slide. As Mahomes said above, he's a competitor. He's going to try and get as many yards as possible to try and win the game when he's running the ball. He's going to also do what he can to protect himself.

The simplest fix on those sliding late is to change the rule to spot the ball where a quarterback finishes their slide. Quarterbacks won't have an incentive to push the boundaries on timing their slide, which will likely lead to fewer violent collisions between QBs and defenders. Make it so that quarterbacks who slide don't need to be touched down, but instead, they immediately surrender themselves at the point their slide finishes. They'll get those extra yards they're fighting for without the risk of getting hit, leaving the game, or worse - going to injured reserve and missing a minimum of four weeks like Trevor Lawrence has.