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Quarterbacks are often the face of a franchise, and it makes sense to protect them, but the NFL takes it way too far. If a QB slides you can't hit him, that rule is fine. Blowing up a QB who is trying to slide is a cheap shot, and should be penalized and fined accordingly. Roughing the passer, though, was probably the most ridiculously overcalled penalty last year. If a player is going full speed, and they make an effort to avoid the QB after he releases the pass, there shouldn't be a penalty there. It is football, and the rules should be changed so the officials can decide if it was deliberate or not, and if not, don't call it. There are also a few other ways roughing the passer has been called the last few years that really bother me:

1. The defender is blocked into the quarterback and is called for roughing the passer. I have seen this called a few times lately, and I don't get it.

2. The defender slows up when the quarterback releases the ball, and puts his hands up to stop himself. Maybe this one should be called if the QB is moved by the contact, but if the QB isn't even hit hard enough to take a step to catch his balance, what's the penalty for?

3. The defender is on the ground, usually trying to get up, and a quarterback rolling out trips over him after releasing the pass. The one that pops into my mind as the worst was when it was called on Vince Wilfork against the Dolphins. If the QB can't pay attention to whats around him, thats his fault, and the defender shouldn't be blamed for that.

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