Quarterbacks Are Football Players Too...Aren't They?

I had a chance to watch the Dallas Cowboys play the Arizona Cardinals this weekend. I am not a Cowboys fan, nor am I a Cardinals fan, but I didn't upgrade to the Sunday Ticket on DirecTV, so what else can you do.

I saw Tony Romo distinctly fumble in the end zone, which was recovered by the Cardinals...I was thinking touchdown. Romo's arm was not going forward. I couldn't see where the challenge flag was being thrown. I mean Romo fumbled the ball, the ball was tucked against his body when he got hit.

Then I was reminded of the infamous tuck rule, when the Patriots began their reign of terror over the NFL. All goes back to one ridiculous rule... basically if the quarterback pump fakes then he has a get out of fumble free card.

Not while he is pumping, not while he is bringing his arm back, but after he has already put his arm down and has the ball against his body again. Luckily for the fans of the Cardinals this play didn't have the effect of losing the game for the Cardinals like it had to the Raiders years ago.

I have seen several instances of quarterbacks getting tapped after he threw the ball, and get a flag for roughing the passer. Not the ones where he gets blasted and slung to the ground, but just a tap, a bump where the defense actually holds on to the QB so as to not have him fall on his back.

I have seen the defense blocked into the quarterback, and a flag be thrown. An arm strike the quarterback in the helmet, and contact to the helmet be called. The quarterback even has a rule to where he can run out into the open and if things look bad for him, he can just slide and not get hit.

Running backs, wide receivers, nor tight ends can do that. Once the quarterback is out of the pocket is he not a back with the ball. How many times do you see running backs about to get tackled for a loss throw the ball away? That is one benefit I think the quarterback should have, but it should be stopped there.