What is a common penalty associated with a quarterback maintaining a running position?

Intentional grounding is a common penalty that can occur when a quarterback, while in a running position, throws a pass without a reasonable opportunity to complete it to a receiver. This penalty is enforced to prevent the quarterback from simply tossing the ball away to avoid a sack without any intention of actually trying to complete a play.

For a grounding penalty to be called, certain criteria must be met: the quarterback must be in the pocket, be under pressure from defenders, and throw the ball in a direction where there is no eligible receiver. If these conditions aren't fulfilled, the play is deemed as intentional grounding, resulting in a loss of down and yardage.

This distinguishes it from other types of infractions in the game, as it specifically relates to the quarterback's actions in an attempt to evade a defensive play while still engaged in passing. Other options, such as offside or delay of game, pertain to different situations and would not apply to the circumstances described regarding the quarterback's actions.