Here we are analyzing a still photo just like the Miami fans saying that the ball is not moving in their still photo…
Is very hard to determine when he begins the act of sliding although this photo looks bad.
I also found the “memo“ that was posted above, but I have not seen the verbiage of the actual rule. It would seem that the rule begins with “ANYTIME…” which would suggest Leary was down where the slide initiated.
It’s true that it was not a distinctly feet first slide, but I don’t believe that matters. if he had slid exactly that way with a defender in the area, he would have been protected by the rule.
The call in this instance came down to the judgment of the official as to where the slide started, or (what I think is more likely) the fact that the memo above clarifies, the intent of the rule is to avoid contact. Since there was no contact to avoid, the slide rule is not applicable. Of course, that would seem contradictory to the verbiage of “any time…“
Regardless, All of this boils down to yet another lesson in “finish the play /play to the whistle“ and “don’t leave it up to the official.“