The NFL Tables Potential Tush Push Ban For Now
The Tush Push lives to see another day, but it is not out of the water yet. The matter has been tabled for now, as the proposal did not have…
Dec 15, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) scores a touchdown on a sneak play against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field.
Bill Streicher-Imagn ImagesThe Tush Push lives to see another day, but it is not out of the water yet. The matter has been tabled for now, as the proposal did not have the 24 votes it would need to pass the League meetings. But the matter could still be voted on later this offseason.
According to Schultz half the Owners, 16, would have voted to ban it. 8 votes short of what the measure would need for it to pass. But instead of it being formally voted down, they chose to table it until a later date.
Tush Push Vote Tabled
What this means is we get another couple of months of bickering in league circles. The people trying to ban it, like the Packers, and Bills Coach Sean McDermott, will have more time to try and convince other teams to pass a rule that is specifically targeting the Eagles.
But to quote a line from Hamilton, "You don't have the votes." For as much whining as the other side did, for all the lying about being concerned for player safety, for all the meaningless talk of it not being a "football play," there are enough people against it that if they voted on it it would not pass.
So instead of accepting defeat, and realizing how silly it is to ban a play just because 1 team is good at it, the people on the other side of the debate are doing what the most annoying kids playing backyard sports do when they are losing, whining about it, and holding up everyone else.
Other proposals were put up and passed the vote. For instance, the Eagle's proposal to let both teams have the ball in OT during the regular season passed. The proposal to let objective calls on penalties be reviewed passed. The Lions' proposal to eliminate automatic 1st Downs on Defensive Holding did not pass. Notice the Lions did not table it because they could not handle not getting their way, they moved on.
But the anti-Tush Push brigade couldn't handle losing, so now they are delaying the vote, to try and do it later in May. They hope that if they whine and dine enough people, they can convince other teams to be as petty as they are.
Again, there is no good argument for banning it. People cite injury concerns, but there is literally no data to back that concern up. There were 0 injuries sustained on the play last year. Also if they were so concerned for player safety, the league would not be pushing for an 18-game schedule, and they would not be changing kickoff rules to promote more kick returns, which is shown to be one of the more dangerous plays.
The only reason to ban the Tush Push is to try and hurt the Eagles. Luckily for now, at least 7 other teams agree with that. We will see if any of the people on the Eagles side can be swayed by the pettiness of the Bills, Packers, and Rams. But for the time being, the Tush Push lives.
