The Green Bay Packers’ proposal to ban the “tush push” (the variant of the quarterback sneak popularized by the Philadelphia Eagles) will be voted on Tuesday, April 1, when the NFL’s 32 owners meet during the league’s annual meetings
As the decision-makers in the NFL prepare for that vote, one of the most controversial potential rule changes in recent history, conversations have been intense, according to a new report from ESPN.
Kalyn Kahler of ESPN cited a “source with direct knowledge” of the discussions, stating that the proposal will be “hotly debated” among coaches, general managers and owners at the league meetings this week
The discussion about the proposal at a football operations meeting on Sunday, which was attended by Eagles board members including general manager Howie Roseman, was reportedly “heated”.
Any rule change requires a 75% vote to be approved. The Packers have proposed an amendment to Rule 12, Section 1 of the league’s rulebook, “to prohibit an offensive player from pushing a teammate who lined up directly behind the center and receives the snap, immediately after the snap.”
Green Bay’s proposal is reportedly based on concerns about player safety and the pace of play, although critics claim that no concrete data has been presented on the risk of injury from the push, and that some simply have aesthetic concerns about the play.
Dallas Cowboys co-owner Stephen Jones, a member of the competition committee, made a more compelling case against the play: “Pushing is not allowed on the other side of the ball, and banning the immediate push probably won’t affect the success that Jalen Hurts, famous for his lower-body strength before his first snap with the Eagles, has had with short passes.
“We’re looking for consistency as a committee and we don’t allow shoving,” Jones said. “We don’t allow linebackers to shove defensive linemen on extra points and we’re just trying to be consistent. I’m sure these quarterbacks would be hugely successful, whether they’re pressured or not.”
“I’m sure [Jalen Hurts] will get first downs quite often, whether someone pushes him or not, because he’s an extraordinarily strong special athlete. So we just try to be consistent with the rule. Green Bay really brought something to our attention that we certainly think needs to be looked at in the meeting room and among the owners, and see what we think about it.
“I think it’s just about being consistent with our rules, and I think Green Bay made us aware of that, and that’s what we’re considering as a committee, and certainly the members will have their say on it.”
Just days ago, Mark Maske of the Washington Post reported that those proposing a successful ban on back pushes faced an uphill battle. With the NFL meetings underway on Sunday, it now appears that there is momentum toward a rule change. 24 votes are needed to change the rule, although Philadelphia coach Nick Sirianni certainly hopes his influence over many of the league’s newer head coaches can create a firewall to protect his team’s most famous play.
