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One of the most unique and dominant plays in recent memory - the so-called "Tush Push" - has become the subject of controversy for a few years now. The Philadelphia Eagles' recent success over the past few seasons, including their triumph in Super Bowl LIX, has been fueled by their ability to shove quarterback Jalen Hurts in a rugby-style scrum in short yardage situations. Countless third downs have been converted and goal line touchdowns have been scored as a result of the Tush Push.
"Enough!" cried the Green Bay Packers, who are likely still salty over their 22-10 loss to the Eagles in the Wild Card round from the 2024 season. Earlier this offseason, the Green Bay initiated a proposal which would have banned the Tush Push, and submitted a revised version of it this week. On Wednesday, the league's owners voted on it... and narrowly managed to uphold the legality of the play. In order to ban it, at least 24 owners were needed to vote in favor of the revised proposal. Ultimately, only 22 sided with the Packers, with 10 voting to keep the Tush Push in the Eagles' playbook.
This failed vote has given Green Bay yet another 22-10 loss to Philadelphia.
What we know now is which teams were among the 10 to keep the play... and conversely, which teams voted to ban it.
That's right, the Seattle Seahawks sided with the Green Bay Packers to ban the Tush Push. While the organization was opposed to the play, it appears head coach Mike Macdonald may not share the same opinion. At the league's owners' meetings in April, Macdonald said this of the Tush Push:
I may be a sports writer, but I am a football fan first. I'd also like to state for the record (as obvious as it may seem) that I have no allegiance or sympathy towards the Philadelphia Eagles. I say this because, as a fan of football, I am glad the Tush Push lives to fight for another down.
In my own personal opinion, the only reason compelling enough for me to agree that a ban should be implemented would be if multiple teams were operating the Tush Push with such regularity and success it started to transform the very nature of football. That's simply not happening.
I, like many of you, watch a lot of football. I've seen several of teams (at the college and pro level) attempt their version of the Tush Push, but the Eagles are the only one to actually successfully pull it off on a regular basis. Why? Because not every team has an offensive line as massive/talented as Philadelphia, nor do they have a quarterback like Jalen Hurts who can squat up to 600 pounds. The Eagles are uniquely constructed to be able to run such a play.
That's the magic of both the NFL and football in general! There are multiple pathways to victory. Teams can have high-flying passing attacks or punishing ground games. Explosive offense or suffocating defense. Dynamic quarterback play or elite roster construction. Philadelphia has found something that works for them, and it's incumbent upon the rest of the league to crack the code on how to defend it. I fundamentally disagree with altering the rules to do so. You got to find a football way to stop the Tush Push.
Or, perhaps this will prove to be a passing fad that decreases in success as time goes on. Jalen Hurts is built like a brick but I'm sure the Tush Push has already shaved years off his career. Putting your quarterback directly in harm's way like this is eventually going to catch up to the Eagles. It should be on them to make such a risky decision with one of their most important players.
Whatever the future may hold, I'm personally glad the play is still legal.
(Of course... I do reserve the right to potentially change my opinion should the Seahawks suffer at the hands of Philadelphia running this play repeatedly against them.)
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seattle Seahawks side with Packers to ban Eagles tush push play
Continue reading...
"Enough!" cried the Green Bay Packers, who are likely still salty over their 22-10 loss to the Eagles in the Wild Card round from the 2024 season. Earlier this offseason, the Green Bay initiated a proposal which would have banned the Tush Push, and submitted a revised version of it this week. On Wednesday, the league's owners voted on it... and narrowly managed to uphold the legality of the play. In order to ban it, at least 24 owners were needed to vote in favor of the revised proposal. Ultimately, only 22 sided with the Packers, with 10 voting to keep the Tush Push in the Eagles' playbook.
This failed vote has given Green Bay yet another 22-10 loss to Philadelphia.
What we know now is which teams were among the 10 to keep the play... and conversely, which teams voted to ban it.
That's right, the Seattle Seahawks sided with the Green Bay Packers to ban the Tush Push. While the organization was opposed to the play, it appears head coach Mike Macdonald may not share the same opinion. At the league's owners' meetings in April, Macdonald said this of the Tush Push:
I may be a sports writer, but I am a football fan first. I'd also like to state for the record (as obvious as it may seem) that I have no allegiance or sympathy towards the Philadelphia Eagles. I say this because, as a fan of football, I am glad the Tush Push lives to fight for another down.
In my own personal opinion, the only reason compelling enough for me to agree that a ban should be implemented would be if multiple teams were operating the Tush Push with such regularity and success it started to transform the very nature of football. That's simply not happening.
I, like many of you, watch a lot of football. I've seen several of teams (at the college and pro level) attempt their version of the Tush Push, but the Eagles are the only one to actually successfully pull it off on a regular basis. Why? Because not every team has an offensive line as massive/talented as Philadelphia, nor do they have a quarterback like Jalen Hurts who can squat up to 600 pounds. The Eagles are uniquely constructed to be able to run such a play.
That's the magic of both the NFL and football in general! There are multiple pathways to victory. Teams can have high-flying passing attacks or punishing ground games. Explosive offense or suffocating defense. Dynamic quarterback play or elite roster construction. Philadelphia has found something that works for them, and it's incumbent upon the rest of the league to crack the code on how to defend it. I fundamentally disagree with altering the rules to do so. You got to find a football way to stop the Tush Push.
Or, perhaps this will prove to be a passing fad that decreases in success as time goes on. Jalen Hurts is built like a brick but I'm sure the Tush Push has already shaved years off his career. Putting your quarterback directly in harm's way like this is eventually going to catch up to the Eagles. It should be on them to make such a risky decision with one of their most important players.
Whatever the future may hold, I'm personally glad the play is still legal.
(Of course... I do reserve the right to potentially change my opinion should the Seahawks suffer at the hands of Philadelphia running this play repeatedly against them.)
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seattle Seahawks side with Packers to ban Eagles tush push play
Continue reading...
