The Philadelphia Eagles’ signature ‘tush push’ is set to be banned at the NFL’s owners meeting on Wednesday, according to NFL insiders.
The bombshell decision is likely to be pushed through despite the Eagles’ best efforts to defend the play.
NFL insider and The Athletic reporter Dianna Russini reported on Wednesday morning: ‘Hours away from the owners’ vote surrounding the future of the tush push, I’m told both the league’s competition and players’ health and safety committees have voted to ban the play.
‘Despite the Eagles’ best efforts, the tush push is likely on its way out, sources say.’
The Green Bay Packers – coincidentally one of the Eagles’ most intense rivals – have led the charge to ban the play over the past year, even changing the wording this summer in a refreshed bid to convince owners.
While the initial proposal in March referred to a ban on players pushing their teammate from behind ‘immediately at the snap,’ the new proposal does not specifically use the word ‘snap’ at all.
The popular ‘tush push’ – used mainly by the Eagles – is set to be banned today, per reports
The play has been frequently and often successfully by the Eagles in short-yardage situations
Philly and QB Jalen Hurts won a Super Bowl last year, beating the Chiefs in New Orleans
‘Prohibits an offensive player from pushing, pulling, lifting or assisting the runner except by individually blocking opponents for him,’ the proposal reads in the ‘Effect’ section.
The new proposal also entirely replaced one section – which referred specifically to the snap – with a more simplified line: ‘assist the runner except by individually blocking opponents for him.’
The play, which was used frequently by the Eagles en route to their Super Bowl win last year, typically sees several Eagles line up in the backfield and push quarterback Jalen Hurts from behind after he receives the snap.
The Packers need 24 of 32 teams to back their motion, and per the latest reports it appears they will get the numbers they need.
More to follow.
