Indianapolis Colts' GM Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen have both weighed in on the proposal to ban the tush push, and neither are in favor of the move.
"We're against banning it right now," said Ballard. "The Eagles are good at it—give Philly and Nick Sirianni credit for being damn good at it. It is what it is. Unless there's a health and safety reason, I don't see us voting against it."
The Green Bay Packers are the team that proposed banning the tush push--a short-yardage play that the Eagles have perfected.
In a recent report from ESPN's Kalyn Kahler, the two reasons that the Packers want to prohibit the play are player safety and pace of play.
The specific proposal from the Packers, according to ESPN, wants to "prohibit an offensive player from pushing a teammate who was lined up directly behind the snapper and receives the snap, immediately at the snap."
Eagles' head coach Nick Sirianni joked that he should be able to count on three voters who are in favor of keeping the tush push with Steichen, Arizona's Jonathan Gannon, and New Orleans' Kellen Moore, all former Sirianni assistants who benefitted from the play.
However, it doesn't sound like Steichen needs any persuading when it comes to which direction he will vote.
“I’m not in favor of taking it out," Steichen said via the Indy Star. "I think it’s good for the game. I think that what they do, obviously they do it better than anyone. Other teams are doing it. Buffalo’s doing it.”
In fact, the play is in the Colts' current playbook. Steichen, at the NFL league meeting, recalled running the play twice during his first season with Indianapolis, but it failed on both attempts. So, with a backfield that consists of Jonathan Taylor and Anthony Richardson, he has since leaned into that dynamic duo when facing short-yardage situations.
But the play is still there if ever needed.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 'Tush push' ban: Colts' Chris Ballard, Shane Steichen weigh in
