PALM BEACH, Florida – Break up the champs.
Or at least burn a page in the Philadelphia Eagles playbook.
That possibility sums up the hottest topic of debate during an otherwise mellow round of meetings this week for NFL owners, with passion flowing all across the swanky resort.
Sure, you may have thought the question of whether Philadelphia’s signature “tush push” short-yardage play should be allowed was vetted a couple of years ago. It was. Yet with a proposal by the Green Bay Packers to ban the play apparently gaining steam, NFL owners are expected to vote Tuesday on whether or not the play stands.
Memo to NFL owners: Don’t ban it. Just beat it.
It will take 24 votes to scrap the play where teammates push Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts from behind in a rugby-style mashup that has become pretty automatic for securing first downs or touchdowns for the defending Super Bowl champs.
It’s tough to predict how the votes will fall, especially with the Packers’ proposal gaining some support among competition committee members, according to ESPN.com.
Yet it’s easier to gauge certain sentiments among some coaches.
“There’s a lot of different plays that you have to defend that the offense does well, and that particular play you have to defend it,” New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said during his media breakfast session on Monday.
“It’s also tough to defend Lamar Jackson when he runs the ball. So, I’m all in favor of getting rid of those plays that are tough to defend,” Vrabel added with his tongue in cheek.
Although other teams have tried variations of the play, the Eagles and Buffalo Bills are the only two teams that used it for more than five plays last season. And the Eagles used it a lot more – converting for first downs or touchdowns on 39 of the 48 plays (81.3%) they ran last season.
So, it’s undoubtedly an anti-Philly proposal…which can make you wonder if it’s boosted by some old-fashioned jealousy.
The Packers (whose season ended in January with a loss at Philadelphia in the NFC divisional playoffs) and other proponents of banning the play point to health and safety concerns. That’s always a good way to move the needle when it comes to changing a rule in the NFL.
Yet in this case, the data just doesn’t support that the “tush push” presents an excessive injury risk. There were zero injuries sustained last season – as in none or nada – on “tush push” plays. Of course, the play looks awkward, with linemen often pushing from prone positions ...
