The Tush Push has quickly turned into the most controversial play in football. The Philadelphia Eagles' version of the quarterback sneak has been an unstoppable force over the last three seasons. The Green Bay Packers proposed the play be banned, so there was supposed to be a vote on the proposal at the owners' meeting. That vote has been tabled for a later date. Expect discussions to resume at the next round of NFL owners meetings in May.
Green Bay and, surprisingly, the Buffalo Bills are pushing for this ban. The Packers and Bills both cite injury concerns as the reason to ban the play. The Bills use the Tush Push more often and successfully than any team other than the Eagles. The Bills pushing to ban the play gives the premise more validity. Most times when outlawing the play is discussed, the narrative is other teams can't do it, so they want to keep the Eagles from doing it. That argument doesn't work against Buffalo.
Discussions likely had to be tabled, because injuries is a hard basis to stand on. Using injuries against the Tush Push is a purely based on projection. There haven't been any injuries directly related to the play, but those looking to ban the play feel injuries are only a matter of time.
Sean McDermott identifies two factors. "It's force, added force, No. 1, and then the posture of the players, being asked to execute that type of play, that's where my concern comes in." The NFL has been big on attempting to increase player safety. The Tush Push does involve forcible and unavoidable head to head contact.
Having to decide whether the potential risks are realistic and greater than normal plays shouldn't be a rushed decision. It's something many teams likely haven't considered with depth. With medical information about the risks fully on the table, giving the vote more time seems like a sound decision.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: NFL owners meetings: Tush Push vote has been tabled for later date
