An unidentified NFL team has submitted a proposal to ban the "tush push" quarterback sneak, a move confirmed by Troy Vincent, the NFL's executive vice president of football operations, during the scouting combine on Monday. This play, popularized by the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills, involves lining up one or more players behind the quarterback to push him forward against the defense. Over the past three seasons, these two teams have utilized this tactic 163 times, surpassing the combined usage of the rest of the NFL, according to ESPN Research.
The Eagles and Bills have demonstrated remarkable success with the "tush push," achieving a touchdown or first down on 87% of their attempts. In contrast, other NFL teams have only managed a 71% success rate with the same play. Despite its effectiveness, the play has been scrutinized by the NFL and its competition committee in previous offseasons, yet no regulatory actions have been implemented so far.
The proposal to ban the "tush push" will be subject to a vote at the annual league meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, unless withdrawn by the proposing team. For the ban to be enacted, at least 24 out of the 32 NFL owners must vote in favor. This controversial play has been affectionately dubbed the "Brotherly Shove" by the Eagles after its successful execution in Super Bowl LIX led to their first touchdown.
In a high-profile instance during the NFC Championship Game, Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu was flagged for offsides twice while attempting to leap over the Eagles' line to thwart the play. Referee Shawn Hochuli warned that a third infraction would result in a touchdown award to Philadelphia, highlighting the play's contentious nature.
Coaches from both teams have voiced their opinions on the potential ban. Eagles' coach Nick Sirianni has openly opposed any changes to the rule, emphasizing that their success with the play isn't mirrored across the league.
"The success that we have is not replicated always throughout the entire league," Sirianni noted.
He further added his desire to maintain the current rule due to their effectiveness with it.
"I'm lobbying to never change that rule just because we're successful at it," he stated.
On the other hand, Bills' coach Sean McDermott has expressed concerns about player safety associated with the "tush push," although he acknowledged that their approach differs from others.
"We do it a little bit different than other teams," McDermott remarked.
The NFL's health and safety committee has also weighed in on the matter, examining injury reports and potential risks linked to this maneuver. Troy Vincent revealed that discussions about the "tush push" have previously surfaced alongside other controversial tactics like the hip drop.
"Hip drop and the tush push were in the same conversation three years ago," Vincent explained.
The competition committee plans to continue deliberating on this proposal along with broader discussions tomorrow. The force exerted by players behind the quarterback is cited as a key factor in its success for teams like the Eagles and Bills.
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