In Palm Beach, Florida, discussions are underway about potentially banning the “tush push,” a play popularized by the Philadelphia Eagles. The move would require significant support, with 24 out of 32 votes needed to pass at the NFL’s league meetings.
The play, utilized frequently by the Super Bowl champions, is under scrutiny by NFL team owners, coaches, and general managers during their deliberations about rule changes. The Green Bay Packers initiated a proposal for its ban due to concerns related to player safety and the tempo of the game. Despite NFL executive Troy Vincent noting no injuries have been reported from the play, Sean McDermott from the Buffalo Bills, who is part of the NFL’s competition committee, advocates for its removal.
McDermott expressed his worries on Monday, stating, “My primary concern is about player health and safety. The added force and the posture required by players to execute this play are problematic.” While not drawing from specific injury data, McDermott believes being proactive is essential.
Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs, who witnessed the play in action during their Super Bowl match against Philadelphia, acknowledges the complexity of the issue. “It’s a tough play to stop,” Reid said, though he sides with taking action if it poses a safety risk. Pittsburgh Steelers’ coach Mike Tomlin, another member of the competition committee, seeks clarity on the safety issues. He acknowledged the play’s innovation but referred to past discussions on player safety regarding field goal blocks.
Conversely, coaches like DeMeco Ryans from the Houston Texans and Kevin Stefanski from the Cleveland Browns opposed the ban. “It’s unfair to penalize a team for excelling,” said Ryans. Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles has also expressed opposition to its prohibition.
Alongside this discussion, potential changes to other NFL rules are being considered. These include making last year’s updated kickoff rule permanent and adjusting playoff seeding rules. The Detroit Lions have proposed that playoff rankings should be determined by team records, instead of automatically prioritizing division winners.
In response to these ideas, the NFL competition committee has suggested further changes to enhance instant replay capabilities. This would include allowing replay assist to help on-field officials reverse certain calls if there is clear evidence, including facemask penalties and roughing or running into the kicker scenarios.
Further afield, the prospect of hosting an NFL game in Abu Dhabi has been tabled, as part of broader international expansion plans. Peter O’Reilly from the NFL has hinted at the possibility of this new venue, emphasizing there is still work to be done. This initiative is part of a larger strategy that includes hosting multiple games internationally, with upcoming fixtures in countries like Brazil, Mexico, Germany, and England.
Regarding game schedules, NFL owners have approved a change that allows for flex scheduling of Sunday games to Thursday nights with a 21-day notice, a deviation from the previous 28-day requirement.