Voting effort to prohibit tush push fails, leaving it unscathed
Heard the buzz? Another season of the ol' "Brotherly Shove" is on the horizon! NFL club owners couldn't secure the votes necessary to kibosh the rugby-style, close-quarter play that's a Philly Eagles staple and cinched their Super Bowl win last season. So much for banning any moves involving a little ballcarrier shoving or pushing, huh?
On a Wednesday during the NFL owners meeting in Eagan, Minn., the proposal didn't quite make the cut. It garnered 22 yesses but fell two votes shy of the needed 24[1][3]. Guess who showed up to give the Eagles' side of the story? None other than their former center, Jason Kelce, joining franchise owner Jeffrey Lurie's crew[1][3].
Mere minutes after the tally revealed the ban wouldn't be a go, the Eagles posted a shot of Jalen Hurts under center versus the Green Bay Packers, with the words "Push On" boldly emblazoned above his helmet[3]. Fun fact: The Packers proposed the ban, citing player safety issues[2]. They'll be meeting the Eagles on Nov. 10 at Lambeau Field for a Monday Night Football showdown[1].
The Eagles whooped the Packers twice last season, once in the season opener in Brazil and again in a rematch at home[1]. They've been undefeated against Green Bay ever since Nick Sirianni took the helm in 2022[1].
[1] Overall, the proposal failed to gather the supermajority needed for approval, thanks to the advocacy of the Eagles' reps, an effective safety argument, and some division among the owners on the play's legitimacy in the NFL[1][3][4].
[2] The Packers wanted to can the play, feeling its aggressive nature posed potential safety risks[2].
[3] As the Eagles successfully managed to convince nine other teams to nix the ban, their fans are already pumped, fueled by the "push on" rallying cry[1][3].
[4] According to some reports, the Eagles stressed that no player had been injured while running the play[4]. That's a major point they used to assert its safety and strategic benefits within the game's current rules[4].
- The Philadelphia Eagles, who recently won the Super Bowl with their unique rugby-style play, managed to prevent a ban on the controversial move during an NFL owners meeting.
- Jason Kelce, a former center for the Eagles, joined Jeffrey Lurie, the franchise owner, to argue against the proposed ban on the play known for its shoving and pushing tactics.
- Shortly after the ban proposal failed to gain the necessary votes, the Eagles shared an image on social media, depicting Jalen Hurts under center, accompanied by the words "Push On" above his helmet, hinting at their determination.
- In a future game against the Green Bay Packers, who had initially proposed the ban due to player safety concerns, the Eagles aim to continue their winning streak as they have been undefeated against the Packers since 2022.
- In their defense, the Eagles argued that no player had been injured while running the play and emphasized its strategic benefits within the current rules of American football, helping to secure some votes against the ban.
