The Philadelphia Eagles’ controversial “tush push” play is facing renewed criticism after the team’s recent win against the Kansas City Chiefs, in which they used it seven times. And one NFL Insider thinks it’s on its way to getting banned.
The play, a quarterback sneak variant, is getting dissected online as video evidence shows the team technically lines up offside and the linemen engage in false starts on almost every play.
And yet, the league permits it. Now, ESPN’s Adam Schefter says the increased scrutiny has the “tush push” breathing its last breath.
“I think it was on life support anyway. Frankly, I was surprised it wasn’t tossed last year,” Schefter said in an interview on Boston radio station WEEI. “I think it had something to do with the fact that the Eagles made a compelling case to keep it.”
“They brought it Jason Kelce, they presented evidence that they didn’t believe that it posed any additional player safety health risks. And so, I was surprised it was kept last year,” he said. “And now there’s been, again, a lot of negative conversation about it this year.”
Schefter says the Eagles won because of the ‘Tush Push’
Schefter got some heat from Eagles fans when he suggested flat-out that Philadelphia won their game against the Chiefs because they have the “tush push” in their arsenal. They probably shouldn’t.
“The biggest thing here to me is this game was lost in March,” Schefter said during an appearance on Get Up earlier this week. “This game was lost when the NFL owners refused to ban the tush push. It wasn’t lost yesterday. It was lost in March!”
“There might be a lot of games the Eagles play that are lost in March because this play is unstoppable. Not only does the defense not know how to handle it, even the officials don’t know how to handle it,” he continued. “You’re seeing the Eagles’ linemen jump offsides every play and nothing’s called!”
Owners tried to get the move banned in March, but to no avail. The move was spearheaded by Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy, who said the play involved “no skill.”
The effort to ban it fell two votes short.
RELATED: Eagles Star Blasts Critics of the ‘Tush Push’: Makes ‘My Blood Boil’
On life Support?
Schefter reiterated his claims that the “tush push” is on life support, though it seems moot since it’s certainly not going to be banned mid-season. Are we supposed to be impressed that Philly will be tush-pushing its way to a second Super Bowl and then, finally, the league will do something about it?
“We’re two games in,” he added. “Obviously, there will be a lengthy season to still play out. Yeah, I thought it was on life support last year. It survived. I think it’ll be on life support [again], maybe it’ll survive, maybe it won’t.”
It never should have survived in the first place. There was a rule previously in the NFL that prohibited players from pushing the ball carrier forward. And you can’t lift another player in an effort to block kicks, either.
Philadelphia Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata recently blasted critics, saying it made his “blood boil” when people criticize the “tush push.”
“I just think it’s rubbish. Absolute rubbish, man. It makes my blood boil just thinking about it.”
Think of how angry the other teams watching you guys jump offside without a flag feel. It’s a cheap gimmick play that cheapens the game.