Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy, who has already come out publicly in opposition to the so-called “Tush Push,” has reportedly submitted a plan to the NFL to get the gadget play banned.
The Philadelphia Eagles’ “tush push” is a highly effective short-yardage play in which quarterback Jalen Hurts lines up under center with two or three teammates directly behind him, ready to push.
As the ball is snapped, Hurts surges forward while his teammates shove him from behind, often converting first downs or scoring touchdowns in tight situations.
Murphy admits that the play is highly effective. Indeed, he said that it’s “almost an automatic first down on plays of a yard or less.” However, he contends that it involves “no skill” and should be banned by the league.
“I am not a fan of this play,” Murphy said in a recent Q&A on the Packers’ team website. “There is no skill involved and it is almost an automatic first down on plays of a yard or less.”
Packers President Wants NFL To Ditch The Tush Push
The “tush push” stirs controversy because critics argue it resembles a rugby scrum more than traditional football.
The pile-up it creates raises concerns about player safety as well.
Some NFL fans and analysts agree with Murphy that it’s a near-unstoppable advantage for the Eagles. The Packers President cited the NFC Championship Game as an example. There, the Washington Commanders laughably were repeatedly flagged as offsides in trying to stop the drive.
“The series of plays with the Commanders jumping offsides in the NFC Championship Game to try to stop the play was ridiculous,” he said.
“I would like to see the league prohibit pushing or aiding the runner (QB) on this play. There used to be a rule prohibiting this, but it is no longer enforced because I believe it was thought to be too hard for the officials to see,” added Murphy. “The play is bad for the game, and we should go back to prohibiting the push of the runner.”
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Eagles Laugh At The Attempted Ban
Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson responded to news that the Packers were trying to ban the “tush push” by simply posting a crying from laughter emoji.
Johnson, drafted fourth overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013, has established himself as one of the NFL’s premier offensive tackles. He’s earned six Pro Bowl selections and two First-Team All-Pro honors over his 12-year career. Meanwhile, he’s anchored the Eagles’ dominant offensive line.
Johnson has been a big part and a big beneficiary of the “tush push.”
But Murphy is right. Indeed, there was a rule previously in the NFL that prohibited players from pushing the ball carrier forward.
Until 2005, the league’s regulations banned offensive teammates from both pushing and pulling the runner to gain additional yardage. However, that year, the rule was revised to allow pushing. This happened largely because officials found it too challenging to consistently determine who was pushing whom in the chaos of a play.
But the “tush push” isn’t difficult to see. It’s a gimmick that cheapens the game. And it’s long past time the NFL banned the move.
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