Were The Eagles Preparing For a Tush Push Ban?
After the Eagles pushed their way to a Super Bowl victory, some teams (specifically one in Green Bay) had had enough and proposed back in April to get the Tush Push banned.
PHOTO: Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images
The proposal was to “prohibit an offensive player from immediately pushing a teammate who is lined up directly behind the snapper and receives the snap.”
It ultimately fell short in April, with a split 16-16 vote. The NFL requires at least 24 votes to make a change. And so the proposal was tabled till the subsequent owners’ meeting in May.
Since The Owners Meeting
During the offseason, the Eagles made several moves that might suggest they were preparing for an inevitable ban of a play that only benefits them.
- Signed RB A.J. Dillon
- Re-signed Ben VanSumeren as a FB
- TE Harrison Bryant
- TE Kylen Granson
And that was all before April 1st. Were the Eagles loading up for something? Or finally addressing the TE depth I’ve been crazy about for the last 3 seasons?
Once the draft rolled around, the Eagles selected Ty Robinson with the 111th pick.
While drafting a defensive tackle might not seem relevant to the Eagles’ potential loss of the Tush Push. But how does a 6’6” 310lb fullback blocking for Saquon Barkley sound? Looks like a viable alternative to consistently picking up 1-2 yards.
Versatile Options
For years, fans have asked for Jordan Mailata to be given the football. The Eagles’ former rugby player, drafted in 2018, has yet to receive the ball. No matter how good an idea it sounds on paper.
With years of Dan Campbell and Ben Johnson making linemen eligible for plays, perhaps it’s time for the Eagles to get both their left tackle and newest defensive linemen included in the backfield.
Even Jeffrey Lurie was on 94WIP earlier this month and stated that the Eagles want to bring the FullBack position back into the spotlight.
May Owner Meeting
Earlier this week was the next owner meeting, where the Packers once again proposed a ban on the Tush Push.
The new version now includes extra wording that would apply to yards picked up at the end of the play, resulting in a 10-yard penalty if the 24 votes were achieved.
The final vote ended 22-10, just 2 votes shy of the League successfully removing the Tush Push, and harming 31 other teams in the process.
For now, the Eagles will continue to run the play that worries teams the most. Forget about every other down.
Push On.
PHOTO: Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images
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