NFL league meetings make it clear the Packers took the bold step others were afraid to take with the future of the tush push
When the Green Bay Packers proposed a rule to ban the tush push, the dominant reaction on social media was to call them afraid of it. Well, after all they might have been the courageous ones to be the face of something many others have wanted to do for a long time.According to ESPN's reporter Kalyn […]
When the Green Bay Packers proposed a rule to ban the tush push, the dominant reaction on social media was to call them afraid of it. Well, after all they might have been the courageous ones to be the face of something many others have wanted to do for a long time.
According to ESPN's reporter Kalyn Kahler, "The Green Bay Packers' proposal to ban the push sneak, popularly known as the tush push, has support within the competition committee, a source with direct knowledge told ESPN on Sunday. Another source with direct knowledge of competition committee thinking said the proposal would be 'hotly contested' among the coaches, general managers and owners as they gather for league meetings this week."
The idea of prohibiting the play is not necessarily about fear of the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s more about the flow of the game—injuries have not been a big issue, actually. The Packers themselves created a version of it, but with tight end Tucker Kraft instead of Jordan Love to protect the quarterback.
“I am not a fan of this play. There is no skill involved and it is almost an automatic first down on plays of a yard or less. The series of plays with the Commanders jumping offsides in the NFC Championship Game to try to stop the play was ridiculous. The referee even threatened to give the Eagles an automatic touchdown if the Commanders did not stop it,” Packers president Mark Murphy wrote in his February column at Packers.com. “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. The play is bad for the game, and we should go back to prohibiting the push of the runner. This would bring back the traditional QB sneak. That worked pretty well for Bart Starr and the Packers in the Ice Bowl.”
Why the Packers are doing this
If multiple teams wanted to have this discussion, and have wanted it for multiple years, why are the Packers leading the effort? It’s exactly because of Mark Murphy.
First of all, he is not an owner. So what the external public thinks about him or perceives him doesn’t matter nearly as much. Moreover, he is set to retire in four months based on a Packers’ rule that limits the age of the franchise’s leader. COO Ed Policy has already been chosen to replace him.
If Murphy is not an owner and is getting ready to step out of the NFL, it’s the perfect timing for him to save face for everyone else.
This article is not a matter of judging the tush push, which is something the NFL will do at the league meetings in Florida. It’s about why the Packers are doing it when there are several other teams willing to ban the famous play. Sometimes, not having an owner is a big difference, and this is one of those. Whether you like the tush push or not, Green Bay is the ideal franchise to start conversations. And this is the perfect moment for it.
‘There is no skill involved’ – Packers seek to ban one of the NFL’s most famous plays
Packers president Mark Murphy doesn’t like the tush push
