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There’s a push to ban the Tush Push, plus other potential NFL rule changes

An NFL team officially submitted a proposal to ban the Philadelphia Eagles’ famous “Tush Push” (or “Brotherly Shove”) play. We initially had our guesses on who the anonymous team could have been, but eventually it was revealed to be the Green Bay Packers.

Why do the Packers want to ban the play? Packers president Mark Murphy explained his reasoning: “There is no skill involved and it is almost an automatic first down on plays of a yard or less … 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."

What do the Eagles think of this? Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson simply laughed at the idea of the Packers wanting to ban the play. Meanwhile, coach Nick Sirianni had a more detailed response: “I can't tell you how many times we've practiced the snap, we've practiced the play — it's not a play that's easy to practice, so there's different ways we've figured out how to practice it — the complements that come off of it that can create explosive plays. The fact that it's [portrayed] as an automatic thing, we work really hard, and our guys are talented at this play, and so it's a little insulting to say we're good at it so it's automatic. We work really hard at it."

What about potential injuries? Sirianni addressed this concern as well: "I think if you look at that, because we've looked into that, too, there wasn't a lot of injuries there. I think that's a little made up, to be honest. Now, the numbers will tell the truth, but I don't think there was many injuries with it this year. I can't remember one injury we had on that play, and we ran it more that everybody else."

Should the NFL ban this play? For what my opinion is worth, I’d say no, they shouldn’t, and it’s lame that teams are attempting to ban it. It’s not an automatic play. Several teams have attempted to run it with mixed results — just look at the Buffalo Bills who failed multiple times to run the play successfully in the AFC Championship Game. Saying it’s “too automatic” is like trying to ban a team from throwing the deep ball because they’re too good at it. If you don’t like it, just find a way to stop the darn play. The injury risk is the only legitimate argument for banning the play, but doesn’t every NFL play carry an injury risk?

More potential NFL rule changes coming: In addition to the Tush Push, the NFL will review a handful of other rule changes for 2025. These include:

• Adjustments to the kickoff rule, moving the touchback the 35-yard line, and moving the kickoff line five yards back
• Evaluating a replacement for the onside kick
• Implementing postseason overtime rules for regular season games

Additionally, one change has been confirmed: the NFL will use the Hawk-Eye virtual measurement to measure the line to gain, while the chain gang will be used as a backup measuring tool.

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Best values in free agency for each position

NFL free agency is right around the corner, beginning at 4 p.m. ET on March 12 (less than two weeks away). Our guys Evan Winter and Wendell Ferreira put together a list of free agency’s best values at each position, from impact starters to depth players. Here are some highlights:

Quarterback Justin Fields: “He's projected to receive a deal within the range of $6.4-$8.5 million, which is a steal, even for an experienced backup … Fields is as dynamic as they come and will only be 26-years-old when the 2025 season starts. Starting potential remains, as well, which is rare for a QB prospect mostly projected to make less than $10 million per year and that's why he's on this list.”

Wide receiver Darius Slayton: “Slayton is one of the NFL's most explosive, yet underrated, wideouts. He's managed to produce some OK numbers despite some very poor surrounding circumstances, but is still in his prime at 28-years-old and hasn't taken a step back in terms of skillset. If (or when) he joins a team with even just an average quarterback and a good offense, at minimum, he'll finally be able to showcase his talents in full. Largely expected to earn less than $10 million per year, his ability to break big plays at any moment makes him an even bigger value than he already is heading into 2025 free agency.”

Offensive tackle Alaric Jackson: “The top projections for Jackson have him making somewhere between $10-$16 million per year, whether it's with Los Angeles or somewhere else. Any number on either end or in-between those projections would place him at 26th-33rd among all tackles when it comes to annual average value (AAV). That kind of price tag for a guy who was ranked as Pro Football Focus' 20th-best tackle among all tackles (both left and right), is clearly a great value for a player who is not only coming off the best season of his career, but is also entering his prime.”

Edge rusher Azeez Ojulari: “Ojulari is a tough player to figure out. He's had respectable sack totals in each of his first four years in the NFL, averaging eight sacks per 17 games played. However, he's played only one full season and the high sack total isn't backed up by more detailed pass rushing metrics, including pressure rate. Six sacks in 2024 tied him for 56th in the NFL, but his pass rush win rate ranked 96th, per PFF. He finished the 2024 season with only 22 pressures, good for 81st in the NFL. His explosiveness is there, though, and playing on a better defense should help make that evident.”

Cornerback Paulson Adebo: “Adebo has been one of the most unique players at his position in recent years. At his peak, he's played at a Pro Bowl level. At other times, he's been a liability due to penalties. There seemed to be very little in between for the cornerback. A great characteristic is that he had a knack for somehow coming up with an interception in clutch moments. The cornerback played only seven games in 2024, but that's a freaky injury, more than a lingering issue, and the contract projection makes him an intriguing option.”

NFL free agency’s best values at every position in 2025, from impact starters to underrated depth players

Free agency is a very exciting time of year for one obvious reason: It's a major opportunity for teams to upgrade multiple positions, whether it be an All-Pro player or an up-and-comer that's ready to breakout after steady improvement. The latter scenario, along with under-the-radar names that have quietly excelled, is the preferred route when […]

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