Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu has expressed his desire for NFL owners to ban the “tush push” at this week’s meeting. The play, which has been a hallmark of the Philadelphia Eagles, has generated debate in the league.
Luvu was penalized on three consecutive plays in the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship for attempting to stop the Eagles on a short-yardage play. After the third penalty, the referee warned the Commanders about potential consequences.
My personal opinion is that they should ban it.
Frankie Luvu
The player described the play as “cheap”, comparing it to a scrum in rugby, and expressed his frustration with the way it is executed.
The proposal to ban the “tush push”, presented by the Green Bay Packers, was postponed last month, with a divided vote among the NFL teams. Twenty-four votes are needed for a proposal to be approved.
The Eagles have had great success with this play, scoring numerous touchdowns and gaining significant yardage over the past three years. Despite some safety concerns, the NFL’s health and safety department has not found data suggesting injuries related to the “tush push”.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has acknowledged that safety issues are being considered regarding the play, although there is little information about it.
In addition to the discussion about the “tush push”, the owners will also vote on a proposal from the Detroit Lions to modify the postseason seeding by record instead of by division champions.
The league will also discuss a proposal that would allow its players to participate in flag football at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
This proposal would allow each country to select one NFL player per team for the Olympic Games, in addition to each team’s designated international player. It would also include injury protection, salary cap credit, and minimum standards for medical staff and field surfaces.
