If the NFL abolishes the “tush push,’’ it’ll feed into further evidence of the league’s derisive nickname the “No Fun League.’’
The short-yardage play, which resembles a rugby scrum, has been perfected by the Eagles and quarterback Jalen Hurts, and has been copied around the league with varying degrees of success.
If the play does nothing else, it reduces the amount of times we have to watch punts, the least-interesting play in football, and extends offensive possessions, presumably leading to more scoring.
Now, however, there’s talk that the NFL’s competition committee may ban the play for safety reasons.
Sadly, the competition committee already has manipulated the rules to neuter the kickoff return, which used to be the most exciting play in the game.
According to ESPN, at league meetings in March the competition committee was divided on whether to ban the “tush push.’’ But the rules committee is scheduled to review the play in after this season to watch for infractions such as illegal formations and blocks.
Monday, two Giants players — rookie center John Michael Schmitz and tight end Daniel Bellinger — were injured while executing the play in the first quarter of their 24-3 loss to the Seahawks.
The Giants failed on the fourth-and-1, which ended their opening possession, and worse yet: Neither Schmitz nor Bellinger returned to the game, and Schmitz is out and Bellinger questionable for Sunday at Miami.
Still, Giants head coach Brian Daboll didn’t sound like he wouldn’t use the play again or that he thinks it should be abolished.
“Whatever they decide, they decide,’’ Daboll said Friday. “If it’s up and legal, then that’s something that we’ll utilize, and if it’s not, we won’t.’’
The play, which is essentially quarterback sneak, has teams lining up serious beef in their backfield with everyone bunching up and pushing the quarterback over the first-down line — or goal line.
Because the Eagles made it a regular part of their offense in 2022, they have run it 37 times in the regular season and have converted a first down or scored a touchdown on 34 of those attempts for a success rate of 92 percent, according to ESPN.
“It’s been a good play for us … a really good play for us,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said.
Teams other than the Eagles have had success with play, but not as proficient. Through four weeks this season, there have been 36 attempts through four weeks with a success rate of 81 percent.
“It’s not as automatic as people think, as we’re seeing across the NFL,” Sirianni said.
According to ESPN stats, since the start of the 2022 season, after the Eagles, the Bills have used it 12 times, Bears seven, and Giants and Steelers six each. The Bills, Bears and Steelers have made every one of their respective conversions.
“I think in the near future, rules might change, but for now, offenses might as well take advantage of it,’’ Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield recently told reporters.
“It’s not being officiated as illegal, so we just have to prepare for it,” Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio said before a Week 4 clash with the Eagles. “I would personally like to see it eliminated, not just because they run it better than anybody — although they do run it better than anybody — but I don’t think that’s a football play. I think it’s a nice rugby play, and it’s not what we’re looking for in football.”
Sirianni, understandably, had no sympathy for the detractors.
“I get that some people are complaining about it, but stop it,’’ Sirianni said. “Stop the play.”