DISCUSS: Should The NFL Ban The Tush Push?

This weekend, we will take a pause from the big questions of politics and religion to consider a controversy in the realm of sports. Actually, though, sports controversies might be the most rancorous of them all, but let’s give this topic a try.

Philadelphia is the City of Brotherly Shove. That’s one name for the Tush Push, a play that the Philadelphia Eagles used to great effect against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.

In short yardage situations, such as being one yard away from a touchdown, several big players line up behind the quarterback. He sneaks the ball and plunges into the defensive line while the players behind him push him through the crowd.

The play, developed by the Eagles three years ago, is almost impossible to stop. Other teams have also used it occasionally, but the Eagles use it a lot. When it comes to quarterback sneaks of two or fewer yards for a first down or touchdown, the Eagles are five times more successful than the rest of the league.

The NFL won’t let this video of the play be embedded, but you can see it on YouTube here.

Now the Packers have petitioned the NFL to ban the Tush Push.

The question for our discussion is this: Should the NFL change the rules of football to eliminate the push play?