The NFL might ban the tush push, needing 24 of 32 owners' votes in Minneapolis to enact the rule. What does it mean for the league if they start banning plays?
On Wednesday, NFL owners voted at the Minnesota league meetings on a proposal by the Green Bay Packers that would effectively ban the tush push or any way of an offensive player assisting the ball carrier outside of blocking for him.
The vote was 22-10, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, with 24 votes needed for the proposal to pass. The previous version of the proposal in March garnered 16 of 32 votes, per ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler.
Listen now and subscribe: | | | |
Competition committee chairperson Rich McKay pointed Wednesday to wide support for the ban, though the proposal ultimately fell short of the team votes.
“This was unanimously proposed by the competition committee, this was unanimously proposed by the player health and safety committee and by the owner health and safety committee. So, there was a lot of support for it. A lot of discussion about it,†McKay told reporters in Minnesota. “Still, (it) takes 24 votes. In this case, the votes were not there, so the rule will stay as it is."
The Buffalo Bills reportedly were one of the teams that voted for the ban, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, despite being one of the two most successful teams at the play.
In March, Bills coach Sean McDermott, who also serves on the competition committee, noted player safety as his guiding principle.
“I think, similar to how I felt at the combine, I've dove deeper into more of the data on it and just thought more about it as well and my position hasn't really changed at all,†McDermott said at the March league meetings. “I feel where I'm most concerned is, even though there is not significant data out there to this point, my biggest concern is the health and safety of the players, first and foremost.â€
