The lines have been drawn at this week’s NFL meetings in Minnesota. On one side are the Philadelphia Eagles, who are fighting attempts to penalize their signature “tush push” quarterback sneak. On the other, the Green Bay Packers are lobbying other teams to ban the play.
The Packers officially submitted the proposed rule change earlier this season, which would make it a penalty for offensive players to push a ball carrier forward. The idea appears to target the Eagles and quarterback Jalen Hurts, who use the unique design to great success in short-yardage scenarios.
Green Bay amended its proposal before Tuesday’s meetings, broadening the ban on offense-on-offense shoves to the entire play. The original change would’ve prohibited pushes “immediately at the snap.”
A team that violates the suggested rule would be subjected to a 10-yard penalty.
NFL owners were initially scheduled to vote on the change in April but opted to push discussions to this week. The league meetings began on Tuesday and will end on Wednesday.
The league requires 24 votes to pass any rule change. Executives around the league appeared almost evenly divided on the issue, according to multiple reports.
Count Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu as one of the change’s supporters.
“It’s kind of like a cheapo play,” Luvu said on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” on Monday. “That’s pretty much a scrum in rugby. That’s how I kind of look at it. And we’ve got to have a scrum, too, on the other side.”
Teams will also consider a proposal that would create a guideline for player participation in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, which will feature flag football. That proposal would allow one player from each NFL squad to participate in the event. The limit would not apply to players in the league’s International Pathway Program, who would be encouraged to support their home country.