The NFL offseason can feel like a never-ending episode of _Law & Order_—just when you think the case is closed, someone flips the script. This week, the Philadelphia Eagles found themselves at the center of a gridiron whodunit involving a controversial play, a deleted tweet, and a national reporter caught in the crossfire.
Picture this: a play as American as apple pie, yet as polarizing as pineapple on pizza. The Eagles’ “tush push” has been their not-so-secret weapon, a rugby-inspired QB sneak that’s sparked more debates than a Thanksgiving dinner argument over the best _Seinfeld_ episode. But when rumors swirled about its demise, the drama turned personal. Enter Dianna Russini of _The Athletic_.
On Wednesday morning, she fired off a tweet claiming the “tush push” was _“likely on its way out”_ after key NFL committees recommended a ban. Hours later, she pivoted faster than Barry Sanders in an open field. _“The tush push remains alive,”_ she wrote on X. Cue the chaos. Deleted tweets, phantom articles, and a fanbase howling louder than a pack of dogs during a mailman’s visit.
The Eagles, meanwhile, [trolled the Packers on social media](https://insidetheiggles.com/social-medias-reaction-to-eagles-tush-push-not-being-banned-did-not-disappoint) with a photo of Jalen Hurts plunging into Green Bay’s end zone. Message delivered.
The Play That Refused to Die
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The Packers’ crusade to ban the “tush push” began in February, with opponents calling it “rugby nonsense.” But Philadelphia’s brass fought back like Rocky in the 12th round. Owner Jeffrey Lurie slammed the safety concerns, stating, _“There’s just been no data that shows it isn’t a very, very safe play.”_ The numbers backed him up.
Since 2022, the Eagles converted 105 first downs and 30 touchdowns using the play—a success rate that left rivals greener than Lambeau Field in July.
Current center Cam Jurgens shrugged, _“If they ban it, they ban it.”_ Wideout A.J. Brown? He laughed it off: _“It’s only one yard.”_ Meanwhile, coach Nick Sirianni blasted the ban push as “unfair,” arguing that they’re simply better at it. By Wednesday afternoon, the league agreed. The proposal fell two votes short of the 24 needed, sealing the play’s survival. Meanwhile, the fallout was swift. Russini faced a hailstorm from fans and peers, her credibility questioned like a ref’s call in the fourth quarter.
### Gang Green’s Critique
This wasn’t her first misfire: In March, she incorrectly reported San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle’s OTA absence, and last year, she mixed up Arik Armstead’s free-agency destination. Eagles fans, however, reveled in the chaos.
_“How do you show face tweeting this after declaring it banned a couple hours ago?”_ one fan jabbed. Another quipped, _“I see you deleted your previous tweet saying it was likely getting banned. Top journalism 🙄,”_ while a third blasted, _“Another Russini miss 🫠.”_
Another wrote, _"Was that 'Dianna Rigatoni' that posted this morning it was going to get banned?"_ Yet not all reactions were hostile. Some shrugged it off like a botched extra point: “Source?” one user deadpanned. Others framed it as classic offseason theater: _“I’ve never seen a reporter delete their tweets more than you after they’re flat out wrong. Rough 2025 for you.”_ Through it all, the Eagles emerged unscathed, their playbook intact and their swagger amplified.
**Read more:** [**NFL owners keep President Donald Trump and Eagles fans' favorite play alive**](https://insidetheiggles.com/nfl-owners-keep-president-donald-trump-and-eagles-fans-favorite-play-alive)
### The Push Heard ‘Round the League
The “tush push” debate exposed the NFL’s eternal tension between innovation and tradition. For the Eagles, it’s more than a play—it’s an identity. The team’s mastery of inches has become a metaphor for resilience, a reminder that football rewards those who bend rules without breaking them. As for Russini? She’ll bounce back. In the NFL, tomorrow’s headline waits for no one.
In the end, the Eagles proved yet again that in football—and life—the best defense is a good offense. Or, as Michael Corleone once said, _“Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.” The Godfather_ knew a thing or two about power plays.