The NFL tried valiantly to get the Philadelphia Eagles' brilliantly perfected tush push play banned at the annual league meetings this week. That might be the case a little further down the line, but there isn't quite the support needed to push the proposal through just yet.
One bitter rival took a different approach.
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn stated he was more interested in finding ways to counteract the play rather than voting to have it outlawed entirely. Other teams have tried to do it and failed miserably. The Eagles have mastered it to the final detail and the frustration of almost everyone. Those complaining can point to the safety aspect, but that has not been proven as fact.
Commanders sign rugby player to help stop Eagles' dominant tush push
All-Pro linebacker Frankie Luvu's comical approach of jumping over the line of scrimmage during the NFC Championship game made it unwatchable. And it didn't work.
The Commanders have looked to get bigger in the defensive trenches this offseason with the signing of Javon Kinlaw on a three-year, $45 million deal with $30 million guaranteed. They've also turned to a rugby player for potential assistance in a laughably desperate move.
Washington confirmed the signing of T.J. Maguranyanga, who'll join as part of the NFL's international player pathway program. He's a 22-year-old Zimbabwe rugby player looking to carve out a role for himself in the league. Several teams reportedly showed an interest before the Commanders took the plunge. They saw something in the hopeful that could potentially be molded into something more under Quinn's staff team.
This signing comes on the back of Quinn's comments about stopping the tush push, which is notable. One only has to look at the rucks, mauls, and scrums during rugby games to see the similarities between them and the Eagles' short-yardage weapon. Maguranyanga might be able to help provide counsel on how to counteract this threat, even though he probably won't be ready for any on-field responsibilities.
The Commanders were Philadelphia's biggest challenger to the NFC crown last season. They reside in the same division, so most analysts are expecting this reignited rivalry to continue in the coming years. Washington has woken up following decades of decay, but it'll take a monumental effort to knock the Eagles off their perch.
Finding a route to counteract the tush push is easier said than done. It doesn't matter how many bodies you put around the ball; the Eagles have the offensive line and the timing between center and quarterback to make it almost impossible to stop.
No rugby player or free-agent overpay is going to change that.
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