Is NFL’s Tush Push Call Against Jason Kelce Solidifying Roger Goodell’s ‘Indefinite’ Opinion?

The NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, and his panel may not have “taken a position” on the Tush Push ban, but the Philadelphia Eagles’ false start penalty has again opened the door for discussion. Earlier, Jason Kelce, in frustration, said that he doesn’t care if the NFL bans his team’s signature play, the “tush push,” also known as “Brotherly Shove.” The NFL too has shut down rumors about banning this play while Goodell has remained diplomatic. However, what went down at Lumen Field against the Seattle Seahawks seemingly solidifies what the league might have skipped on.

The Eagles faced a 20-17 loss on Seahawk’s home turf. One of the reasons for the team’s setback was their popular “Tush Push” and the subsequent penalty incurred by Jason Kelce. An important question comes into play here. How much does Kelce’s Tush Push repetition impact the NFL’s stance on banning this specific play? Here’s our detailed analysis of the QB sneak play and what we think.

Here’s a deep dive into Jason Kelce’s Tush Push tactic

NFL’s arguably most controversial play Tush Push is a play where the team’s players gather around the quarterback to physically push the QB through the opposing defense. The quarterback is guided by the center and protected by the rest of the team during this move. Jason Kelce took center stage with the signature tush push play on Monday Night Football after he propelled the quarterback forward during the second quarter.

Fans were unhappy with the official’s decision, calling it a “joke,” and the controversial call a “phantom.” Many also believed that Kelce was just on the field and the officials dropped the flag. So, was the referee’s call on this play justified?

Some sports commentators, along with ESPN NFL’s official analyst John Parry, ruled it an accurate call. Kelce was penalized for moving the football just before a third-and-1 play. Despite Kelce’s body being still, an overhead replay showed the ball moving in his hand before the teams were completely ready. The NFL ref flagged Kelce for the false start, which is not often penalized. Furthermore, Parry confirmed that the call on the field was correct, stating that the league aims to crack down on the slightest of moves like these.

Read more: “Goodell Getting His Phone”: Eagles’ Fans Rant Against Jason Kelce Call as NFL Officials Seemingly Target ‘Tush Push’

This penalty sheds light on the Eagles’ tactic of gaining an advantage with the “Tush Push” play, where Kelce was spotted moving the ball forward. Interestingly, this accusation was also mentioned before in Week 9, linking it to how the Eagles have evolved their sneak play. Earlier in a game against the Miami Dolphins, the Eagles got penalized for being offside during a tush push play. However, the officials mistakenly flagged the wrong player, thinking it was left guard Landon Dickerson when it was actually center Jason Kelce’s hand they were looking at.

This penalty was a mistake because the center is allowed to be in the neutral zone at the snap. After the game, Kelce mentioned that he plans to clarify to officials in the future that he puts his non-snapping hand on the ground for the QB sneak, and they shouldn’t call it a penalty if they see a hand in the neutral zone. However, this time, Kelce’s false start didn’t impress the refs, and the call was immediately taken.

NFL rumors suggested that the league is set to ban this specific play. Meanwhile, it’s important to consider the fact that “tush push” is likely to remain in the news. Will the NFL actually ban this play?

What’s the NFL’s plan for Tush Push?

Lately, there have been rumors that the NFL plans to ban this play. This has now been debunked by the NFL Executive Vice President, Troy Vincent. He sent a clear message on X, suggesting the league is not interested in changing the rules to eliminate Tush Push. However, Roger Goodell’s statement reopens a platform for discussion.

Roger Goodell, who maintained a rather diplomatic stance, said via Pro Football Talk, “I haven’t taken a position on that one. “Last year, the committee had a lot of different views on that, the membership did. I want to hear that again this year.” He concluded that he wanted to know “what people think about it.”

Dec 3, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) scores a touchdown on a sneak play against the San Francisco 49ers during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

With the recent Jason Kelce call, it appears like the refs have started taking calls against Tush Push. This might see a different future for how the NFL views this controversial play. How can one ignore the NFL’s evolving nature against issues plaguing the NFL? One such example is the league focusing on making a decision on banning the ‘Hip Drop Tackle,’ a decision that will phase out in 2024. The strict move comes after Tyreek Hill’s injury.

The league has emphasized that it wants conclusive data to ban this rule. According to a report, around 4 players injure themselves while failing tush push, per game. Furthermore, analysts suggest that this play resembles more of a rugby play and not football. Although the Eagles “had a 93.5% success rate running the Tush Push” last season, the other 31 teams haven’t had much success with it.

Realistically, the league is not yet convinced of a loophole in this play. As long as Tush Push does not increase injury risk, it is hard to say if Kelce’s signature play would be banned. What are your thoughts on this? Tell us in the comments below.

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