Pass NFL Playing Rule Proposal #5a - Offensive Players Should NOT Be Allowed To Push Ball Carriers Under Any Circumstance
Pettily contrived or not. Green Bay's rule proposal is spot and and should be immediately promulgated into law for the 2025 season.
Sorry Eagles fans. But this isn't even about you. Well - maybe for Green Bay it is. And when I say maybe, I mean definitely. Take it from a Bears fan like me. These cheese curdlers are the worst. No franchise complains more for pass interference than these bozos and have done so since the Favre era. It's pathetic. Oh the irony they also got away with the Dez Bryant "non catch" years ago too. So trust me - I'm not a fan of these guys. But that doesn't mean they're wrong.
Here's the thing. The tush push is a garbage play. But it's not just that play. It's any play that involves a co-op pushing a ball carrier forwards. Are such plays more dangerous and prone to injuring players? I could care less. Maybe - but that doesn't matter one bit for me. The fact of the matter is pushing an offensive player is a cop-out. It sucks all the skill out of a play. Not to say that power isn't a huge part of the game, but not when it comes to the guy with the ball in hand.
Some guy used this TJ Hockenson catch to say the rule won't get passed. As if this yawner of a highlight has some beacon of entertainment value. Look at how absolutely zero work Hock has to do here.
Now let's give credit where credit is due. The Saints defense pushed Hock forward plenty to get him going before his teammate came for the final shove. What are you doing there #1? Anyway, the fact of the matter is the Vikings linemen have zero business jumping in here when the defense has engaged a tackle. If Hockenson is still able to plow for yardage on his own - then that'd actually be impressive and fun to watch. This play is not impressive in the slightest bit.
I absolutely hope this rule passes. Let defenses get something! The game is already going down the NBA slippery-slope offense slide and this might actually put a little bit of defense back in the fold. And in doing so - make it actually worth getting excited about when a player is able to take multiple defenders for a ride.
In closing - I am surprised more teams haven't made plays that use this to their advantage. The tush push should be the tip of the iceberg. Why not pull guards on half back pitches or wide receiver screens to get them a running head start before pushing their guy through? Crazy no one since 2005 has given that much thought. If coaches really had any creativity, they'd be doing that numerous times a game along with laterals (or both).
And who knows. Maybe the game devolves into this type of chaos if the rule isn't changed. Speaking of the NBA - if there's one thing that league can teach the NFL it's that the more efficient play isn't the most entertaining. This is a no brainer. Ball Carriers are supposed to advance the ball. Not blockers.
Pass playing rule proposal #5a.