Who Knew the Tush Push Was So Controversial?
The NFL has been showing off the gluteus maximus muscles of their players for decades. Of course, the uniforms have only gotten sleeker, and sweat only makes them more see-through. Who knew that it would be the tush push that would bring up the most butt conversation though?
Who Knew the Tush Push Was So Controversial?
There was a time Mark Sanchez dominated the news cycle while fumbling a ball while ramming his own face up the butt of his lineman. The tush push isn’t that, and it’s not a highlight of the NFL uniforms, either. We have strayed so far from the traditional quarterback sneak that the league apparently has a problem.
With NFL owners meeting this month and working through different proposals, the now popular tush push play came up. There is a contingent of franchises that would like to ban the play. It’s weird, and it looks like something cut from a rugby scrum, but it’s hard to suggest that it doesn’t make sense.
Realistically, the goal of any team when facing a short yardage or inches-to-go situation is to gain leverage. The tush push simply puts more bodies behind the quarterback and attempts to thrust him forward into the opposition. The sneak has been a play for years, as has the fullback dive. When executed correctly, it’s hard not to argue that both would serve the same purpose.
The tush push is not an aesthetically pleasing play, but to be up in arms about it seems odd. Quarterbacks are the most protected players on the entire field. If a team wants to subject their signal caller to an additional hit, that seems like something of benefit to the defense. Beyond that, the defense could simply line up with the entirety of their muscle, pushing back in the opposite direction.
It is somewhat odd to see a play designed around teammates dragging and pushing one of their own. It also helps to determine plenty of critical situations. If the NFL wants to eliminate the latter, they could adopt technological advancements incorporating precise football placement. We’d all be better for that, and it may eliminate the goofy inch-to-go plays altogether.
At any rate, a bunch of owners just gathered and argued over who can push which person’s butt.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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