KANSAS CITY, Mo. — NFL owners are expected to consider a modified proposal at league meetings next month that would eliminate the “tushush,” and Chiefs Chairman/CEO Clark Hunt suggested he may support a more broadly written rule.
“Going back 20-plus years, it used to be illegal to push an offensive player anywhere on the field, and so I think they wanted to go back and see if it made more sense to approach changing the rule from a universal standpoint,” Hunt said. “I want to hear the dialogue on it. I want to hear what the medical people think about it from a safety standpoint before having a firm position.”
The rule change proposed at the annual league meeting in March was tailored narrowly to eliminate the tush push. The proposal would have prohibited an “offensive player from pushing a teammate who was lined up directly behind the snapper and receives the snap, immediately at the snap.” The penalty would be a loss of 10 yards.
The proposal was reportedly deadlocked with 16 votes supporting the change before owners tabled the measure until May. A rule change requires the votes of 24 owners to pass.
Hunt would prefer a rule change that would more broadly restrict offensive players from pushing or pulling a ball carrier. That would also likely address situations where offensive players push or pull a running back, receiver, tight end, or other ball carrier towards the end zone, first-down line to gain, sideline boundary, or for additional yardage.
“I think it may make more sense to approach it that way, because if it truly is a safety issue, then it stands reason,” Hunt said. “It’s not just a safety issue with a design quarterback sneak. It would be potentially a safety issue more broadly.”
Commissioner Roger Goodell appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” Friday, saying he believes owners will reach a consensus at the spring league meeting in May.
“There were different concepts that were discussed. I would say there was a split,” Goodell said on the show. “There wasn’t an overwhelming push either way, but I think as people see the different things the committee has been considering and hear the conversation, I think that they’ll actually develop a consensus.”
Hunt said he hasn’t seen significant progress yet since the annual league meeting in March.
“I’ve not heard any follow-up dialog since the meeting, but I do expect, as we approach the May League meeting, that’ll be a subject that we’re briefed on,” Hunt said. “They were going to take it back to the competition committee, and I think look at the rule more broadly as it was proposed at the March meeting.”
