NFL team owners are meeting today to discuss several proposed rule changes for the upcoming season.
Among the proposed changes is the banning of the so-called “tush push”, as made famous by the Philadelphia Eagles.
The verbiage of the proposal, brought forth by the Green Bay Packers, states that Rule 12, Section 1 would be amended to “prohibit an offensive player from pushing a teammate who was lined up directly behind the snapper and receives the snap, immediately at the snap.”
During this week’s episode of the On the Line Podcast, former Packer O-Lineman Evan Smith took the side of the Eagles, saying if you don’t like it, find a way to stop it.
“You got a problem with it? Then go get some guys that are stronger,” Smith said bluntly. “It’s a rugby scrum and the Eagles are just really, really, really good at it.”
Philadelphia also proposed a change to the overtime rules, which would align the current postseason rules with the regular season, allowing both teams to get a drive on offense, regardless of the outcome of the first team’s drive.
The exception to that is if the defense forced a safety on the first drive of OT.
Smith was all for this change, which would bring the NFL a little closer to the system used by the NCAA.
“At the end of the day, if you score a touchdown, you really put it on the other team to come back and score,” he said.
The Detroit Lions proposed a change to the defensive holding and illegal contact penalties, which would remove the automatic first down tag.
Smith and co-host Ryan Brahm agreed with that proposal and even took it one step further.
“(If) you get it called 20 yards down the field and it prevented maybe a catch, well, then it should just be pass interference,” Smith suggested, but said there should be a specific point where that is implemented.
Brahm suggested, “Within ten yards, it’s illegal contact. After that,t it’s pass interference.”
The Competition Committee’s two proposed changes would make permanent the kickoff rule that was implemented last year, with the addition of trailing teams to declare an onside kick anytime throughout the game, and to “expand Instant Replay’s ability to advise the on-field officials on specific, objective aspects of a play and/or to address game administration issues when clear and obvious video evidence is present.”
The league did vote yesterday to allow NFL players to participate in Olympic flag football.
You can hear more about Evan and Ryan’s opinions on the proposed changes by going to SeehaferPodcasts.com.
More details on the proposed changes can be seen at NFL.com.
