Getty Former Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz in 2013.
The NFL competition committee is meddling once again, and a former Kansas City Chiefs player isn’t happy about it.
“The NFL is expected to look into banning the ‘tush-push’ QB sneak method in the offseason, according to FOX NFL rules analyst Dean Blandino,” Eagles Nation broadcast on Twitter, quoting Blandino: “The NFL wants to showcase the athleticism and skill of our athletes. This is not just a skillful game. It’s not an aesthetically pleasing game.
The comments were first published during a Paul Domowitch article with the 33rd Team, and former Chiefs offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz had a strong reaction to this rumour. “I think it’s aesthetically pleasing to see an offensive line move the line of scrimmage multiple yards,” he expressed. “That’s a weak justification for banning this.”
I think it’s aesthetically pleasing to see an offensive line move the line of scrimmage multiple yards. This is a weak justification for banning this.
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) February 17, 2023
Schwartz’s Feb. 17 statement has gone viral on social media, with more than 5,000 likes and 700,000 views as of this writing.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts capitalizing on the “Tush-Push” play call during Super Bowl LVII
This play call had relevance during the 2023 Super Bowl when Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was pushed forward from the one-yard line for a touchdown. That wasn’t the only time Philly used this rugby-style sneak, however.
Domowitch detailed the Eagles’ use of this play during the big game against the Chiefs: “Hurts had 10 fast first downs in Sunday’s 38-35 Super Bowl LVII loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Six of them sneaked in at quarterback. On each one, the Eagles fielded two or three players behind Hurts and then pushed him forward after the ball was snapped up. Hurts has converted an impressive 36 of 40 quarterback sneaks this season.
He continued, explaining that “pushing a ball carrier to help him advance has been legal in the NFL since 2005 and in college play since 2013.”
However, the Eagles have taken that approach to new heights in 2022, and now the league’s board seems to have taken note. “I think the league will look into it and I would be shocked if they don’t make a change,” Blandino told Domowitch.
Mentions from respected head coach and new Denver Broncos hire Sean Payton didn’t help.
“I was talking to Sean Payton during Sunday’s game, and he said we’ll do it every time next season if they don’t bust him,” Blandino reported. “It’s like a rugby scrum.”
Former OL boss Geoff Schwartz admits the rule will likely be changed
Although Kansas City was on the receiving end of this rule during the Super Bowl, Schwartz and many fans still believe the NFL should stay out of it. “If you want to argue that the game is too easy to convert or it’s a player safety issue (I can’t imagine this feeling good on the body) then I’m open to that discussion”, admitted the retired O-lineman. “But [saying that] it’s not a skillful game it’s bull.
Fans and analysts also chimed in. Michigan state reporter Justin Thind replied: “Nothing more aesthetically pleasing than your team’s bigwigs trying to impose their will on the other team’s bigwigs. This should be football. I’m just devaluing force and power with this BS justification.
“[Colin] Cowherd said today ‘it wasn’t creative’” one fan replied. “Okay? Why innovate something that works? It doesn’t make sense!”
One fan “did not agree”, adding that “it’s cool but when it happened 5 times in the Super Bowl you knew it was going to happen”.
Schwartz admitted that the show will most likely be banned “for the reasons I listed above,” rather than “whatever that quote said.” Continuing further: “This nonsense about ability and being pleasing to the eye is crap.”
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