THOUGHTS FROM A SEPTUAGENARIAN. In all my 70 plus years on Planet Earth I am truly amazed by the outcry from people for the NFL to ban the "Tush Push" that was successfully initiated by the Philadelphia Eagles. Here's why I believe banning "The Brotherly Shove" would be a travesty.

The fact that the Birds came up with this borders on the unbelievable. That's until you look a one very specific component of the "QB Sneak On Steroids" and that's where this idea may have incubated.

Yes, Philly had a roster that was built for this type of play. One, the Green & Silver had a gargantuan offensive line back in 2022. Even today, the guys in the trenches with the wings on their helmets average 6'6" and 338 pounds. That's a whole lots of beef from tackle to tackle when all your asking is for the team to get a yard or less. Plus, the O Line has an inane ability to get inches above the ground and the fundamental rule of line play at any level of football is the low man always wins and the Eagles do that almost every time they run the Tush Push.

Second, they have a quarterback that has the physical attributes and the willingness to run the play. QB Jalen Hurts, who has been the guy under center since 2022 when the Eagles first used this play, is a physical specimen at 6'1" and 223 pounds and, this is a hugely important part, can squat 575 pounds as well as bench press 275. The man is a veritable beast that just happens to line up under center.

So, with all that being said, what brought these parts together to create the Tush Push? My educated guess is the drafting of OT Jordan Mailata in 2018. Why you ask? Because the 6' 8" and 365 pound behemoth never played a down of football. That's because #68 was an Australian rugby player.

In my view it doesn't take much to connect the dots. I'm thinking the Aussie Guy from Down Under may have casually suggested, maybe even in jest, why don't we run a QB Sneak that's similar to a rugby scrum. That little tidbit probably lit the fire of an innovative coaching staff especially now that aiding the runner was now legal.

I'm going to get back to the aged wisdom of my Dad back when I was playing in the late 60's and early 70's. When I told him we just can't stop this person or play he didn't suggest banning it. He recommended, and I quote, "Practice harder and play better" and that's sage wisdom from The Old Submariner who rested his oars in 1990 is so prolific.

That's exactly what the NFL should do. Don't legislate against it. Practice harder to play better to stop the Tush Push.

Here's my best advice as someone who has watched the NFL since the 1950s. Keep Philadelphia from getting in a third or four down where the Eagles need less than two yards. If you let the Birds get in those situations you better have Plan A to stop the Tush Push. And it probably won't work.

Book it Dano.