NFL homeowners needs to be embarrassed for eager to ban the tush push

The NFL has only a few doldrums all through its offseason due to how plentiful the calendar is, however we have been simply in the midst of one and it’s fortunately over.

What saved us, you ask? The league’s homeowners are assembly in Florida to debate how superior it’s to preside over a multi-billion greenback company. Oh, they’re additionally speaking about some soccer stuff as nicely.

These occasions present commentary and quotes from the league’s dignitaries and that’s vital as they’re finally the individuals who form the league and recreation all of us love.

We right here at The Skinny Put up, Michael Peterson and RJ Ochoa, have some ideas on every little thing they’ve needed to say to date and are ready to share them.

We’re beginning one thing new this week too, as a result of we wish to hear YOUR takes on these points. In order you’re studying alongside, make sure you take our quick one-question surveys embedded within the put up, clarify your take within the feedback, and examine again later this week to see how your fellow followers responded.

Let’s start.

It’s embarrassing that anybody would wish to ban the tush push

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photos

RJ:

In case anybody forgot or doesn’t know… I cowl the Dallas Cowboys round right here.

With that context utilized, it brings me no pleasure to let you know all that I feel it’s the lamest factor on the planet that folks wish to outlaw the tush push. Stories proceed to swirl that this might occur and that homeowners at their fancy conferences are beginning to decide up steam as a gaggle for it… that’s extremely embarrassing.

The Philadelphia Eagles are actually good at this play. That’s the finish of the story.

Different groups can attempt it (some have!). Nothing is stopping anybody else from doing the work concerned to get nearly as good at it as Philadelphia is. Eager to outlaw the play as a result of the Eagles are considerably higher than anybody else is humiliating for anybody on that aspect of the argument and whilst a Cowboys fan I’ll arise and defend the Eagles for doing nothing improper.

I hate this timeline.

Michael:

We’re beginning issues off with a little bit of battle!

I’m in favor of banning the tush push for various causes. Some are sensible, for my part, and a few are way more subjective.

One of many grossest sequences I’ve seen within the NFL lately was the newest NFC Championship recreation between the Eagles and Commanders. The Eagles had the ball close to the objective line and lined up for the inevitable tush push. Washington linebacker Frankie Luvu tried to time the snap by leaping over the road however pulled the set off too early as he sailed into Jalen Hurts earlier than the whistle. On the subsequent play, Luvu did it once more because the Eagles continues with an extended snap rely.

After the second offsides penalty by Luvu, the referees introduced to the group that they may award the Eagles with a landing if the Commanders continued to obtain penalties for leaping early, all of this within the title of security as a result of Luvu was hurdling into gamers that have been standing nonetheless on the opposite aspect.

On this second, all I might take into consideration was “What else are the Commanders presupposed to do?” Washington NEEDED to cease this play to present them an opportunity at profitable the sport. It was a pivotal play within the recreation. One of many solely methods they may cease the play was by leaping the snap completely and getting a physique to crush Hurts so he couldn’t push via into the top zone.

This entire sequence was gross as a result of it was the encapsulation of what the tush push has accomplished to the league. It appears to be like like a cheat code when the Eagles do it and since one other group was doing EVERYTHING THEY COULD WITHIN REASON to cease it on the opposite aspect, the refs have been simply going to award the Eagles the rating anyway? Nothing about this string of occasions appeared wholesome for the sport of soccer.

The tush push, in a vacuum, isn’t a loopy idea that deserves banning with no context. However the discussions about banning it stem from what it has seemingly accomplished to the panorama of the sport. The 31 different groups within the league might additionally merely construct their group to imitate the Eagles and their success, but it surely’s been a number of years now and nobody has come shut. Sure, all the opposite groups ought to simply hunker down and cease it. Merely be the higher group, however that simply hasn’t occurred and it doesn’t seem like it’s occurring anytime quickly.

In order it stands, one thing is both accomplished about it this offseason or we’re going to proceed to listen to concerning the tush push, the “brotherly shove”, or regardless of the latest nickname is over and over and over.

I’m simply bored with it. Finish rant.

Talking of rule modifications and such, do you suppose the dynamic kickoff needs to be right here to remain?

Michael:

As an avid fan of spring soccer leagues, I received my first style of the dynamic kickoff construction through the 2023 spring season of the XFL. Over a yr later, the NFL determined to adapt that construction as nicely and it changed into a giant success through the 2024 common season. Kickoffs have been thrilling once more and it made a play that folks have begun to tune out for thrilling as soon as once more.

So far as the rumblings from this yr’s league conferences have gone, it looks as if the dynamic kickoff is right here to remain for the foreseeable future.

This rocks. The NFL doesn’t get lots proper with regards to altering the league, however this has been a house run.

RJ:

Actually I should not have a passionate stance or tackle this.

I suppose that I miss the pageantry of the previous kickoff, however I’m in favor of doing what retains gamers as protected as attainable and this was bought as being that.

Outdoors of KaVontae Turpin in Washington I can’t recall an unimaginable kickoff return second. Possibly the play typically is only a misplaced artwork because the NFL has progressed and advanced.

Finally I’m good with the place we’re as a society right here.

Describe Stefon Diggs becoming a member of the New England Patriots in a single phrase

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RJ:

Final week introduced with it the information that the New England Patriots have been signing broad receiver Stefon Diggs to a 3-year, $69M deal. That’s some huge cash.

That’s some huge cash typically, however particularly for a participant of Diggs’ age (31) and coming off of a torn ACL. New England had mainly a billion {dollars} in wage cap house so them spending isn’t hurting them within the massive image, however I’m fairly unmoved about this as an NFL fan.

Does Diggs make the Patriots higher? I suppose it’s honest to say that he does.

However does Diggs make the Patriots a challenger? Will Drake Maye now attain franchise quarterback standing? I doubt both of these items.

Michael:

I feel my phrase is…hope?

By handing Diggs a contract value $23 million APY, the Patriots are positive hoping that Diggs can return to type after his torn ACL took a lot of the 2024 season away from him. Earlier than the harm, Diggs had hauled in 47 passes fro 496 yards and three touchdowns. That tempo put him roughly on the trail to his seventh consecutive 1,000-yard season.

Diggs is 31 years previous and a torn ACL isn’t any joke, particularly at that age. Restoration takes longer and for a receiver like Diggs that depends on his shiftiness and savvy route-running, there’s an opportunity he’s simply not the identical from right here on.

Giving Drake Maye a receiver like Diggs positively raises the ground of the Patriot offense, however I feel the transfer simply provides them a median offensive ceiling this season.

What could be essentially the most chalk NFL last 4?

Michael:

The NCAA Ultimate 4 was set over the weekend with all 4 No. 1 seeds surviving up thus far for simply the second time in event historical past. Now with regards to the NFL playoffs, it’s more likely that the upper seeds find yourself making it deeper. Upsets nonetheless occur, however not almost as usually.

With that in thoughts, what could be essentially the most chalk NFL last 4 to see on championship weekend?

I feel I’d go along with the Chiefs-Payments for the AFC and Eagles-Lions for the NFC at this very second.

RJ:

Finally I agree with these 4 groups, so within the spirit of being just a little totally different I’ll do it via the lens that faculty athletics are sometimes seen – bluebloods.

In my thoughts essentially the most “blueblood” last 4 that the NFL might have could be the Pittsburgh Steelers assembly the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the AFC Championship Sport with the Dallas Cowboys assembly the Inexperienced Bay Packers within the NFC Championship Sport.

This options 4 of the league’s oldest groups and 4 of their most adorned champions. It’s a good reply and if you happen to disagree then I disagree along with your disagreement.