Kirk Herbstreit opines on fairness of Tush Push, whether play should be outlawed

Kirk Herbstreit was on the call for Thursday night’s dominant New York Giants‘ victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. However, the story of the game for many coming out of MetLife Stadium had to do with one of the NFL’s more polarizing debates — the legality of the Eagles’ infamous “Tush Push.”

The play, where the quarterback is assisted by a push from behind, has become Philadelphia’s signature move. Inside New York’s 10-yard line, the Eagles ran the “Tush Push” four consecutive times, ultimately scoring on the fourth attempt.

However, many viewers quickly pointed out what appeared to be a false start on the third try, which went uncalled by officials and fueled controversy. Herbstreit discussed the play and the ongoing officiating debate during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Friday.

“They just kept going. I don’t think we’re all fans of it. If it’s not going to be outlawed, can you blame them? I mean, it works,” Herbstreit stated. “By the way, how come other teams can’t copy this and mimic it? It’s bizarre how Philly seems to be the only one that can run it effectively.

“… I can tell you the rule — because we got a tutorial in our Wednesday meeting with the league — about this being emphasized with the guards jumping early. They said, if you go frame by frame in a replay and you can see a guard jumping, that’s not what they’re looking for.

“They said, ‘You have to look in real time. Does it look like the guards are moving? Run it in real time and see if you think that.’”

Herbstreit’s comments highlight what makes the “Tush Push” such a heated debate in today’s NFL. While it’s highly effective, at least for the Eagles, it’s extremely difficult to officiate. The Eagles have mastered the execution, while other teams have largely failed to replicate their success.

Alas, the debate over the play’s future is nothing new. During last offseason’s league meetings, a proposal to ban the “Tush Push” narrowly failed, coming up just two votes short. The measure was pushed by the Green Bay Packers, who fell victim to the play during last year’s NFC Wild Card loss to Philadelphia.

For now, the play remains legal, and the Eagles will continue to use it. Whether the NFL finally takes action next offseason remains to be seen, but as Herbstreit simply put it, “Can you blame them? It works.”