PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Tush Push was a common conversation topic at the NFL annual meeting. The league was literally split on whether to ban the controversial play popularized by the Philadelphia Eagles in short-yardage situations, where the line plows forward and a back, normally a tight end, pushes the ball carrier forward and (normally) across the line to gain.

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The Green Bay Packers initiated a proposal to eliminate the play all together, though it required a vote from league ownership. The votes were split at 16-16 following what those in the room described as a spirited debate on the issue. That prompted the league to table the issue until an owner’s meeting in May.

Proponents of it claimed it was completely legal (which it is) by the NFL’s current rules. Those against it cited a few reasons, including the danger within the play.

George McCaskey said Wednesday the Bears sided with those looking to completely ban the Tush Push.

McCaskey explained why during a Wednesday media session with Chicago reporters, citing player health and safety.

“I know they say that we don’t have sufficient injury data on it, but, to us, it appears to be an inherently unsafe play,” McCaskey said. “I had the opportunity during committee meetings here earlier in the month to sit in the back of the room for the health and safety meeting with Allen Sills and Dr. John York, and they expressed concerns about the safety of everybody involved in that play.”

The play is legal now, but wouldn’t have been in the past.

“For decades, there was a rule on the books making it illegal to push the runner,” McCaskey said. “It went away in 2004 and I always wondered why that happened. Rich McKay, the chairman of the competition committee, explained to us yesterday that the officials said that it was too difficult. It was like a moving scrum down the field and it was difficult to determine if an offensive lineman was blocking or pushing the runner, so they took it out.

“That led to the push play. From what I understood yesterday, the push play will lead to a broader examination of whether that general rule should be brought back. We think it should be an enhancement to the game, to make it safer for the players.”

McCaskey expressed his concerns during an open forum session on the polarizing issue, which has made the Eagles virtually unstoppable in short-yardage situations.

In voting for the proposed ban, McCaskey’s backed the Packers. That’s not typical within the league’s longest (and most passionate) rivalry. McCaskey had a sense of humor about that fact, considering the Bears and Packers generally dislike each other.

“I asked the membership to not let that get out,” McCaskey said, “that I supported a proposal from Team Voldemort.”

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