NFL Owners Still Crying About the Tush Push — Saquon Barkley Calls Them Out. And He’s Right.
While appearing on the Exciting Mics Podcast (hosted by Cooper DeJean and Reed Blankenship), Saquon Barkley was asked about NFL owners trying to ban the Tush Push.
“I think it’s soft, to be honest,” Barkley said. “Everybody can do it. It’s not a play that we only can do. We happen to have one of the best and biggest O-lines, and Jalen Hurts can squat 600 pounds. That’s not our fault.”
He’s exactly right. You can’t stop a play, so now you want it banned? That’s not how competition works.
Let’s ban Lamar Jackson next. He outruns everybody — clearly unfair.
Josh Allen bulldozes defenders at the goal line? Get rid of that too.
Where does this end?
The most common complaint about the Tush Push is that it’s dangerous. But here’s the problem — there’s zero data to back that up. When owners wanted to ban the hip-drop tackle, they came prepared:
230 recorded instances
15 players missed time
(That’s called evidence.)
If the Tush Push really posed a bigger injury risk, the league would have numbers by now. You think billionaires just guess? Please. They’d fund a ten-million-dollar study tomorrow if they thought it would give them cover.
Let’s call this what it is — 22 owners voted to ban the Tush Push because they can’t stop it when the Eagles run it. (Oh, and all three of Philly’s NFC East rivals voted to ban it. Coincidence?)
The vote failed — for now — and the Tush Push lives to fight another season. But don’t think this is the end. All it’ll take is one team losing a close game after a Tush Push touchdown and their owner might join the ban brigade in 2026.
Until then, I’m with Saquon:
Trying to ban the Tush Push isn’t about player safety.
It’s not about fairness.
It’s about envy.
And yeah — it’s soft.