Commanders' Frankie Luvu chimes in on 'cheapo' push as NFL team owners weigh ban

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The NFL owners are expected to reengage in talks about the polarizing tush push when they meet. Club owners are scheduled to hold meetings later this week in Minnesota.

Last month, owners tabled the vote on a proposal to ban the play that became the Philadelphia Eagles' calling card over the past couple of seasons.

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Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu

Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu holds a football in the stands  during the second period in Game Five of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Montreal Canadiens and the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on April 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Following April's annual meetings in Florida, ESPN reported that the vote on the infamous play was an even split. Sixteen votes in favor of keeping the tush push and 16 votes for banning it would leave the proposal to outlaw the play eight votes short of passing. Per NFL policy, a proposal requires 24 votes to pass.

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"My personal opinion? I think they should ban it," Luvu told NFL Network. "But I know the argument's going to be about, 'Hey, you guys have to stop it. Don't get us in short yardage,' and whatnot."

Tush push versus 49ers

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) scores on the tush push during the game between the San Fransisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles on December 3, 2023 at Lincoln Financial Field.  (Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Luvu then suggested the tush push was a cheap play and compared it to a rugby scrum.

"But it's kind of like a cheapo play. ... That's pretty much a scrum in rugby. That's how I kind of look at it. And we've got to have a scrum, too, on the other side. And the scrum is, we have a cadence where we all go at once. It's not like you hard count and this and that, where now you're getting us — or myself — jumping over the pile thinking that you're going to snap the ball. That's just my own personal opinion, and I'm going to leave it at that."

Luvu, who plays linebacker for the Commanders, was flagged on three consecutive snaps late in January's NFC Championship game. He jumped over the line of scrimmage while the Eagles were lined up near the goal line for their signature tush push.

Jalen Hurts reacts

Jan 26, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) reacts as Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu (4) leaps over linemen before a snap during the second half in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. (Bill Streicher/Imagn Images)

The third penalty prompted one of the game's referees to announce, "Washington has been advised that at some point the referee can award a score if this type of behavior happens again."

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The Eagles defeated the Commanders in the NFC title game and advanced to Super Bowl LIX. Philadelphia's dominant performance in the game ended the Kansas City Chiefs' hopes of winning three consecutive championships.

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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

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