Latest news with #shortyardage
Associated Press
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
The NFL tush push ban proposal is back on the table at the spring owners meetings
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Can the tush push cross the goal line for good? Or will the NFL 's touchy and trendy short-yardage strategy ultimately get stuffed? League owners will answer that question in Minnesota, where they're holding their spring meetings next to Vikings headquarters on Tuesday and Wednesday. After tabling the issue seven weeks ago for further discussion, a vote is expected on the proposal by the Green Bay Packers to prohibit the play popularized by the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. To pass the ban, 24 of the 32 teams must approve. Commissioner Roger Goodell said last month he believes the owners will reach a consensus on the issue that involves both competitive integrity and player safety. The league released a revised proposal by the Packers on Monday that broadens the language to prohibit pushing, pulling, lifting or encircling a runner by any offensive player, not specific to quarterback assists. The penalty is 10 yards. This is what the rulebook stated 20 years ago, until the ban was lifted because of the difficulty of enforcement. Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie has been leading the defense of the play his team developed with the coinciding arrival of strong-legged quarterback Jalen Hurts in 2020. The NFL has no conclusive data supporting a connection between the tush push and an injury risk increase, as Lurie noted at the last league meetings in Florida. The Buffalo Bills are also a frequent user and favor a ban for safety, though, as head coach Sean McDermott said after the vote was tabled. The tush push, which has also been dubbed the 'Brotherly Shove' in a catchy and clever twist on the Greek-to-English translation of Philadelphia, not only assigns a player to push the backside of the quarterback for extra power behind a tight nine-man line but sometimes involves a blocker on the end pivoting to try to pull the ball carrier past the marker. Health is only half of this debate, however. Entertainment is the other. While the Eagles have nearly perfected the play for fourth-and-1 or 1-yard line situations with well-chosen personnel and well-rehearsed precision, it looks more like rugby than football. The Packers, who lost to the Eagles in the first round of the playoffs last season, have been among several teams voicing their distaste for the evolution of the traditional quarterback sneak into an all-out scrum. On the memo distributed by the NFL on Monday, the reasons cited for the proposal are player safety and pace of play. 'It was controversial when the forward pass came out,' Lurie said at the last league meetings. 'I think aestheticism is very subjective. I've never judged whether a play looks OK.' Regardless of the fate of the play, the fairness and fun of it are sure to be talking points throughout the season, particularly leading up to the Monday night game on Nov. 10 when the Packers host the Eagles. Both of those teams have a good chance to be in contention in the loaded NFC for the playoffs, which could unfold a little differently if a proposal by the Detroit Lions passes this week. Like the tush push, a vote was tabled at the last gathering for further discussion on altering the seeding rules to base the order strictly on overall winning percentage rather than guaranteeing division winners the first four spots in each conference. In this case, division winners would no longer get the automatic home game like the Los Angeles Rams did in January after finishing 10-7. Though wildfires forced the game to be moved to Arizona, the Vikings had to hit the road despite going 14-3, one game behind the Lions. NFL owners will also consider from the competition committee several adjustments on the onside kick with the goal of increasing the recovery rate and decide whether to approve player participation in flag football in the 2028 Summer Olympics. ___ AP NFL:
National Post
10-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
STAMPEDERS ROOKIE CAMP: Dynamic draftee Quincy Vaughn 'available' to do it all
Article content Quincy Vaughn comes to the Calgary Stampeders long — very long — on football skills. Article content Article content That's perfect for a Canadian Football League in need of a short-yardage specialist. Article content Vaughn can run the rock to reach the mark. Article content He can catch the ball or even throw it to convert the distance, too. Article content 'I'm just whatever the team needs me to be,' the newly drafted CFL prospect said through a big smile during Stampeders rookie camp at McMahon Stadium. Article content 'Just in talking to coaches and everything like that, it's just be available,' Vaughn continued. 'Availability is the best ability, whether it's quarterback, running back … whatever the team needs me out there going in as. But I'm not too sure yet — we're just getting started, getting our legs underneath us.' Article content Vaughn's legs combined with his 6-foot-4 length and 251-lb. frame — we told you he has the goods — make him available for just about any gig on offence. Article content And the jack-of-all-trades job isn't foreign to the 23-year-old Hamilton native, either. Article content 'It's something I've been doing the last couple years — short yardage, quarterback, wildcat, converted to tight end … kind of just rolling with it,' confirmed Vaughn, who was an all-Canadian prep-school QB in Mississauga, Ont., before spending three years as backup pivot with the NCAA's North Dakota Fighting Hawks, followed by two more as a tight end with the FCS squad. Article content 'The opportunity to learn so much, it's great,' Vaughn continued. 'Being a quarterback and then being a tight end and being able to combine my knowledge on both positions has been great. Article content 'I think it's my biggest thing. You never know what's coming. So I've kind of just got to be ready for it all, learn it all.' Article content With the Stampeders, he better be ready for short-yardage duty — of which he excelled during all five of his seasons with the Fighting Hawks. Article content Since 'Touchdown' Tommy Stevens — another lanky, large QB — signed in the off-season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the Red and White have been looking for a guy to get a yard or two in the clutch. Article content Heck, Vaughn — actually listed by the Stamps as a quarterback on the roster — could just as easily line up at fullback with his size to get that job done. Article content 'He's a big, big man,' Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson said. 'As an ex-quarterback that can, I think, do some things for us in certain situations — like short yardage — we'll give him his chance. But we're also thinking he can play in multiple packages. Article content 'I'm not afraid at all of his compete level. The guy's tough, and I really feel like he'll make our team better.' Article content Dickenson & Co. did use a high pick — second round, 17th overall — to grab the dynamic Vaughn in the 2025 CFL Draft held last week. Article content So there is some expectation there, plus Vaughn's body type and experience lends well to that whole search for a short-yardage specialist. Article content In 2024, the QB-turned-tight end had 11 catches for 111 yards and one touchdown and was a perfect 11-for-11 on keepers on short yardage. In 54 career games for the Fighting Hawks, he had 17 rushing touchdowns as well as 21 catches for 197 yards and four scores. Vaughn had four passing touchdowns in his first two seasons at North Dakota before the position switch. The proof is in the pudding that he seemingly is game for anything, although he has to re-familiarize himself with the Canadian rules. Article content 'If someone's calling for me and I gotta go play wide receiver, I'll go do it,' said Vaughn, whose dad Michael — in 1989 as a running back — and older brother Justin — from 2017-18 as a defensive lineman — both played with the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Article content 'If I gotta be on special teams for 85 plays a game, I'll do it. Like, it's just whatever the coaches need from me. I'm looking forward to this opportunity as presented. It's something I really want to take advantage of. Article content 'The more I can learn at this level — at the professional level, where these guys have been doing this for longer than I've been alive — would be really cool,' Vaughn added. 'To learn from them and see what's best to elevate my game in order to help the team, I'm willing to do what I can as best I can.' Article content Article content
