During the Spring League Meeting in Eagan, Minnesota this week, the NFL chose not to pass one new rule that restricts what players can do on the football field but approved another one that expands their opportunities on another sporting stage.
Team owners considered four total proposals during the week, first passing a resolution on Tuesday that paves the way for NFL players to try out for the U.S. flag football team that will compete in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. On Wednesday, a proposal submitted by the Green Bay Packers designed to eliminate the short-yardage play perfected by the Philadelphia Eagles known as the “Tush Push” did not pass by a small margin.
In addition, the onside kickoff rules were modified in the second year of the new “dynamic kickoff.” One other proposal that did not pass was the Detroit Lions’ submission to change playoff seeding so that division winners are not automatically granted home games in the first round. When it became clear that there was not enough support for the proposal to pass, it was tabled.
Earlier this off-season, in a round of league meetings in Palm Beach, the league also passed a number of other resolutions and rule changes, most notably changing the touchback spot on the dynamic kickoff, modifying overtime rules so that both teams possess the ball, and expanding replay assist so that it can review penalties such as facemask and horse collar tackles.
The resolution to allow NFL players an opportunity to compete for spots on the Olympic flag football team passed unanimously and also received support from the NFL Players Association and Olympic officials. Those three entities will have to work on the specifics of the process to satisfy NFL team concerns about the availability and health of their top players, but that is almost certain to be done successfully over the next three years.
The resolution does not guarantee that the NFL will have its own version of the mostly-NBA Dream Team in the 1992 Olympics. There will only be 10 spots on the U.S. Olympic flag football team, and there is already a national team with well-established players. In addition, only one player from any NFL team can compete for the U.S. team, though there will also be opportunities for NFL players with international ties to play for other countries. Six teams will qualify for the debut of flag football at the ’28 Olympics.
The Tush Push, or “Brotherly Shove,” is a short-yardage and…
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