Word is circulating that Commissioner Roger Goodell wants the Eagles’ quarterback, whatever he’s called, permanently banned from the game. While we can’t vouch for Goodell’s personal opinion on the matter, the reality is that the league continues to keep an eye on the game.
According to a source with direct knowledge of the situation, the NFL is monitoring it. There is no impetus to push the push play out of the game yet.
At the end of last season, “many” clubs called on the league to address the issue. The league found that about 18 teams used some variation of the game.
“The clubs have now expanded the playing options of this formation,” said the source.
Ultimately, 24 owners would have to vote to get rid of the game. Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie would undoubtedly vote “no” on such a proposal. Earlier this year, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones surprisingly supported the play.
Goodell’s personal feelings don’t matter if at least nine owners agree. While there’s nothing stopping Goodell from acting aggressively (as he apparently did earlier this year to secure the ability to move Thursday games to Sundays and vice versa), he would have to be willing to expend more political capital if he would go against the wishes of nine or more owners who are unwilling to take the game out of play.
Actually, it’s good for offensive football. For the Eagles, who have perfected it, first-and-10 has essentially become first-and-eight. If more teams can perfect it, more yards will be gained, more drives will be sustained, and more points will be scored.
The NFL definitely wants more points to be scored. This fact becomes obvious in years when scoring increases – and the NFL repeatedly sends out press releases making this fact clear to those covering the game.
So, regardless of whether the commissioner wants to run the game personally or not, the real power lies with nine or more owners. If at least nine say, “Keep it,” nothing the commissioner says, does or believes matters.