Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott didn't hide how he felt about the Tush Push, which is the famous play the Philadelphia Eagles use to get short yardage first downs and typically always succeed. The play could be banned in the offseason and when discussing why he thinks banning it is the right move, McDermott pointed to injury risk being the big reason why.
“To me, there’s always been an injury risk with that play, and I’ve expressed that opinion for the last couple of years or so when it really started to come into play the way it’s being used, especially a year ago,” McDermott said. “So, I just feel like, player safety, and the health and safety of our players has to be at the top of our game, which it is. It’s just that play to me has always been, or the way that the techniques that are used with that play, to me have been potentially contrary to the health and safety of the players. And so again, you have to go back though in fairness to the injury data on the play, but I just think the optics of it, I’m not in love with.”
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Well, these comments did not set well with NFL Network's Colleen Wolfe, who appeared on The Rich Eisen Show and roasted McDermott for what he said.
“It’s hypocritical for Sean McDermott to want this play to be banned when he uses it so much,” Wolfe said. “But you know what? Why don’t you come up with a play that can’t be stopped either? Why don’t you defy physics? The Eagles did it, so you can, too.”
Colleen Wolfe doesn't hold back while roasting Sean McDermott for his Tush Push take
While Bills fans might not want to admit it, Wolfe is right here. The Bills have tried to use the Tush Push but, perhaps not being successful at it is why McDermott is taking this approach here. In fact, the Bills probably are punting on the play forever after trying it in the AFC Championship Game and not succeeding to get a first down. That'd annoy anyone.
The Eagles have been the only team to truly master the play and that clearly has paid off for them. They've been to two of the last three Super Bowls and won the most recent one, blowing out Kansas City.
Maybe if the Bills were able to run the play better, McDermott would have a different tune here. For now though, Wolfe is right to call him out because if you didn't like the play due to injuries, why are you using it?