Examining the fate of sports’ three most controversial rules

The Tush Push lives to see another year, somehow, despite what sure seemed like an overwhelming and inevitable bit of momentum to get banned. Most teams wanted to get rid of it. But six of them voted to keep it. One — the Philadelphia Eagles — owes the other five an enormous debt of gratitude.

“It takes 24 votes to pass anything,” NFL competition chairman Rich McKay, CEO of the Atlanta Falcons, said after the vote for banishment failed. “We don’t set a low bar. I’ve been in that room numerous times where we’ve had these types of discussions and one team really ends up being in their mind more impacted than others. It still takes 24 votes. In this case, those votes were not there. So, the rule will stay as it is.”

This inspired an interesting thought from a regularly insightful reader of Open Mike, John Lovisolo:

“What’s better or worse: the Tush Push in the NFL, the Hack-a-Shaq in the NBA, or the infield shift in MLB?”