Eagles' Sirianni: Calls to ban tush push 'unfair'

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni came to the defense of the tush push after the Green Bay Packers proposed banning the play, saying calls to outlaw it are "a little unfair."

"I've seen some of the stuff about that it's an automatic play, I almost feel a little insulted because we work so hard at that play," Sirianni said Tuesday at the NFL combine, according to Chase Senior of ChatSports. "I can't tell you how many times we practice the snap, we practice the play, because it's not a play that it's easy to practice. There's different ways we've figured out how to practice it. The compliments that can come off of it that can create explosive plays."

Sirianni added: "The fact that it's a successful play and people want to take that away, I think that's a little unfair."

In addition to the Packers submitting a request to have the play banned, Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris also spoke out against the tush push at the combine.

"It should've been illegal three years ago," Morris said, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "No, the tush push play, I've never been a big fan. There's no other play in our game where you can absolutely get behind somebody and push them, pull them off, do anything."

Bills head coach Sean McDermott expressed concern about the play Monday, stating: "The techniques that are used with that play, to me, have been potentially contrary to the health and safety of the players," per ESPN.

NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said the tush push will "become a topic of discussion" next month. The league's annual meeting starts March 30.