The Tush Push is BANNED!

You did remember that it’s April Fools’ Day, right?! But there is actually much ado about possibly banning the controversial play below. 👇🏼

April 1, 2025

Tush Push is the Hottest Topic at the NFL League Meetings
AP News’ Rob Maadi writes, “Banning the ‘tush push’ is gaining momentum.

“Still, it’ll take 24 of 32 votes to eliminate a play that’s become a short-yardage staple for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

“NFL team owners, coaches and general managers are considering several potential rule changes at this week’s league meetings. Nothing has garnered more attention than Philadelphia’s version of the quarterback sneak. The Green Bay Packers issued the proposal to ban it, citing player safety and pace of play.

“Although NFL executive Troy Vincent said last month there have been zero injuries reported as a result of the play, Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott, a member of the NFL’s competition committee, is leading the push to get rid of it.”
^{AP News}

Trump Tariff Tumult Has Ripples for Sporting Goods, Puts Costly Hockey Gear in Price-Hike Crosshair
AP News’ Dave Campbell writes, “The prospect of 25% tariffs by President Donald Trump on Canadian imports, currently paused for some goods but facing full implementation on Wednesday, has caused headaches if not havoc throughout the commercial ecosystem. The sports equipment industry is certainly no exception, with so many of the products manufactured for sports -loving Americans outside of the U.S.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

Braves’ Jurickson Profar Gets 80-Game PED Ban, Calls it ‘Most Difficult Day’ of His Career
AP News’ Beth Harris writes, “Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar has been suspended for 80 games without pay for performance-enhancing drug use.

“The suspension of Profar is effective immediately. Barring postponed games, Profar would be eligible to return June 29 against Philadelphia and would lose $5,806,440 of his $12 million salary. He is also ineligible for the postseason.”
^{AP News}

The NHL and Rogers Agree on 12-Year, $7.7 US Billion Media Rights Deal in Canada, AP Source Says
AP News’ Stephen Whyno reports: “The NHL has reached an agreement with Rogers Communications on a 12-year, $7.7 US billion media rights agreement in Canada, according to a person familiar with the deal.

The contract is the latest source of revenue for the league as the salary cap continues to climb. The previous deal reached in November 2013 was worth $5.2 billion CAD over 12 years. The NHL contracted with ESPN and Turner Sports in 2021 for the current U.S. TV and streaming rights deal for $4.5 billion over seven years combined.
^{AP News}

Storm Ink Local TV Deal With Sinclair That Includes Rights Fee
The Seattle Storm have finalized a local TV package with Sinclair affiliates KOMO (ABC) and KUNS (CW) that extends the team’s reach to 2.3M homes in the Puget Sound region and includes an undisclosed rights fee payment. The Fever and Liberty were thought to be the only WNBA teams receiving local over-the-air rights fee money last season, but have been joined this season by the Wings (who are about to draft UConn’s Paige Bueckers No. 1 overall), the Aces and now the Storm.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Jets Offer Extensive Buyouts, Seeking Culture Change
Approximately 170 of the N.Y. Jets’ 250 employees must decide today whether to accept a buyout offer issued earlier this month, a deal that would give the most senior employees more than 18 months of full salary and health insurance if they leave. The offer was sent to all non-contractual employees, SBJ sources said.

Management’s motivation is reportedly cultural, not financial. The buyouts follow a recently completed “comprehensive study” of the organization and growth priorities, a spokesperson said.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Stanford Hires NFL Veteran Frank Reich to 1-Year Deal as Interim Head Coach, Replacing Troy Taylor
Reich, 63, will coach the team for just one season. After that, the school will launch a national search to find its next head coach. Stanford was in the market for a new head coach after firing Troy Taylor due to his alleged workplace behavior.

As Yahoo Sports’ Chris Cwik notes, “Reich's agreement is unique in that he's not being hired as the team's long-term replacement. Reich's deal is only for the 2025 season. After that, he'll once again be a free agent, and Stanford will look for a new head coach.”
^{Yahoo! Sports}

NFL Taps Ted Ullyot as New General Counsel
The NFL has hired former Facebook General Counsel and longtime Washington lawyer Ted Ullyot as its next general counsel, replacing the retiring league veteran Jeff Pash, SBJ sources said.

Ullyot was the top lawyer at Facebook from 2008-2013, where he led legal affairs and was part of the senior management team when the social media giant went public in 2012. He has also been an elite player in Republican politics and conservative legal circles for years.
^{Sports Business Journal}

Peter Vermes, Sporting KC Part Ways Ending Longest Coaching Tenure in MLS
The Athletic’s Alex Brodie and Pablo Maurer write, “Sporting KC and manager Peter Vermes have mutually agreed to part ways … The 58-year-old will also vacate his role as chief soccer officer while Kerry Zavagnin will be Sporting’s interim head coach.

“Vermes was appointed sporting director in 2006 and head coach in 2009. He led Sporting to the 2013 MLS Cup as well as three U.S. Open Cup victories in 2012, 2015 and 2017.”
^{The Athletic}

NASCAR Makes Steve Phelps its First Commissioner
SBJ’s Adam Stern writes, “In a high-profile move that will draw attention around sports, NASCAR owners Jim France and Lesa France Kennedy have promoted President Steve Phelps to the newly created position of commissioner, making him the first person in company history to hold that title.

“In turn, the Frances are elevating Chief Operating Officer Steve O’Donnell as Phelps’ successor, making him only the sixth person to ever hold the title of president since NASCAR was founded in 1948.”
^{Sports Business Journal}

Cubs Sign Yeti as Title Sponsor for Premium Outdoor Space
Yeti has signed as title sponsor of the Cubs new premium outdoor hospitality space in the Wrigley Field bleachers, henceforth to be known as “The Yeti Yard.”

The deal includes a Yeti sign just above The Yard and below the Wrigley CF scoreboard, and an additional sign on a wall pad. The hospitality area will include stocked Yeti coolers. Cubs-logoed Yeti products will also be sold in Wrigley Field. The deal was done directly between Yeti and Cubs without an outside agency.
^{Sports Business Journal}

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There’s a Common Misperception About the Supreme Court and NIL
Sportico’s Michael McCann writes, “The reality is that Alston had nothing to do with NIL or even compensation for playing sports. The Supreme Court held that the NCAA and its member institutions violated federal antitrust law by agreeing to limit each member’s opportunities to compensate college athletes for education-related expenses. Those expenses included costs related to study abroad programs, postgraduate scholarships, vocational school scholarships, technology fees and other costs that are connected to education. Given that a core mission of the NCAA and its members is to provide quality education to college athletes, rules that make it harder for schools to defray education costs are conceptually problematic.”
^Sportico

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