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Afternoon Edition

April 1, 2025

NFL owners decided not to vote on the controversial Tush Push, but they approved a few other significant rule changes.

What do you think of the short-yardage play perfected by the Eagles (and no other team)? Respond to this email with your response and you may be featured in a future Reader Response section.

— Eric Fisher [[link removed]], David Rumsey [[link removed]], and Colin Salao [[link removed]]

NFL Tush Push Vote Has Been Pushed [[link removed]]

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

PALM BEACH, Fla. — A potential ban on the National Football League’s much-debated Tush Push has been pushed.

Team owners tabled a Tuesday morning vote to ban the play, with work to continue around language for the proposed measure. The accentuated quarterback sneak, likened by some as more akin to a rugby play, was among the foremost topics up for a vote [[link removed]] at this week’s NFL annual meeting. The Packers initially sought the ban [[link removed]], citing player health and safety concerns. League data, however, showed no injuries last year stemming from Tush Push plays. The issue could be revisited at May’s league meetings in Minnesota.

Before the vote, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni admitted to some lobbying to defeat the Packers’ proposal. Philadelphia perfected the use of the Tush Push last year en route to its dominant Super Bowl LIX victory.

“Have I been lobbying? I’ve talked to a couple of people, yeah,” Sirianni said. “My opinion is very well documented.”

According to league sources, exactly half the league—16 teams—did not support the ban, leaving support for the Packers’ proposal well short of the 24 teams needed for passage.

Rich McKay, Falcons CEO and co-chair of the NFL competition committee, said the Tush Push was the topic of more than 30 minutes of discussion among the owners Tuesday, ranging broadly from injury concerns to a sense of fairness between offensive and defensive play. A perceived targeting of the Eagles and Bills, by far the two most successful operators of the Tush Push, also emerged.

“You never like any discussion in any room being projected toward a team or two,” McKay said. “It’s never something we like doing.”

The Packers are now expected to revise the wording and framing of their proposed ban.

Among other votes taken Tuesday:

Approval of new kickoff rules that will spot a touchback at the receiving team’s own 35-yard line, up from the 30-yard line. A change in onside kick rules, however, that would allow trailing teams to attempt the play at any time did not pass. It will remain limited to the fourth quarter, and the topic will be revisited in May. Regular-season overtime periods will remain at 10 minutes, but each team is now guaranteed at least one offensive possession—even if the receiving team scores a touchdown. An elimination of automatic first downs for defensive holding penalties, proposed by the Lions, did not pass. Owners also tabled a proposal by the Lions to seed playoff teams strictly on regular-season records, which would no longer guarantee a home game for division winners.

The kickoff rule change is potentially the most impactful on the list. The new measure, combined with a permanent approval of dynamic kickoff rules, is expected to reduce player injury rates, while actively discouraging kick teams from simply booting the ball into the end zone. NFL executives, eager to restore the kickoff as a significant component of league play, expect return rates to more than double [[link removed]] to nearly 70% because of the change.

“[We] see this going up substantially because of that yardage difference,” McKay said.

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NFL’s Global Ambitions Now Extend to Abu Dhabi [[link removed]]

Kirby Lee/Imagn Images

PALM BEACH, Fla. — Having achieved a sizable presence in Europe, South America, and the Pacific Rim, the National Football League now has another major target in its international sights: the Middle East.

As part of the league’s ongoing annual meeting here [[link removed]], several additions to the existing Global Markets Program were finalized. Most notable among that was the addition of the United Arab Emirates as a designated market territory for the 49ers, Commanders, and Rams.

Greece was also added as a new market for the Chargers, bringing the overall program to 21 countries involving 29 of 32 teams as the NFL’s Global Markets Program enters its fourth year. It was the UAE, however, that led the latest wave, and it’s anything but a passing interest for the league, or the participating teams.

Not only is the NFL interested in developing fandom in the UAE and expanding its presence in that part of the world, but league officials already are thinking about potentially playing games in the country’s capital, Abu Dhabi.

“We don’t know the timing, and it’s really an ‘if’ in terms of whether we’ll play a game there. But I will say that’s a market where there’s strong interest in our game, strong interest in growing our game on a year-round basis,” said NFL EVP of club business Peter O’Reilly. “I think that’s why you see three clubs raising their hands with interest there. It’s a market we’ll continue to explore. We’ve done some exploratory trips there to understand the viability of the potential for a regular-season game in the market. We have more work to do there.”

Looking Ahead

Such activity would build on an international play schedule that will reach a record seven games in 2025, including first-time trips in the regular season to Ireland and Spain.

Plans are already in place for a first-time regular-season trip to Australia in 2026. Beyond that, a broader desire exists to potentially more than double its slate of international games.

“You’ve seen the growth that’s happening. We’re up to seven games this year,” said Chiefs owner Clark Hunt. “The league has a short-term goal of getting to eight, and maybe down the road as many as 16.”

Several other major sports properties, including the NBA [[link removed]], have also had a keen interest in the Middle East—not surprising given the wealth and accelerating development in the region. Some sporting events there, however, have not drawn well or met initial expectations. The NFL’s Global Markets Program has a somewhat different strategy, essentially seeding a market first with a variety of fan and community events and business deals over multiple years before arriving with games.

As for the return to São Paulo in September that will again take advantage of a scheduling loophole [[link removed]] to play on a Friday, there have been no decisions made on who will carry the game for U.S. viewers. NBCUniversal’s Peacock streamed the first NFL game there last year.

March Madness Ratings Dip After Record Start: Will Final Four Deliver? [[link removed]]

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

March Madness TV ratings have cooled off from what was a 32-year high after the men’s opening rounds [[link removed]].

The Elite Eight games averaged 9 million viewers across CBS, TBS, and truTV, as all four No. 1 seeds advanced to the Final Four. That’s down 10% from last year, when the Elite Eight concluded on Easter Sunday. This year’s ratings are up 4% from 2023.

With no teams seeded lower than No. 10, Sweet 16 games averaged 9.8 million viewers, which is down 6% compared to 2024 and flat with 2023.

The men’s NCAA tournament to date is averaging 9.4 million viewers across CBS, TNT, TBS, and truTV, which is even with last year and up 3% compared to the same point through the 2023 tournament.

Final Act

CBS will broadcast Saturday’s Final Four matchups and next Monday night’s national championship game as the four top seeds face off for the first time since 2008 [[link removed]].

Duke and consensus No. 1 NBA draft pick Cooper Flagg beating Houston to reach the title game would no doubt create the highest viewership for this tournament’s finale.

Last year was the first time the women’s title game drew a larger TV audience than the men’s [[link removed]], as 18.9 million watched South Carolina–Iowa on ABC and ESPN, compared to 14.8 million for UConn-Purdue on TNT, TBS, and truTV.

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STATUS REPORT Three Up, One Down

David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports

Coastal Carolina ⬆ The school will be offering free food at football games to all ticket holders this season. Fans will be able to acquire four items per concession stand visit from a selection of hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, and fountain drinks. There is no limit to the number of in-game visits.

FloSports ⬆ The streaming platform focused on smaller sports leagues announced Tuesday a Series D funding round [[link removed]] from India-based sports tech company Dream Sports worth around $24 million. The company’s total funding has breached $100 million, with investments from Warner Bros. Discovery and Fertitta Capital. The streamer has media deals for leagues like NASCAR, USA Wrestling, 12 NCAA conferences, and the American Hockey League.

Rory McIlroy ⬆ The golfer’s T-5 finish and $337,844 in prize money at the Texas Children’s Houston Open made him the second PGA Tour player to surpass $100 million in career earnings. With $100,046,906, McIlroy is second to only Tiger Woods, whose earnings stand at $120,999,166.

Pelicans ⬇ The team announced Monday that it is shutting down Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum for the rest of the season. New Orleans has seven games remaining. Williamson, the No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft, has played in just 30 games this year. The shutdown means that he’s played 30 games or fewer in four of six NBA seasons. He signed a five-year, $197 million contract in 2022.

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Conversation Starters Dana White and Turki Al-Sheikh are partnering with director Zack Snyder on a UFC movie called Brawler [[link removed]]. The Athletics unveiled their new clubhouse at Sutter Health Park, the minor league stadium in Sacramento that will be their temporary home until they move to Las Vegas in 2028. Take a look [[link removed]]. A former Mavericks employee posted on Facebook that Mark Cuban “should be run out of Dallas.” Cuban sent a lengthy response in the comments. Take a look [[link removed]]. Editors’ Picks Inside the 24-Hour NIL March Madness Deals [[link removed]]by Ellyn Briggs [[link removed]]Some of the most viral partnerships come together overnight. Yankees RSN, Comcast Reach Deal After FCC Pressure [[link removed]]by Eric Fisher [[link removed]]The deal keeps the regional sports network on an expanded basic tier. The Scottish Soccer Club With 9,000 Owners—Including NBA and NWSL Players [[link removed]]by Ben Horney [[link removed]]The Braves’ popularity exploded in the last 10 months. Advertise [[link removed]] Honors [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Events [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Shows [[link removed]] Written by Eric Fisher [[link removed]], David Rumsey [[link removed]], Colin Salao [[link removed]] Edited by Or Moyal [[link removed]], Catherine Chen [[link removed]], Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]]

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