Justin Robertson
The Ravens were one of 10 teams to vote against banning the "tush push" at Wednesday's league meeting in Minneapolis, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Along with the Eagles, Patriots, Jets, Lions, and five other teams, Baltimore voted to not ban the play popularized by Philadelphia, Schefter said. A minimum of 24 teams must approve any rule change for it to pass, so the measure came two votes short.
Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh previously said in March that Baltimore was evaluating its position on the ban.
"I feel like it's a football play," Harbaugh said. "If it's determined that it's an injury-risk play which I think the doctors are concerned about right now then that's something that we have to address. If we don't think it's an injury-risk play, then it's just a play in football. So, I'm looking forward to the discussion. We really haven't decided our position on that yet. I kind of want to hear some more of the conversation."
Harbaugh also previously said that if the "tush push" were banned, then all pushing of a ball carrier would have to be out.
Baltimore had success with its own variation of the "tush push" last season by giving the ball to tight ends Mark Andrews and Charlie Kolar on direct snaps.
Eagles Owner Jeffrey Lurie spoke for over half an hour at Wednesday's meeting, advocating against the ban, according toThe Athletics Dianna Russini. Lurie then handed off speaking duties to former Eagles Pro Bowl center Jason Kelce, who discussed the safety aspect of the play.
The ban proposed by the Packers was initially tabled at league meetings on April 1, after ownerswere reportedly split.
Onside Kick Tweaks Approved
Unlike the "tush push" proposed ban, changes to the onside kick received enough support from teams at Wednesday's meeting after there was just a six percent success rate for onside kicks last season.
Trailing teams will now be able to declare an onside kick attempt in any quarter, so long as they are trailing. Last season, trailing teams could only attempt an onside kick in the fourth quarter.
They will also be kicked from the 34-yard line instead of the 35-yard line, as the play previously required.
Matt Ryan
Lions Withdraw Playoff Seeding Change Proposal
The Lions withdrew their proposal to change the seeding format of the playoffs,ESPN reported.
Detroit had proposed a change earlier this year to base playoff seeding solely on record and not on division winners. The current seeding format guarantees all four division winners in each conference at least one home playoff game, while wild-card teams begin the postseason on the road.
Speaking at the April League meeting, Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin was in favor of rewarding division winners with home-field advantage through at least the first round of the playoffs.
"I'm a division purist, to be quite honest with you," said Tomlin, who is a member of the competition committee. "I love the rivalries that are division play. I love the structure of our scheduling that highlights it. I just categorized myself as a division purist. I think the division winner should get a home playoff game."
