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Tim McManus
President Donald Trump advocated for the NFL to maintain the tush push play as he hosted the Tremendous Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles on the White Home on Monday afternoon.
“I hope they hold that play, Coach,” Trump stated, wanting within the path of Nick Sirianni. “They’re speaking about eliminating that play, I perceive. They need to hold it … I prefer it. It is form of thrilling and totally different.”
The proposal to ban the tush push — the place a quarterback is assisted on a short-yardage sneak by being shoved by teammates lined up behind him — was tabled on the league conferences earlier this spring. The subject is prone to be revisited when house owners collect in Eagan, Minnesota, in Could. The play has been enormously profitable for the Eagles, who’ve scored 27 touchdowns and recorded 92 whole first downs on it up to now three years.
“Thanks, Mr. President, for having us right here. And we additionally admire the endorsement for the tush push,” Sirianni stated a number of moments later.
A contingent of coaches, gamers and executives made the journey to Washington, D.C., for the occasion. Working again Saquon Barkley performed golf with President Trump at his course in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Sunday after which flew with the president to Washington on Air Drive One.
“I supplied him a experience on Air Drive One as a result of I used to be coming down and normally they are saying, ‘No, no, I do not suppose so.’ He stated, ‘I am going to take it, sir.’ And he liked it and we liked being collectively,” Trump stated. “He is an awesome, younger man and an unimaginable soccer participant.”
Earlier Monday, Barkley pushed again on social media criticism for spending time with Trump. He famous that he has golfed with former President Barack Obama, a Democrat.
“Possibly I simply respect the workplace, not a tough idea to grasp,” Barkley posted on X.
lol some individuals are actually upset trigger I performed golfed and flew to the White Home with the PRESIDENT. Possibly I simply respect the workplace, not a tough idea to grasp. Simply golfed with Obama not too way back…and stay up for ending my spherical with Trump ! Now ya get out my…
— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) April 28, 2025
Trump stated he beforehand advised individuals within the New York Giants group, together with coach Brian Daboll, “to not lose Saquon” earlier than he hit free company.
“They misplaced Saquon. That was not good. I known as that one. That was a simple one to name as a result of he performed rattling nicely for the Giants, I can inform you that,” Trump stated.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts was among the many gamers not in attendance. A number of studies cited White Home officers who stated scheduling conflicts have been the explanation behind the absences of Hurts and others.
Trump known as Hurts a “terrific man and a terrific participant” and lauded him for his 2024 season.
The Eagles didn’t go to the White Home following their Tremendous Bowl LII win over the New England Patriots in 2018. Trump canceled the occasion when solely a small variety of gamers deliberate to attend.
Led by former security Malcolm Jenkins, the Eagles have been central to a player-led motion devoted to shining a lightweight on social injustice, which included some gamers protesting in the course of the taking part in of the nationwide anthem earlier than video games. In asserting the choice to cancel the 2018 go to, Trump wrote that the Eagles disagree “with their President as a result of he insists that they proudly stand for the Nationwide Anthem, hand on coronary heart, in honor of the good women and men of our army and the individuals of our nation.”
Eagles Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie lately defined why they accepted the invitation this time.
“We simply felt this can be a time-honored custom being invited by the White Home. So, there was no reticence in any way. To be celebrated on the White Home is an efficient factor,” he stated. “There have been particular circumstances again then that have been very totally different, and so this was form of an apparent selection and stay up for it.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
