The NFL Looks to Jazz Up the Extra Point Play
Officials from the NFL and the CFL are both looking at ways to spice up the extra point conversion. The play has become so automatic and so routine that many fans are tuning out before the game can even get to the commercial break. Conversions follow a touchdown, and that extra point attempt that was 99.6 percent successful last year in the NFL. It is a boring automatic play in most football leagues and these leagues seem very intent to change that.
In the NFL there are considering moving the point after attempt from the 2 yard line to the 15 yard line, which would make an extra point a 32-yard try. While that is still well within the range of NFL kickers, it is not as automatic play as the 15-yard current extra point attempt. The NFL also is considering a CFL-style rule that would allow the defensive team to score two points if they block the kick and return it to the opposite end zone.
The CFL is looking at rules to get more teams to try a two point conversion. These include moving a single point PAT from the 12 to the 32 yard line and moving a two point try from the five yard line to the three. That could entice coaches to go for two points, which in turn makes for a more exciting game.
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On the NFL side, 30 of the 32 teams have agreed the NFL needs to tweak the rules. They fully expect the league to come up with its proposed tweaks at the league meetings in May. Any rule changes would have to carry support from 24 of the 32 teams and reaching a consensus there is often a uphill battle. The NFL has asked all 32 teams for a proposal then.
