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NFL likely to change PAT
PHOENIX — Nothing is written in stone, but the NFL appears poised to make a major change when it comes to the almost-automatic point after touchdown.
During the final day of the league meetings Wednesday, no vote was taken on the proposal to move the line of scrimmage for an extra-point kick to the 15-yard line. However, according to competition committee chairman Rich McKay, president of the Atlanta Falcons, there was a 30- to 40-minute discussion, with numerous ideas suggested.
Most notably, McKay said, the sentiment in the league was that “it’s time to make this a football play.” That could also lead to the defense being able to score one or two points on an attempt whether by a blocked kick or interception/fumble return. “There is a movement to make a change and make it this year,” McKay added.
In the next 30 days, the committee will look at all of the suggestions and craft a proposal that will be voted on at the league’s spring meeting May 18-20 in San Francisco. Aside from placing the ball at the 15-yard line, which would be a 33-yard kick, the ball could also be put at the 1 1/2-yard line for two-point tries. The 1-yard line was discussed, but the pushback is that would benefit teams with bigger quarterbacks, so the 1 1/2-yard line would likely take a quarterback sneak out of the equation.
McKay said the committee will present one proposal that looks at all the factors, including “unintended consequences.” One of those is the reality that a 33-yard kick in windy, cold or snowy conditions late in the season could significantly impact results, especially when a point is needed to tie or win a game.
Last season, when the 33-yard kick was an experiment for two weeks in the preseason, 94.3 percent (133 of 141) were successful, compared to 99.3 percent (1,222 of 1,230) during the season. On two-point conversions last season, 47.5 percent (28 of 59) were successful.
While narrowing the goal posts also has been considered — it was tried in this year’s Pro Bowl — the negative is that it would also affect field goals.
In other votes Wednesday:
–The adjustment for eligible/ineligible receivers was approved, mandating that a normally eligible receiver who reports as ineligible must line up within the tackle box. St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher, a member of the competition committee, said last week that “there was a concern on behalf of a number of clubs and number of coaches and coach (John) Madden’s subcommittee that unless we had some guidelines in place this thing may get out of hand.”
–The proposal by the Chicago Bears to ensure that each team possesses the ball in overtime was rejected. Since the current system was implemented in 2012, seven of 49 regular-season overtime games have been decided by a touchdown on the first possession. Because 42 games had two possessions anyway, the owners decided to keep the sudden-death element.
–An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty or taunting foul at the end of the first half will carry over to the second half.
–Linebackers will be permitted to wear uniform numbers 40-49.
–Teams with retractable roofs that have the roofs closed at the start of the game can open the roofs at halftime.
–In deference to Thursday games, there were two procedural changes. Clubs can now place players on short-term injured reserve beginning the day after the cutdown to 53 rather than waiting until Tuesday. In addition, teams with players on reserve/physically unable to perform that play on the Thursday after the sixth week of the season can have those players return to practice the Friday before Week 6, rather than waiting until the day after their Week 6 game.
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