NFL make radical changes to the extra point, set to shake up the league

KICKERS just got way more important thanks to a shake up of the extra point option in the NFL.

GREEN BAY, WI - JANUARY 11: Kicker Mason Crosby #2 of the Green Bay Packers kicks a field goal late in the second quarter of the 2015 NFC Divisional Playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field on January 11, 2015 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

THE NFL’s long crawl to shaking up the extra point finally ended.

After years of internal complaints, proposals and experiments, the owners voted overwhelmingly Tuesday at their spring meetings to overhaul the PAT starting with the 2015 season.

Thanks to a 30-2 vote (the Redskins and Raiders were the exceptions), not only will extra points be moved to the 15-yard line from the current 2-yard line, but the defence now will be able to return a blocked PAT or a turnover on a 2-point try for two points of its own.

Graham Gano #9 of the Carolina Panthers.

Despite a plea from the Eagles to move the 2-point try up a yard to take advantage of their newly signed 2-point ace Tim Tebow, the owners decided to keep that play at the 2-yard line.

“This isn’t an experiment,” said Texans general manager Rick Smith, who represented the NFL’s competition committee, whose proposal the owners ultimately adopted. “This is a rule change and a part of the game.”

NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino said the change isn’t as drastic as it might look, because the success rate for kickers on 33-yard field goal tries — which is what the PAT will now be — was between 93 and 94 per cent over the past 10 years.

There was no such drama in the current extra point from the 2-yard line. The nearly 100 per cent success rate in recent years had turned it into what the Texans’ Smith described as a “ceremonial play.”

The rules change could prompt more coaches to go for two points, especially in bad weather, but NFL vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said this wasn’t the first step in an effort to get rid of kickers altogether.

“We’re not trying to take the foot out of the game,” Vincent said. “[The kicker] is still a skill position.”

Adam Vinatieri #4 of the Indianapolis Colts.

Originally published as NFL make radical changes to the extra point, set to shake up the league