NFL eyeing proposal to abolish extra points

[ShowtimeSBMVP]

NFL eyeing proposal to abolish extra points
1


By Marc Sessler
Around the League Writer
Published: Jan. 20, 2014 at 04:53 p.m.
Is the extra point about to go the way of the dinosaur?

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told NFL Network's Rich Eisen on Monday that the league's Competition Committee might eventually abolish the time-tested point after touchdown in favor of a brand-new scoring system.

"The extra point is almost automatic," Goodell said. "I believe we had five missed extra points this year out of 1,200 some odd. So it's a very small fraction of the play, and you want to add excitement with every play.

"There's one proposal in particular that I've heard about. It's automatic that you get seven points when you score a touchdown, but you could potentially go for an eighth point, either by running or passing the ball, so if you fail, you go back to six."

Extra points have become an afterthought. Unless you're up against Lawrence Taylor in Tecmo Bowl, there's virtually zero drama attached to the point after. Taylor's old coach Bill Belichick has often opined about about how unnecessary the extra point feels.

Goodell said "some issues" stand in the way of a change, asking: "Is that going to discourage people from going for two?"

We doubt it. Teams inclined to go for the deuce will continue to do so in situations that call for an eight-point score -- with the same potential consequences. Traditionalists might disagree, but this is a good idea long overdue.

Well, unless you're a kicker.

Goodell's entire interview will air Monday night at 8 p.m. ET on NFL Network's "Total Access."

[O.city]

Wouldn't have a problem doing away with it. Just make it automatic.

Same as with an Intentional walk in MLB, just say call for the IBOB and move on.

[notorious]

This is an easy way to boost scoring and keep current add time.

They will cut to commercial before going for "one"


Yay, yet another benefit for elite QB's.

[DaFace]

Though I don't conceptually like the idea of getting a point without having to do anything to get it, I agree that the XP is a useless play these days. I'd be fine with getting rid of it as described, though I'd be more in favor of altering the play itself to make it more interesting (moving it back to 30 yards or something)?

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by Start Croyle

The NBA will soon switch its rules and just award a team points when a player is fouled instead of having them shoot free throws,

Except NBA free throw % probably averages around 70% with some in the 50s. Extra point % is over 99%

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by Start Croyle

It wouldn' tbe that surprising if they bring it back. They are always looking to add more games to the season, more teams to the playoffs, etc. They have talked about dumping the pro bowl for years, too. Actually, that's what most of the pro-bowl coverage is, a bunch of debate every year about whether they should keep it.

So I wouldn't be surprised if they bring back a runner-up game, either replacing or in addition to the pro bowl.

There is no way in hell they are ever, ever doing that.

[FRCDFED]

Tony Romo approves this message

[GloryDayz]

If they just make the TD 7 points there's not giving anything that they didn't earn, it's just seven points. And I think it's important to keep a TD at seven to make sure a TD is worth more than two FGs.

That being said, and to sound a little bi-polar, wouldn't it be interesting to make FGs longer than 50 yards worth 4 points? Make it and get more points, miss it and setup the other team with awesome field position.

And while we're changing rules, I'd love to make catching the ball on fair catches mandatory. If not caught, it's a fumble. So get out of the way and let the D pin you back.

Sorry, getting ahead of myself...

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by FRCDFED

Tony Romo approves this message

Rep!

[lcarus]

I don't like the idea of moving the XP back to make it more interesting. I'd rather them just get rid of it. I don't wanna make kickers a bigger part of the game.

[Bearcat]

If nothing else, he does a great job of creating hype around his product over stuff that shouldn't even be considered news. I wonder how many of these "proposals" are floating around at any given time.

[lcarus]

I'm down with just leaving the game alone. The XP doesn't bother me at all. There's always still that rare chance that it's blocked or missed.

[Rain Man]

Another option under consideration is to make the extra point subject to public voting. You text to 85774 for yes, or to 35432 for no. It costs 50 cents to vote. It would produce a lot of revenue and encourage fan participation.

[bowener]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Why don't they consider moving the extra point kicks back so they are not so automatic?


I posted a thread awhile back from a Peter King I think that argued that NFL kickers have become too good.

This. Why not move it back to the 25 and allow the defense to pick which hash mark to put it on? Better than Goddell's idea.

[lcarus]

Originally Posted by bowener

This. Why not move it back to the 25 and allow the defense to pick which hash mark to put it on? Better than Goddell's idea.

I don't want games to be decided by the ****ing point after.

[Rain Man]

How about dunking the ball over the crossbar as the extra point? If you score, you have to put the ball over the crossbar before being tackled or having it rejected.