Belichick Would Like To See The Extra Point Eliminated

[Paintrain]

I'd support eliminating the kick from the 2 yard line but moving to the 18, making it a 35 yard FG or going for 2 from the 2 yard line. It would make that play mean something other than when it fails by randomly poor execution (TB game) or fluke (Suh having to kick because regular kicker got hurt).

[gafinfan]

I think your points about kickoffs are well thought out and agree they should be returned unless kicked out of the endzone. That should be flagged just like it went out on the sideline!

You is right in stating the ball is live once kicked and should be treated as such with the return team not being able to just catch it in the end zone and have it then being given a gift by putting it on the 20 yard line! If they want to fair catch it it should have to only happen in the field of play!

To say that an onside kick must happen within a certain yardage is crazy imho when in fact the whole field is in play! This would force the recieving team to have to act in such a way to raise the level of excitement concerning the kicking game. Whether the 30 yard or 35 yard line is used is not material to the subject imo while it is much more important to have the recieving team do ANYTHING rather than just fair catch the ball in the endzone. Just as the QB can't be caught inside the endzone the kick return man should be treated the same way

As for the extra point I have no opinion one way or the other, my whole desire is to see the level of excitement increase and return to the game I love.

[saden1]

With the new rule changes kickoffs are pretty much worthless. No one but the stupid or the desperate will bring it out deep in the endzone so what's the point of having kickoffs all together? I suppose some would like the opportunity to have a chance of returning if they have a good return game.


As for the extra point i'm down with moving it back...not to the 20 yard line but to the 15 yard line.

[celts32]

I am in favor of leaving the best game in the world the way it is. Maybe the PAT is automatic but who cares...it takes 10 seconds and they are off to the kickoff. The NFL needs to stop trying to fix what's not broken.

[irish]

Originally Posted by celts32

I am in favor of leaving the best game in the world the way it is. Maybe the PAT is automatic but who cares...it takes 10 seconds and they are off to the kickoff. The NFL needs to stop trying to fix what's not broken.

I agree that its not broken and doesnt need fixed. While PATs seem automatic it never fails that when a team misses one it seems like that missed point haunts them the whole game and ends up making things interesting in the end.

[sportscurmudgeon]

Frankly, I don't care what they do with PATs. They can eliminate them, move the line back, whatever.

I am saddened by the new rule that makes kickoffs a far smaller part of the game. However, as long as "player safety" is a prime motivator, the kickoff return is going to be an "endangered species".

Note that the Canadian Football League has no fair catch and it has a rule that the returner must have a "bubble around him" with no opposing players in the bubble for him to field the punt. If defenders get too close, it is a penalty. I would like to see the NFL experiment with that rule in the exhibition games next season.

[rbanerjee23]

Originally Posted by sportscurmudgeon

Note that the Canadian Football League has no fair catch and it has a rule that the returner must have a "bubble around him" with no opposing players in the bubble for him to field the punt. If defenders get too close, it is a penalty. I would like to see the NFL experiment with that rule in the exhibition games next season.

That's interesting -- it would make PRs a lot more interesting. Imagine banks having a chance to slip by like 3 guys who are in a 3 yard circle. How do u officiate that though because the returner could kind of sort of move and cause people to be closer than they should be.

[Hog1]

Originally Posted by sportscurmudgeon

Frankly, I don't care what they do with PATs. They can eliminate them, move the line back, whatever.

I am saddened by the new rule that makes kickoffs a far smaller part of the game. However, as long as "player safety" is a prime motivator, the kickoff return is going to be an "endangered species".

Note that the Canadian Football League has no fair catch and it has a rule that the returner must have a "bubble around him" with no opposing players in the bubble for him to field the punt. If defenders get too close, it is a penalty. I would like to see the NFL experiment with that rule in the exhibition games next season.

THAT'S Awesome....can the opposing players hurl insults, threats and surly rhetoric at the returner?

[mlmpetert]

Yeah i think theres waaaayyyyy too much tinkering with the game. Just leave it as is.

I remember this game. It kept the Bangles at home during the playoffs:

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Denver Broncos - Recap - December 24, 2006 - ESPN

[mlmpetert]

Also when Tony Romo dropeed the snap at the Seahawks playoff game. While not a PAT it was acutally 1 yard closer then a normal PAT. Sometimes things taken for granted become real nerve racking when its a must make situtation

[over the mountain]

I think they have to allow punt returners the option to fair catch, they would get blasted but i suppose instead of fair catching the ball they could just let it go and the punting team would be rewarded some more yards unless it does a crazy bounce.

Im still waiting for teams to figure out how to work the shortened kickoffs to their advantage instead of just booming it into the endzone for a touchback.

with the shorter kickoffs it should allow the kicker to send a high kickoff landing around the 2 yard line so his coverage team has more time to get down there and tackle the returner before the 20. But they also changed the rule to were the coverage team has to be within 5 yards of the ball at kickoff to prevent guys from getting a 20 yard head of steam like before . . . but i could def see a ST coach try and use the shortened kickoffs to his advantage instead of just taking the seemingly automatic touchback. get creative

[SmootSmack]

That CFL rule is what first got me thinking, almost 20 years back, that we could do without a fair catch.

[firstdown]

For the money these guys make they should remove just about all the rules and make it a free for all!!!!!!!

[MTK]

Originally Posted by firstdown

For the money these guys make they should remove just about all the rules and make it a free for all!!!!!!!

That's called wrastlin'

[Daseal]

I like that a TD and resulting play can be worth 6-8 points. It adds an extra level of strategy and flexibility into the game!