PHOENIX -- There will almost certainly be significant changes to the league's extra point rules for next season.
While the owners did not vote on a specific proposal Wednesday, they did have a "lively" discussion about potential changes, according to NFL Competition Committee co-chairman Rich McKay.
The league will formulate a more uniform proposal over the next two months and should vote on something specific in May.
"It was a very good discussion, there was a clear sentiment that we want change this year," McKay said. "And the charge to us as a competition committee was to come back with a recommended proposal, do it in the next 30 days, and give everyone a chance to look at it and vote on it."
Among the variations discussed:
» A team could go for two points from the 1 1/2-yard line or kick an extra point from the 15.
» Eliminate the extra point altogether and just place the ball at the 2-yard line, making it a two-point play.
» Narrow the goal posts.
» A college-type rule in which a defense could score a touchdown on a blocked kick or interception or fumble return on a two-point conversion.
Regardless, the league seems hell-bent on making some progress, especially in the next 30 days. The owners would not spend nearly an hour discussing it on Wednesday if it wasn't important.
All the proposals on the table were interesting, but personally, the idea of eliminating the kick altogether is the best option. Imagine the level of strategy needed to consistently score from a difficult distance. Coaches would need to formulate their rosters a bit differently based on the need for more bulk in the trenches or come up with a way of increasing the success rate of passes from that distance (sorry, Seattle).
"(Most) of the teams said it's time to make this a football play," McKay said.
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