The NFL will be operating with a new extra point rule this year. Instead of the gimme 17-yard kick for the PAT, the kicker will now have to hit a 33-yarder for the same PAT.
The defense can also return a blocked or botched kick for a score of their own.
Because… excitement!
Well, Aaron Rodgers thinks you can stuff your excitement right up your ass, NFL.
Because… safety!
“It’s now become a very important play, especially in the wintertime in Green Bay, when no field goal is guaranteed,” Rodgers said. “And it doesn’t go for just Green Bay. Any place that is cold or has rain or inclement weather, it’s going to be an interesting decision. Do you go for the two-pointer from the 2 or do you go for a 33-yard field goal?
“And with that, the play’s not dead anymore. If there’s an interception or a fumble, you can return it. So I think you’re bringing some player safety issues involved into that play. It could make it more exciting, but I still like the one-pointer from where it was at.”
Ho hum.
I think we can all agree that the PAT has always pretty much sucked. Except perhaps prior to the 1970s, when they became pretty much automatic.
Yeah, guys used to miss those on a fairly regular basis in the 1960s and decades prior to that.
But they don’t anymore and the game hasn’t changed to take that into account until now.
We’re not buying the player safety argument either. What makes this play different from any offensive or defensive play? Guys can get injured on those plays.
This is basically like adding several more actual football plays to a game and we see nothing wrong with that.
What say you?
[polldaddy poll=9023124]