When it comes to changes in my favorite sports, I’m an old fuddy duddy. I don’t want change. I want things to stay as they are, exactly what I’m used to.
I was one of those people who didn’t want the wild card introduced in baseball. I also scoffed at the notion of interleague play and instant replay in baseball. Turns out, I’ve actually grown to love all three of those things. I may be an old fuddy duddy who’s reluctant to embrace change, but if something ends up working, I can at least admit when I’m wrong.
In football, I’m still sour about all the rule changes that have turned the NFL into a hyper-passing league. I miss the days when there were just as many superstar running backs and middle linebackers as star quarterbacks and defenses didn’t have to play with one arm tied behind their back.
Don’t get me wrong, I still love football. I’ve accepted the fact that even mediocre quarterbacks can throw for 4,000 yards these days. But unlike the changes made to baseball, I haven’t acknowledged that they’ve made the game better. Because they haven’t.
Hurrumph.
Now the NFL wants to mess with the extra point. What did the extra point ever do to you, NFL? Leave it alone!
SI’s Peter King points out that NFL teams have only missed 26 of their last 4,939 PAT kicks. Some say that makes the PAT predictable. That may be true, but predictability isn’t a reason to overhaul an area of the game.
On those 26 occasions when a PAT kick was missed, it’s cool to see (as long as it’s not the Packers doing the missing). It’s a rare and memorable play. I can’t find the clip online, but I remember having a Vikings game on the radio for some reason about 10 years ago and Paul Allen went bonkers after Minnesota’s kicker missed an extra point.
It was hilarious! Those moments would be gone if the NFL changes the rule.
The odds are good that the PAT does get changed during league meetings later today. I’ll cross my arms, shake my head, sigh, and complain about how the NFL was “so much better back in the day.”
Then I’ll hike up my pants and complain about the government.
We’ll see if I come around to PAT changes in football like I’ve come around to the changes made in baseball over the years. For now, I’m digging in my heels and hoping PATs stay just as they have been.
Now get off my lawn.
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Adam Czech is a a freelance sports reporter living in the Twin Cities and a proud supporter of American corn farmers. When not working, Adam is usually writing about, thinking about or worrying about the Packers. Follow Adam on Twitter. Twitter .
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Just for you, Adam:
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap3000000389423/Blair-Walsh-missed-PAT
I suppose I’m not so hard on that rule change, as I’m pretty “young” football fan, but I think I can understand reluctant feelings old football fans may have…
Wow, Croat, I don’t remember seeing any NFL kicker just plumb miss wide. All the failed PATs I’ve seen have been blocked. Thanks for the video.
YRW
Have to disagree. PAT are dull and boring. Longer distance will inject some uncertainty and incentivize teams to go for 2 points more, which ups the importance of the run game and MLBs, two of the things you state that you would like. As to the other changes you allude to re: making the NFL more akin to Arena ball, I agree. As much as I love the passing game and AROD, even I feel the NFL has gone too far in helping the passing game. It is no coincidence that the Pack has the best QB/WR1/WR2 triumvirate in the NFL and as a result, they have a winning record every year despite an almost nonexistent defense.
Leave the PAT where it is at. Make the coach of the team come out and kick it.
Challenge!! lol
The only reason they would consider changing it is because of course MONEY!! The future of the NFL does not look good in my opinion when you include the 20 and younger people. They have too many other things to do now. In order to get these young people involved in the NFL they need to cater to them and that requires making it more exciting for them as their minds are easily distracted with everyone having a phone to stare into. They need these younger generation kids to become old adult lifetime fans and it starts early. If you don’t get them when they are young you most likely never will. Changing the rules is all about trying to increase or at least maintain your fan base.
I see the NFL dying in about 20 to 30 years due to technology and people’s views on social media changing. It’s already started with Borland prematurely retiring. If it doesn’t die it will probably resemble something more like a touch or flag football game. Head contact will for sure be outlawed.
Ted
Rule has been changed. PATs will now be 32 yards long (ball placed at the 15 yard line). In case you’re wondering, the top 31 field goal kickers made 227 of 233 FGs (97.42%) from 20 – 29 yards, and 266 of 294 from 30 – 39 yards (90.47%). I’d imagine that PATs success rate would be somewhere in between, but closer to 97% than to 90%. IIRC, PATs were successful 99.6% of the time.
2-pt conversions can now be intercepted or recovered for a score. That is, the defense can score off of a blocked PAT or muffed snap.
Hurrumph.
I think you should get 3 points if the kick-off goes through the uprights. That way teams would be affected by penalties assessed on the kick-off, which is a joke……………………..!