What is the point of the extra point in today's NFL...

[BrickPat]

...and do you think it should it be modified (kick pushed back so it's not an auto- point) or eliminated?

They're tinkering with the idea of eliminating kick off returns but to the best of my knowledge there has never been any discussion about a play that's a virtual guarantee of zero entertainment value. I realize it's apples and oranges as the kick off discussion involves player safety but why is the auto extra point a scared cow?

Not losing sleep over it but just curious...

 

[Froob]

Teams have missed them before to lose games (jags vs saints, bengals vs broncos in 06). They're fine in my opinion.

 

[Deus Irae]

Tony Romo wishes that extra points never existed.

 

[Froob]

Tony Romo wishes that extra points never existed.

That was a field goal wasn't it? Or did cowboys botch an extra point too lol?

 

[Deus Irae]

That was a field goal wasn't it? Or did cowboys botch an extra point too lol?

It was a field goal, but it was closer than an extra point. That comparison is what I was referring to. I should probably have just laid it all out.

 

[Sicilian]

Not that this happens often, but I say leave it where it is because it keeps an element of surprise. Teams can fake it and try to convert for 2 if they want. If you push the kick back, you force the team to declare what they're doing beforehand.

 

[Ninerfan]

I've long thought they should eliminate it. Its just too boring.

They should only allow 2 point conversions or a 1 point dropkick. I'm sure kickers would get good at that too, but I bet not as automatic as the traditional kick off the turf

 

[CheeseMonkeys]

Not that this happens often, but I say leave it where it is because it keeps an element of surprise. Teams can fake it and try to convert for 2 if they want. If you push the kick back, you force the team to declare what they're doing beforehand.

I agree. Keep it the same length so fake FGs can reasonably be attempted and converted.

What they SHOULD do on the other hand... Instead of spotting the ball smack dab in the center of the 10 yard line, they should place it all the way to the left (or the right) of the marker. This way a kicker would have to pull/push the kick instead of just a straight kick.

It would make it slightly more difficult to convert and extra point, yet the surprise for a fake FG 2 point conversion attempt is still a possibility.

 

[jmt57]

Extra points are not really comparable to the discussion about eliminating kickoffs; the latter is a player safety issue due to players sprinting 40 yards and then colliding into each other, while that does not happen with the extra point.

While it is very true that games have been won or lost based on extra point conversions, to me that is a case for eliminating them, not for retaining them. To me that is placing way too much emphasis on the outome of a game on a play that is made 99% of the time.

The only way I see the rule being changed is if at some point the networks believe that games are going too long, and want to shorten them; with rules resulting in more scoring that is possible. While it is true that extra points give networks a chance to break three minutes of commercials, if they can fill their allotment of ten commercial breaks per half without the extra point, then the extra point will go away.

 

[Lansdowne]

I'm fine with the extra point. It's what separates a touchdown from two field goals, and further decreases the odds of the game ending in a draw.

What I'd like to know is what is the point of kicking the extra point when time has expired and the game has already been decided (such as when the Colts beat the Lions this year). Probably gambling, just like the injury report.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

I'm fine with the extra point. It's what separates a touchdown from two field goals, and further decreases the odds of the game ending in a draw.

The OP's point is should the NFL change a scoring touchdown to automatically getting 7 points, instead of 6 +1 or just 6 so you can't tie it with 2 FG's.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

On a different note. Should a safety worth more than 2 points? A safety is pretty rare and you only get 2 points for it? How about make it 4 point or something...?

 

[DocHoliday]

I like the idea of having to kick from the closest possible location to where the touchdown was scored.

Therefore, when you're very close to the sideline, it makes it more ambiguous whether the offense will score or just kick, since the kick becomes challenging.

 

[Sciz]

Extra points give Sergio Brown one more chance to seek his revenge

 

[Water Boy]

What's the point of the extra point? One I suppose.

 

[fxkane]

I think the extra point as a kick should become an extra point (no two point conversions anymore) as a play from the three yard line. That certainly would not be automatic.

As to the safety for two points, that seems right to me, given that you also get possession with fairly good field position into the bargain.

 

[SacPete1]

I would just as soon eliminate the extra point the way it is played now. It is insignificant. I can't quote stats but I suspect more than 99.5 % of extra point kicks are made for a typical season and the .05 left is not reason enough to keep it.
It is not an exciting play and simply adds time to the game. Now switching this to an optional 1 or 2 point conversion without kicking it would definitely be exciting and would become a very significant play.
I have no opinion on the value of a safety.
I do not like the current kick-off format. I've always found it to be one of the more exciting plays of a game and again, I don't have stats to support this, but I would suspect that over 50% if not 60% of kickoffs are not returned. When they made the change in 2011, I actually thought the percentage would be greater and I was surprised and continue to be surprised when a kickoff goes 5 or more yards into the endzone and is run out. Regardless, when more than half the kickoffs are not returned and essentially result in a dead play, the play itself should be adjusted. If the intent is to reduce risk of player injury and if the statistics since the change continue to support injury rates on those kickoffs returned, then eliminate the play.
Just my two cents.