Proposed Rule Changes to PAT Carry Both Pros and Cons

It appears the NFL has remained unshaken in its continued attempts to change the point after touchdown. The most inconsequential play in football has been the subject of dissent for a couple of seasons now, and the latest suggestions to be voted on by the NFL owners in the near future just might be the solution fans, players and coaches are after.

But unlike prior proposals, this concept seems to group together several different elements of the PAT, instead of just making one simple change. Under the new rules, the PAT would be moved back to the 15-yard line, the two-point conversion attempt would be moved to the 1-yard line, and defenses would be allowed to return failed scoring attempts for two points of their own.

The ingenuity is to be congratulated, but several logistical holes remain under this new system.

But let’s start with what they’ve done right. Pushing back the PAT to the 15-yard line should become a permanent fixture. The rule effectively turns a 17-yard field goal – a distance at which it is near impossible for even the most inexperienced kicker to miss from – to a 33-yard attempt. The new distance strikes a perfect balance, in which most kickers can still convert at an extremely high rate, but opposing defenders are given a fighting chance to make a block and return it for a score.

The only detriment of the new rule is that it eradicates the potential for surprise two-point scores. Any coach that opted to run a fake from the 15-yard line instead of setting up at the one would find himself on the fast track to the unemployment office, whether his team converted or not. And as for the 1-yard attempt, doesn’t it seem like too much of a gimme for a play that should only be whipped out in dire situations?

Teams like the Patriots have built drive after drive on Tom Brady’s ability to push the pile on third-and-short, even when the defense is expecting it. The last thing the NFL wants to do is remove the ‘automatic-ness’ of the PAT attempt only to have it replaced by an equally easy try for two points. There was nothing wrong with the two-point conversion starting at the 2-yard line; the NFL has gotten too smart for its own good on this front.

Finally, the freedom for the defense to snuff out an attempt and return it for two points is an excellent idea, and one that has been confined to the college football and CFL arena for far too long. It’s easy to picture one or two games this upcoming season be drastically affected by a thrilling interception or fumble recovery on a PAT attempt. What’s more, the offense is forced to stay on its toes even during a scoring attempt, balancing out the fairness and the potential for anyone to score at any time.

With so much discussion over the PAT in recent years, it’s hard to see the NFL maintaining the current structure for much longer. This system may not be perfect, but it’s the best we’ve seen so far. It’s time to pull the trigger and finally revamp the most useless aspect of the on-field product for good.