hooknladder Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 Bill Belichick doesn’t see the point in extra points Posted by Michael David Smith on August 23, 2011, 11:45 AM EDT APPatriots coach Bill Belichick recently caused a stir when he said the NFL wants to eliminate kickoffs. Now Belichick has weighed in on a play that he says would be better suited to elimination: The extra point. In an interview on WEEI, Belichick pointed out that the point after touchdown is so easy that it rarely creates any interest at all, and he said that if the league isn’t going to make it harder, then the league should just get rid of it. “Philosophically, plays that are non-plays shouldn’t be in the game,” Belichick said, via Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com. “I don’t think it is good for the game. Extra points, when you’re up to the 99 percent range in extra points it’s not a play. Let’s move the ball back to the 15-20 yard line and not make it a tap in. Make them kick it. Same thing with the kickoff return, if you’re just going to put the ball on the 20, put the ball on the 20.” Belichick’s way of thinking makes a lot of sense: The extra point is basically nothing more than a way to give fans a longer bathroom break after a touchdown. And on the rare occasions that an extra point is missed, it’s more about bad luck than skill. Belichick’s solution of moving the line of scrimmage on extra point attempts back to the 20-yard line makes some sense; that would equate to a 38-yard field goal, which isn’t a chip shot. But we shouldn’t forget about the two-point conversion, which is one of the most exciting plays in football. Under the current rules, the line of scrimmage for point after attempts is the 2-yard line, whether teams are kicking for one point or attempting a two-point conversion. Moving the line of scrimmage to the 20 would only make sense if it’s a rule exclusively for one-point kicks, and two-point conversion attempts still start from the two-yard line. Another option would be moving the line of scrimmage for all extra points to the 1-yard line. Extra point kicks would still be chip shots, but two-point conversion attempts would be easier, which would encourage coaches to go for two more often, which would make the game more exciting. The extra point kick could also just be completely eliminated and teams could be given the option of either taking seven points for a touchdown, or taking six points with the chance to go for two and turn it into eight. In the XFL, there were no extra point kicks. Teams got six points for a touchdown and then ran another play from the two-yard line, and if they scored they got one extra point. That rule might sound like some wacky idea from the mind of Vince McMahon, but it was actually taken from the NFL, which briefly experimented with that rule during its 1968 exhibition games against AFL teams in the preseason. (The World Football League had a similar rule, called the Action Point, in the 1970s.) In the playoffs the XFL changed its extra point rule to allow teams to go for two or three points by moving the line of scrimmage back farther from the goal line. I’m surprised Belichick, who once sent Doug Flutie into a game to dropkick an extra point, didn’t suggest getting rid of the holder and forcing every team to dropkick extra points. That would make it less of a gimme. I’ve also heard it suggested that the real way to make extra points interesting is to require the player who scored the touchdown to kick the extra point. It would be amusing to see running backs and wide receivers (and occasionally 350-pound linemen who recovered fumbles in the end zone) trying extra points, and it would encourage coaches to go for two a lot more often. Don’t expect a radical change to extra point rules any time soon: Any rule change on extra points would require 24 NFL owners to support it, and NFL owners aren’t the most radical of people. But Belichick is right: Extra point kicks are boring plays. The NFL should change the point-after rules to take some boredom out of the game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i_am_the_swammi Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 he makes some good points, and some intriguing suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco Billy Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 The kickoff rule was for the safety of the players. I don't really see the same type of safety issues on an EP. As far as changing a fundamental scoring unit of the game? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Geez. If most coaches thought 2 pt conversions were that much more desirable, they'd go for them and not kick EPs (including Belicheck). There's nothing from stopping them from shunning all EPs in favor of 2 pointers. I love how people who have these great ideas don't implement them themselves. Kind of like Warren Buffet and taxes - hey, Warren, you can pay as much over the amount you owe to the government as you want every year. Why force everyone - especially when you refuse to do it voluntarily and use the system to pay as little as you can? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh 0ne Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 The new kickoffs are ghey. Additionally, Tedy Bruschi has never missed an extra point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montster Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 (The World Football League had a similar rule, called the Action Point, in the 1970s.) Initially, I didn't care, but seeing it called the Action Point changed my mind. I bet if the NFL called it something like the Maximum Awesome Point, it could really catch on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delicious_bass Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 The new kickoffs are ghey. Additionally, Tedy Bruschi has never missed an extra point. American of the Century Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackass Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 The kickoff rule was for the safety of the players. I don't really see the same type of safety issues on an EP. As far as changing a fundamental scoring unit of the game? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Geez. If most coaches thought 2 pt conversions were that much more desirable, they'd go for them and not kick EPs (including Belicheck). There's nothing from stopping them from shunning all EPs in favor of 2 pointers. I love how people who have these great ideas don't implement them themselves. Kind of like Warren Buffet and taxes - hey, Warren, you can pay as much over the amount you owe to the government as you want every year. Why force everyone - especially when you refuse to do it voluntarily and use the system to pay as little as you can? so you want belichek to kick his extra points from the 20 yard line while everyone else kicks from the 2? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelman Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 (edited) That's what we do in rugby.. whoever scores the let ... kicks the field goal Also... the part of the endzone that you score the let determines where the kick will be taken from. Edited August 23, 2011 by michaelman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flemingd Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 BB is trolling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loaf Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 Belichick’s way of thinking makes a lot of sense: The extra point is basically nothing more than a way to give fans a longer bathroom break after a touchdown. already being handled by that dumb as rocks rule about reviewing every TD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flemingd Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 already being handled by that dumb as rocks rule about reviewing every TD Advertisers gotta love it. TD <commercials> Review upheld PAT <commercials> Kickoff <commercials> I saw this 7 times in games this weekend once I started counting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennykravitz2004 Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 Screw it... "OK fans... if you're seated in Section 487, Row W, Seat 11... c'mon down!!! You're kicking the "nextra" point! Sure hope you're a fan of the home team too! And... I heard Bealittlechick eats babies. And puppies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grogansghost Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 (edited) As far as changing a fundamental scoring unit of the game? If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Geez. If most coaches thought 2 pt conversions were that much more desirable, they'd go for them and not kick EPs (including Belicheck). There's nothing from stopping them from shunning all EPs in favor of 2 pointers. He never argues that 2pters are more desirable from a strategic standpoint - just that EPs are boring because they're automatic and a change could make things more interesting. Under the current EP rules he does what he believes will give his team the best chance to win. At the same time, he thinks it would be better (more interesting) for the game to change the EP rule. Doesn't seem inconsistent to me. i like Lenny's idea - let fans kick the EPs. Edited August 23, 2011 by Grogansghost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keggerz Posted August 23, 2011 Share Posted August 23, 2011 allow teams to decide where they want to kick from and award more points based on distance....that would make for some interesting games at the wire...down by 10 and a TD with a 50 yard "extra point" gets you a tie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChampSampson Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 All I know is that was I playing Bodog's live bet feature, where they let you predict (bet) each upcoming play. (at horrible odds - sucker game) But you can bet the extra point at like 1000/1 odds. Well of course I hammered it all-in with my (mini) roll and the guy missed the extra point. Rigged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh 0ne Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 allow teams to decide where they want to kick from and award more points based on distance....that would make for some interesting games at the wire...down by 10 and a TD with a 50 yard "extra point" gets you a tie You play too much fantasy football. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTSuper7 Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 The new kickoffs are ghey. +1 And with directional punting becoming more common (or teams flat out avoiding return men like Devin Hester). special teams are overrated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco Billy Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 (edited) BB is trolling. Spoilsport ETA - and it's fishing, not trolling Edited August 24, 2011 by Bronco Billy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flemingd Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 Spoilsport ETA - and it's fishing, not trolling I was referring to Belicheck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco Billy Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 I was referring to Belicheck Dammit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peepinmofo Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 The new kickoffs are ghey. Additionally, Tedy Bruschi has never missed an extra point. Thats because he gets the full 7 for TDs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaterMan Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 I miss the old NFL. Every year it's turning more into a powder puff league. Makes me wonder if the NFL is doing this on purpose to try and squeeze the players again in a few years when sales die? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keggerz Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 You play too much fantasy football. I was being sarcastic/fishing...I am a sports purist @ heart...surprised it took so long 4 some1 2 say something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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