EP is the worst, most useless play in football. But compound it with a procedure/holding call, and it makes me homicidal. I like the concept of the automatic 1 with the option of going for 2, with the risk attached. It'll separate the sideline-screamers from the real strategists among HCs.
John Karney approves of this proposition. [video=youtube;kTGco82JKHo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTGco82JKHo[/video]
Goodell and NFL explores rule change for PAT. Interesting concept which essentially does the same thing except doesn't take into account for the rare missed 1 pt conversion which, granted, may make the difference in one or two games a year. I'd have to think about it more but my initial thought would be to just move the ball on the 15 or 20 yd line for PATs instead. Ideas?
My feeling on the proposed rule change is basically a shrug. The PAT is such a boring and almost always irrelevant play. I find myself fast forwarding past it the vast majority of the time. If it went away I can't say I'd ever miss it. The best argument I can provide for keeping it is that we've always done it that way. Which is generally a very poor argument for anything. And I think I'd prefer doing away with it completely over trying to make it a longer attempt. Moving it to the 20 is almost as automatic. NFL kickers now make +99% of PATs and about 97% of kicks from 20 yards out or less. I don't see this being much of a difference.
Get rid of it. Total waste of time and one more thing that can get a player hurt. I wouldn't miss it at all. Maybe they could replace it with having the QB attempt to throw the ball through the uprights from the 50 yard line. That would be neat.
Teams probably fake the field goal for two points less than they have XP's blocked though. You can preserve the scoring rules while making it more interesting by separating them.