During the NFL owners meetings last month, Patriots coach Bill Belichick said that the extra point lacked "competition." Probably had something to do with the fact that they're successful 99 percent of the time. As a result, the competition committee eventually decided to move extra-point attempts to the 15 yard-line for the first two weeks of the preseason.
And while a 33-yarder is still a chip shot for NFL kickers, it's slightly more "competitive."
Dean Blandino: In preseason extra point will be a 33-yard kick as experiment. Success rate dips from 99 percent (current PAT) to 92.
— Gerry Ahern (@USATGerryAhern) April 24, 2014
Originally, the plan was to move the extra point back to the 20-yard line, but that was amended in recent days.
Dean Blandino said NFL will experiment w/ extra points in preseason from the 15-yard line - not the 20 - as announced at owners meetings.
— Bob Glauber (@BobGlauber) April 24, 2014
Blandino said competition committee made recommendation within the past week to have PAT kicks from the 15 instead of the 20.
— Bob Glauber (@BobGlauber) April 24, 2014
We're not sure why the kick is now five yards closer (a 38-yard attempt is converted 87 percent of the time), but at this pace, the extra point will be back at the two-yard line by the time the preseason gets here.
In slightly related but much more important news, Ed won't be the only Hochuli officiating NFL games this fall.
NFL director of officiating Dean Blandino said Shawn Hochuli, son of referee Ed "Guns" Hochuli, will be an on-field official this season.
— Bob Glauber (@BobGlauber) April 24, 2014
