The NFL's preseason experiment with longer extra points is over. The move to a 33-yard extra point changed a totally useless play to one that was slightly less useless.
There were only five extra points missed all of last season in 1,321 attempts. Eight were missed in 33 preseason games this year. Hooray?
While the change was an improvement, we still believe it was a half measure. 99.6 percent of extra points were made last season. 94.3 percent of extra points were made this preseason. We still don't see much of a point in any play that is successful more than 90 percent of the time.
Bill Belichick has alternatively proposed to abolish extra points entirely or move the extra points back to the 25-yard line, creating a 43-yard extra point. The league originally debated moving the extra point to the 20-yard line, creating a 38-yard extra point.
All of the measures above are superior to the 33-yard extra point. It's a shame that none of them will be introduced to the league this season, and we'll continue to waste time with the most boring play in sports.
The latest "Around The League Podcast" recaps all of the action from the second week of the preseason.
