ARLINGTON, Texas – At their annual spring meeting in San Francisco, the NFL owners on Tuesday voted 30-2 to move back the extra point line of scrimmage from the 2-yard line to the 15-yard line, making attempts the equivalent of a 32- or 33-yard field goal.
"Well, obviously it makes the extra point that much more challenging," Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said at the team's fourth-annual Reliant Home Run Derby at Globe Life Park sponsored by Reliant and benefiting The Salvation Army. "I think the percentage to make a PAT the way it is is north of 98 percent, and I think it's about 93 percent to kick a field goal that's 33 yards. So there's a little bit of a difference there obviously."
A longer extra point could tempt teams to try more two-point conversions, which will continue to be spotted at the 2-yard line. There's one new wrinkle, however: the owners also voted that the defense can now return a blocked kick or a fumbled/intercepted two-point conversion attempt for two points. Previously the ball was ruled dead.
"I think that's a good rule, and I'm glad they kept it at the 2-yard line," Garrett said.
From a Cowboys perspective, kicker Dan Bailey was a perfect 179-for-179 on extra points under the old rule. On field goal attempts between 30 and 39 yards – the extra point is now 33 yards out – Bailey's a career 38-for-40.
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