Kicking Rules Modification

[Raleigh PF]

So, there is still some criticism that kickers contributions to the NFL are overvalued. Getting three points for kicking a ball through the uprights for the win, after sitting on the bench most of the game seems to rub people the wrong way. 

My take is, without kickers, there would be no "foot" in football. What would we call it?

But, I think we could modify the impact they have on the game...slightly. Bear with me...

• Any kickoff that goes through the uprights results in the receiving team starting on their own 20, instead of their 25. A normal touchback remains unchanged. (The NFL is trying to reduce the number of kickoff returns. There ya go. You're welcome.)
• Field goals less than 35 yards only count 2 points.*
• Field goals of 35-59 yards count as 3 points.*
• Field goals 60 yards and beyond are worth 4 points.*

* Not including procedure penalties.

How does this impact the game? If a team is in the redzone, they have to think a little harder about kicking that field goal that may only get them two points. The "not including penalties" would keep teams from deliberately taking a penalty that would then either add or subtract a potential point. So, if TEAM A is on the 20 yard line (potential 3 point FG) and TEAM B took an encroachment penalty, TEAM A could move forward five yards, yet still get 3 points for the field goal.

There's likely some other technical issues (of which, I have no doubt everyone here will find), but think it would add a little more strategy to the game, just as the two-point conversion has.

[ChillzIlz]

leave it as is. Thinking they are overvalued is going to start us talking about punters next.. 

you think its easy being a kicker? lol. 40-50 yard bombs on the regular aint easy.

[jfra78]

leave kickers alone, get rid of punting

[Car123]

Too many rule changes. Leave the game alone.

Only rule that needs to be changed is the onside kick rule. Running starts should be allowed on onside kicks.

[TN05]

Modifying the points for yardage is dumb. Might be worth it in some cases to purposely lose yardage to set up a more valuable kick, which is not how football should work

The only rule change I would make is simple: if you kick the ball between the uprights on the kickoff, it's one point. This would:
1) Encourage more kickoffs out of the end zone
2) Provide a reasonable punishment for personal foul penalties on an extra point attempt

[t96]

I don't see why the NFL is so intent on drastically changing the game that has been so great for over 50 years... Kicking and punting are essential and nothing should've changed with them, and more new changes won't correct these recent ones but only make things worse.

[Popsickle]

[Mage]

28 minutes ago, t96 said:

I don't see why the NFL is so intent on drastically changing the game that has been so great for over 50 years... Kicking and punting are essential and nothing should've changed with them, and more new changes won't correct these recent ones but only make things worse.

 IMO the extra point change was one of the best rule changes in a long time.  Can lead to some interesting games 

[PleaseCutStewart]

I would like to see the NFL get rid of PATs. It would be cool if teams always had to go for 2.