National Football League

Jay Feely concerned about player safety with new PAT rule

Published May. 19, 2015 7:13 p.m. ET

foxsports

By Steve DelVecchio

NFL free agent kicker Jay Feely criticized the NFL on Tuesday after owners voted to move extra-point attempts back to the 15-yard line beginning in 2015.

Feely, who appeared in four games for the Chicago Bears last season, feels that the rule change is hypocritical in that it dismisses the league’s emphasis on player safety.

"I thought NFL was concerned about player safety?" Feely wrote on Twitter. "Those 60 plays will be much more dangerous for OLine now.What did the NFL really accomplish? It's still nearly automatic (90% vs 99%) but greater risk of injury to Oline. 60-80 extra points per team that the defense didn't rush hard but now they will bring it. There will be injuries."

NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino also noted that PATs could be pushed back even further in the future if the conversion rate from the 15-yard line remains around 99 percent.

It may seem like an extreme stance from Feely, but he has a point. While pushing PATs back will make the game more interesting and could encourage teams to attempt more two-point conversions, players might be more aggressive now that they have a chance to make a play.

Remember, everyone’s favorite NFL meathead broke his arm on an extra-point attempt.

Based on Feely’s reasoning, it sounds like he is in favor of getting rid of PATs altogether. If players don’t try on PATs from the 2-yard line, they’re useless anyway. Then again, no PATs would result in less work for people like Feely.

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