Why doesn't the NFL let teams try to block extra points?

The NFL reportedly is considering doing away with the extra point attempt after a team scores a touchdown. While it is true that it has become almost automatic for kickers to make the extra point, it is also true that players on the defending side make zero effort to try and block the kick.

Why not let defenses line up all eleven guys and put some effort into making a block? Guys in the middle could jump high, guys next to them try to break through, guys on the end try to use speed to come around the edge, make a dive and block the kick.

Right now no one is allowed to line up across from the center, which is silly. One guy in the middle might put up his arm, but the other ten defenders just stand around and watch. That's dumb.

Also a blocked extra point could be made returnable - make it so that the defending team can pick it up and run it back for a touchdown, just like a field goal.

Back in the 1970's the Minnesota Vikings made blocking kicks an art form.  The powers that be in the NFL need to learn their history. Blocking kicks can become an important part of the game. One point can sometimes mean the difference winning and losing.

NFL Owners Get What They Deserve with Replacement Referees

I Don't Feel Bad for the Green Bay Packers….The (mostly) men who own professional sports teams are certainly a group of odd ducks. It makes one wonder how they managed to make billions of dollars in their chosen professions, before they owned a team (unless you did nothing - just inherited your money, like the late George Steinbrenner).

Here we have the illustrious National Football League, a ten billion dollar business in itself, and the Scrooge-like owners refuse to part with an additional three million dollar contribution to the referees' pension fund.

Being a game official for a sport at any level is a difficult job, and of course even experienced NFL referees make mistakes. But not as many as the replacement refs have made in only three weeks of the new season.

Why would you degrade your product like this? NFL owners are a clueless bunch. Keeping experienced referees is an important part of pro football, so the billionaires need to be a little less tight-fisted and break the piggy bank. Time to take a .025 decrease in your profit this year boys. I know it's tough but I think you can handle it.

Even Green Bay Packer fan and anti-union Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker wants to bring back the unionized officials. Hmm, I guess this is what happens when you settle for less qualified employees, eh, Scotty?

An NFL training camp practice battle to watch: Minnesota Vikings' OT Matt Kalil vs. DE Jared Allen

The Minnesota Vikings' first round draft pick, offensive tackle Matt Kalil, is entering the NFL as the top-ranked lineman from the 2012 draft. It will be interesting to see how he fares in practice against All-Pro defensive end Jared Allen, the league leader in quarterback sacks with 22 last season.

Before the draft some scouts believed USC's Kalil was close to perfect as a blocker, and one of the most complete offensive tackles to come out of college since Tony Boselli - also from USC - who was the second player selected in the 1995 draft by Jacksonville.

Once the helmets and pads go on in July, the rookie will be tested by one of the best pass rushers - and all around ends - in the game today. Allen will undoubtedly make Kalil look less than perfect during training camp practices. But if Kalil can just hold his own against Allen, Vikings fans will have hope that the rookie will be able stand up against most opponents in the regular season.

The Kalil-Allen matchup will probably be reminiscent of practice battles in past years between Vikings' linemen. In the 1990's offensive guard Randall McDaniel and defensive tackle John Randle went head to head, and in the 1970's offensive tackle Ron Yary and defensive end Carl Eller lined up against each other.

All four of those players are now in the NFL Hall of Fame.

Vikings fans are hoping that Kalil and Allen will play up to the same high standards. If they do, Minnesota will be on its way to improving last season's 3-13 record. And, the future will look bright with Kalil at the key position of left offensive tackle. Last year's number one draft pick, quarterback Christian Ponder, won't have to worry as much knowing that his blind side is protected.



source for statistics: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/http://www.nfl.com/http://www.vikings.com/