Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri (4) kicks a 53-yard field goal to defeat the Minnesota Vikings 23-20 as Pat McAfee holds during the fourth quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN., September 16, 2012. (File/UPI /Mark Cowan) |
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INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- During an appearance on Pro Football Talk Live, Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri said that the thinks the NFL should make field goals of 50 or more yards worth four points instead of three. He reiterated that opinion during an interview on his team’s website.
“I think what they should do is any kick over 50 yards is worth four points,” Vinatieri said. “Reward the guys that are exceptional. I don’t want to emphasize that kickers are more important…but now all of a sudden you are down three and you have a 48-yard field goal. Do you purposely lose two yards so you can potentially win by a point? It just puts a different little spin into it.”
Vinatieri was asked about rumored rule changes that would eliminate extra points. The four-time Super Bowl champion said that it would be a “crying shame” if the NFL got rid of extra points.
"The extra point is almost automatic," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said back in January. "I believe we had five missed extra points this year out of 1,200. So it's a very small fraction of the play, and you want to add excitement with every play."
The 18-year veteran is going to become a free agent in March.
“Kickers are just getting better. Back in the day, 30 or 40 years ago when football wasn’t a 12-month a year, guys are just getting stronger. They are just getting more focused in on being more accurate. Guys are doing a lot more in the weight room in terms of getting stronger,” Vinatieri said. “Percentages back in the 50s and 60s if you were 70 percent you were leading the league. Now, shoot, you got guys that don’t miss any or maybe miss just one or two kicks all season. I think it’s just a combination of a lot more snap, hold, kick work throughout the season to kind of fine tune.”
The former New England Patriot set a career-high with 35 made field goals during the 2013 season.
“At some point they are going to shorten the uprights,” Vinatieri said. “But by the time they figure that all at I’ll probably be done (laughs).”
[Pro Football Talk]
[Colts.com]
