Colts Propose Rule Change for Consideration by Competition Committee

The annual NFL owners meetings will be held next week, and there the Competition Committee will convene to discuss and vote on a number of proposed rule changes.  There are 23 new rule change proposals that will be discussed at the meetings, including 18 that were submitted by teams.

One team that submitted a proposed rule change was the Indianapolis Colts.  Here's their proposal:

A @Colts rule proposal at next week’s Annual Meetings: a bonus field goal for an additional point after a successful two-point attempt.

— Kevin Bowen (@KBowenColts) March 18, 2015

The Colts proposed adding a BONUS, 1-point, 50-yard field goal attempt for teams who successfully make a 2-pt conversion.

— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) March 18, 2015

So what the Colts are proposing is this: if you go for a two-point conversion instead of opting to just kick the standard point after attempt, and you then successfully convert the two-point conversation, you would get a try to field goal from midfield that would be worth another point.  In theory, therefore, if a team scored a touchdown, converted a two-point conversion, and then hit a field goal from midfield, they could get nine points per possession instead of the eight that is currently the maximum.  The Colts proposed to try out the rule change in the preseason.

It's certainly likely that a factor that went into the Colts submitting this proposal was that they have a great kicker who can easily hit from midfield in Pat McAfee (Adam Vinatieri can too, but McAfee has the stronger leg).  The Colts tried a 64-yard game-winner with McAfee in preseason last year and he just missed - it was long enough but wide left.

It's certainly an interesting thought, but I'm not sure how likely it actually is to be put into place.  More likely are some of the other rule changes that the Competition Committee will consider.  The Patriots' proposed rule changes in particular are interesting (and it just goes to show that the Patriots are even better at proposing rule changes than the Colts, too):

The Patriots have proposed three rules changes: 1. All plays are reviewable. 2. Fixed cameras on goal lines. 3. PAT kicks spotted at the 15.

— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) March 18, 2015

The proposed rule changes will be discussed more in-depth at next week's owner's meetings by the Competition Committee, so we'll have more information then.  But one of the proposed rule changes was submitted by the Colts and it would be a slight chance at another point per possession.

The Colts also proposed one other rule change - to allow teams whose stadium has a retractable roof to open or close it at halftime of a game (currently it is only allowed before the game).

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Colts proposed a rule that will allow teams to open retractable roofs at halftime (weather permitting, etc) of games.</p>&mdash; Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) <a href="https://twitter.com/WillBrinson/status/578264837463126016">March 18, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>