Has field goal kicking become too automatic?

[Brian wolf]

FGs seem to get easier with the Bengal's kicker hitting a 59 yrd FG but his extra point later gets blocked ... many misses on PATs after the distance was changed.

[racepug]

FGs seem to get easier with the Bengal's kicker hitting a 59 yrd FG but his extra point later gets blocked

They'd lost their regular long-snapper earlier in the game and that (unfortunately) had a negative impact on their ability to succeed on PATs and FGs later in the game.

many misses on PATs after the distance was changed.

I thought that was the whole idea for moving them further back! Well, not necessarily that there'd be more misses but that it would increase the chances of teams going for 2 (i.e. "going for the more exciting play") after touchdowns instead of just attempting PATs all the time (which even the league admitted were becoming "too routine").

I still think a fun (some might say a "USFL"- or "XFL"-like) alternative would be to make the rule that "the player scoring the touchdown has to attempt the PAT." (PK specialists would still be used for kickoffs and field goals - although seeing that safety for the Chiefs yesterday nail an extra point and send a kickoff through the uprights - - maybe we can go back to the days of having those who attempt kicks just be "regular" players and not "specialists")