maufman said:I agree with the first point. And I think the player safety implications make the proposal DOA.
Disagree on the second point -- the incentives to maul the kicker are already there with the kick from the 2.
On the second point, there's a key difference I believe you're missing. There's no legitimate shot to block an XP from the 2. Hence why nobody really tries all that hard. But once there's a legitimate shot to block the XP, the balls-out rush will come.
Now, I'm not suggesting they'd hit the kicker intentionally or to injure him. Nothing like that. I'm just saying that that if I'm flying in off the edge or shooting a gap up the middle, I'm going full out dive for the ball without any sense of hesitation or concern for missing it and hitting the kicker. Because there's legitimately almost no penalty if you miss the ball and crush the kicker instead.
Current XP has no opportunity and no penalty.
Current FG has opportunity and penalty.
Proposed XP has opportunity and no penalty, which is the dangerous combination for a kicker.