Colts propose 9-point plays; yes, 9-point plays

Imagine this scenario:

Your favorite NFL team is down by nine points in the final minutes and instead of heading to the exit, you're rooting for that last-second touchdown ... two-point conversion ... and game-tying 50-yard kick!

No, really. The Indianapolis Colts have proposed a 'bonus point' after successful two-point conversions.

Any team can propose any rule change so the competition committee, which will make recommendations next week at the owners meetings, presents all proposals to the media. Not all proposals are brought up to a vote. This rule, if it were somehow approved, would be used in preseason games initially.

What would the theoretical impact of this rule change be?

>> It could have directly changed the outcome of one game last year as the Broncos tied Seattle on a two-point conversion with 18 seconds left on Sept. 21 but lost in overtime. There were five games decided by nine points last season (none involved the Colts). The team trailing by nine points would, of course, have had to score a touchdown to bring it into play.

>> Kickers were successful on 15-of-32 50-yard field goals last season; teams converted 29-of-61 two-point attempts.

>> That means an average team would convert 22.3 percent of their nine-point plays.

There were other, more mundane, rule changes suggested. Significant changes to the use of video replay, including reviewing all fouls called by game officials, will be presented by the NFL's competition committee at next week's meetings.

The committee is submitting a proposal by the Detroit Lions that would allow the instant replay system to correct an officiating error. That would include such judgment calls as pass interference. Currently, no penalties are reviewable.

St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher, a member of the committee, made it clear that his peers wouldn't favor such a change.

"It would be our responsibility on the field whether these are fouls or not fouls," Fisher said of his fellow coaches. "This (replay review) was never designed to involve fouls."

New England proposed that everything except scoring plays or turnovers be challengeable. Washington suggested increasing a coach's number of challenges from two to three, regardless of whether he is successful on an early challenge.

Also to be discussed in Phoenix will be a proposal by the Patriots to place fixed cameras on all boundary lines. That would guarantee coverage of the goal lines, end lines and sidelines regardless of where network cameras are positioned.

Other proposals include moving the extra point attempt to the 15-yard line and guaranteeing both teams a possession in overtime even if one scores a touchdown on its first drive.

Almost certain to be discussed is an expansion of the playoffs from 12 to 14 teams, which also would cut out one wild-card round bye per conference. The committee looked into the advantages and disadvantages last year and, according to Atlanta Falcons President Rich McKay, "from a competitive standpoint we don't think there is a competitive negative to (expanding) the playoffs."

No proposals on the handling of footballs before games were made while the league awaits the Wells report on the Patriots' use of deflated footballs in the AFC championship game.

New England's use of eligible players in ineligible positions during a playoff win over Baltimore prompted a proposal that such players must line up inside the tackle box, eliminating confusion for defenses.

Also, because teams are running out of permitted numbers for linebackers, the committee proposed allowing numbers 40-49 to be used for the position, along with 50-59 and 90-99.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.