Aaron Rodgers Says New PAT Rule Threatens Player Safety

Back in May, NFL owners approved a proposal from the league's competition committee, 30-2, to move extra-point tries from the 2-yard line to the 15-yard line. 

However, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers believes the new policy could put players in danger.

"I think it goes against the league stance on player safety," Rodgers said, according to ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky.     

Rodgers added the following about the NFL owners' decision, which kept the two-point conversion at the 2-yard line, per Demovsky: 

"

It's now become a very important play, especially in the wintertime in Green Bay, when no field goal is guaranteed. And it doesn't go for just Green Bay. Any place that is cold or has rain or inclement weather, it's going to be an interesting decision. Do you go for the two-pointer from the 2 or do you go for a 33-yard field goal?

And with that, the play's not dead anymore. If there's an interception or a fumble, you can return it. So I think you're bringing some player safety issues involved into that play. It could make it more exciting, but I still like the one-pointer from where it was at.

"

As Rogers alluded to, failed two-point attempts can now also be returned for two points by opposing defenses, which could expose prospective tacklers to bigger hits in the open field. 

It should be noted, though, that NFL kickers have been wildly efficient on 33-yard field-goal attempts of late. 

"There were 41 field-goal attempts last season from 33 yards," ESPN.com's Eric D. Williams wrote. "Only two were missed. The conversion rate for 33-yard field goals over the past five seasons is 92.8 percent (154-of-166)."

While the rule change will go into effect for the 2015 season, it has not been guaranteed beyond the upcoming campaign, according to Mike Wilkening of Pro Football Talk.

That said, Houston Texans general manager Rick Smith doesn't expect the policy to change following the one-year trial.

"This isn't an experiment. It's a rule change," Smith said on May 19, according to USA Today's Lindsay H. Jones. "We have given ourselves the ability to look at the statistics and make sure we are accomplishing the things we are trying to accomplish."

Now that the rule is in effect, NFL coaches will be tasked with weighing the risks and rewards accompanied by potential two-point tries in the year ahead—especially in cold weather. 

Although the ramifications of the change may not be evident right away as kickers get set to thrive in favorable fall conditions, there just may be a lower percentage of extra-point tries by season's end.