Vikings kicker Blair Walsh would have joined the 30-2 majority of NFL owners Tuesday that voted to move the line of scrimmage to the 15 to create 33-yard point-after-touchdown kicks.
The rule change increased the length of a PAT kick by 13 yards and included a provision that will allow the defense to return a blocked or short kick to the opposite end zone for two points. The line of scrimmage for a two-point conversion attempt will remain at the 2, and defenses will have the opportunity to return turnovers for two points.
Walsh showed his enthusiasm for the change on Twitter:
33 yards it is. #ExtraEXTRAPoint — Blair Walsh (@BlairWalsh3) May 19, 2015
Walsh told the Star Tribune's Matt Vensel he is looking forward to the **new challenge**.
"Absolutely," Walsh told Vensel. "You've got to be confident in what you do. If somebody was telling you, 'Hey, we're going to make your job just a little bit more important,' why wouldn't you take it? It's a new challenge."
Vensel pointed out:
In the first two weeks of the 2014 preseason, when the NFL tried out the proposed PAT rule, Walsh made all four of his extra points from 33 yards.
In this **piece** for Fox Sports in 2014, Walsh proposed an even greater distance, 38 yards for PAT kicks.
Last season, Walsh's third in the pros, he was 3-for-3 on 33-yard field goals and 1-for-2 from 38.
Quick Hitters:
*Fox Sports North's *Brian Hall on Vikings on the potential **opportunity** for undrafted safety Anthony Harris.
Today marks the one-year anniversary of Minnesota and the new Vikings stadium being awarded Super Bowl LII in 2018. The NFL has announced **four cities** — Miami, New Orleans, Atlanta and Tampa — as finalists for the championships that will be played in 2019 and 2020, according to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport. That news was accompanied by an "if" **scenario** for Los Angeles in 2020, Rapoport reported, if a stadium has been placed and at least one team has relocated there by 2018.
