Eagles - and maybe Tebow - could cash in on closer 2-point conversion

The team that could not score from the 1-yard line two times with the 49ers game on the line in September wants all two-point conversions to be from that distance. And it just so happens that the Eagles could have a roster this year that is better equipped to make those plays.

NFL owners will consider three proposals to change the extra point this week at the league meetings in San Francisco. One is from the Eagles, who are proposing to move extra points from the 2-yard line to the 15-yard line, two-point conversions from the 2-yard line to the 1, and for defenses to be allowed to return a turnover for two points on the play.

The New England Patriots are proposing to move extra points to the 15-yard line and keep rules on two-point conversions the same. The league's competition committee has proposed something of a combination of the two, with extra points going to the 15-yard line and two-point conversions staying at the 2, but allowing for turnovers to be returned by the defense for two points.

For a proposal to pass, 24 owners must vote in its favor.

Changing the distance on extra points could provide more incentive to go for two. The Eagles' proposal would make two-point conversions easier to convert.

Since Chip Kelly became the coach, they are 3 of 8 on two-point conversions. All of those attempts came in 2013; they did not attempt one last season. Eagles kickers have been a perfect 99 of 99 on point-after attempts. However, they are 21 of 24 on field goals between 30 and 39 yards. Under the new proposals, extra points would be similar to a 32- or 33-yard field goal.

A rule change could create more value for Tim Tebow. The most famous fourth-string quarterback in the NFL is competing with Matt Barkley to be the Eagles' No. 3 QB. Tebow, at 6-foot-3 and 236 pounds, is built like a fullback and has been an effective short-yardage rusher during his career.

This would require Tebow to make the roster and then be active on game day. The Eagles usually list their No. 3 quarterback among the seven inactive players. If three quarterbacks were active, it would require the Eagles to scratch a player from another position. But it's also unlikely that a typical third quarterback could provide the other uses for Tebow - especially if these short-yardage situations could yield two points.

Tebow scored all three times in his career from the 1-yard line. In 2012 - Tebow's last pro season - he had four plays with 1 yard to go. He netted positive yardage each time. With 2 yards to go, he was 1 of 2. In 2011, when Tebow helped the Denver Broncos to the playoffs, he was 6 of 8 with 1 yard to go. However, he was only 3 of 7 with 2 yards to go.

Even if the Tebow angle does not come to fruition, the Eagles' stated preference for more of a north-south running style after trading LeSean McCoy and signing DeMarco Murray would seem to favor running from the 1-yard line.

Murray scored six touchdowns from the 1 last season - the most in the NFL, according to Pro Football Reference. He did not fail from that distance. McCoy scored twice in that situation, failing once.

When including the 2-yard line, Murray scored eight touchdowns and McCoy had three.

However, McCoy did not even get an opportunity to rush from the 1-yard line in those two failed plays against San Francisco in September. Kelly did not seem to trust his battered offensive line and Nick Foles wound up throwing two incompletions. (Perhaps Kelly did not trust the Pro Bowl running back whom he later discarded.)

But when looking at the two running backs' careers, McCoy has scored 13 of 21 times from the 1-yard line. Murray has scored 10 of 14 times. So Murray's conversion rate is 9.5 percent better from the distance that the Eagles proposed.

Of course, the Eagles could also choose to pass on two-point conversions. And the NFL owners could decide to keep the two-point conversion from the 2-yard line even if the extra-point distance is changed.

But the Eagles made the proposal to move the two-point conversion closer to the end zone, and it comes during an offseason when they appear better equipped for short-yardage situations.

@ZBerm