Columnist Sal DeFilippo: Rule changes look like trouble

Sal DeFilippo

Friday, April 13, 2001 | 10:22 a.m.

Sal DeFilippo's pro football picks column appears Friday. Reach him at sal@lasvegassun.com or 259-4076.

Several years ago, the NFL made a move to increase excitement in the game by adding a two-point conversion option after touchdowns.

As the playoffs are set to begin this weekend, the XFL has followed suit with a rule change of its own. After touchdowns, teams will now have the option of going for one additional point by scoring from the 1-yard line, two points by scoring from five yards out, or a three-point play by converting a play from the 10-yard line.

It means that a team down nine points late in a game conceivably could tie the game with a touchdown and a three-pointer -- and it should be noted that the XFL long shot must be made from more than seven feet farther than the NBA's version.

The down side is that you are essentially asking referees to not only monitor offsides calls and measure first downs, but also to know the quadratic formula.

I can almost hear it.

"Sorry coach -- your team lost because your opponents scored a 2.43-point play from just beyond the seven, and your out-of-bounds punt means I have to subtract pi from both teams' scores, and then multiply them by the average TV rating share. Sorry, but those are the rules."

Coaches will have to replace the team doctor with a math tutor on the sidelines.

Will it work? No idea. Will it somehow cost me a game against the point spread? Almost assuredly. That you can count on.

Saturday's game

ORLANDO -6 1/2 vs. San Francisco -- The Rage exorcise the Demons and coast into "The Million Dollar Game." Orlando 28, San Francisco 12.

Sunday's game

LOS ANGELES -7 1/2 vs. Chicago -- The preseason league favorites, the L.A. Xtreme, bully the Enforcers around and advance to the league championship. Los Angeles 31, Chicago 17.