I've been on the rules committee since 1992 and have seen some wild proposals show up on the docket but have yet to see one removing free kicks. The proposals allowing kicks to be ran out of the end zone and/or moving K's free kick line back have stopped which is probably good, too. The wildest of wild proposals was probably one that would change Rule 8 (scoring plays & TB) drastically. It went something like this:
Touchdown points....... 6 if scoring play netted 10 yards or less;
8 " " " " 11-25 yards;
9 " " " " 26-40 yards;
10 " " " " 41 yards or more;
10 " TD scored by defense or kick return.
Field Goal points......... 3 if kick is less that 30;
4 " " is between 30-40;
5 " " is greater than 40;
add additional point if scored by drop kick.
Safety and PATs to remain unchanged!
The outcome was it didn't come out of its subcommittee, received 0 support but plenty of
We felt it must have been proposed by a frustrated accountant