Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-11-12
Marks Of Pros Argue
For Putting Posts
On Goal Stripe
Trio Of League Contests
In Four Years Settled
By Extru-Point Kick
BY the Associated Press.

NEW YORK, Nov. 1.-THE Ma
tional Professional League Place.
ment Kickers-the fellows who,
week after week, are putting the
foot back in football-have become
the best argument for return of the
goal posts to the goal line on the
college gridiron.
That extra point, which decides
so many of the collegiate tea par
ties, rarely is the all-important win
or-lose difference in the pay-for-
play get-togethers-all because the
hooters assigned to kick that oval
piece of pig leather do just that.
Only twice this year, in some IS
ball games, has the extra point
been the deciding factor in a pro
game. And down through the years,
the National League "figger fill
berts" have found, some 81 per cent
OF the extra points are converted.
The loops statisticians also tell
you that only three times in four
years has team lost because of
failure to kick the extra point.
It's not because the games haven't
been close, but rather that the
kickers Are specialists, like the
butchers who whack those lamb
chops off a quarter of meat all day
without getting their thumbs in
the way. They aren't paid to miss.
Manders Kicks " Straight.
Take Automatic Jack Manders,
the Chicago Bears needle-thread-
ing kicker, for instance. Jack &C
quired his nickname because he
once booted u extra points in a
row in league competition, which
is about par for the course. Now
Jack has been ailing much of this
year, but his aches and pains
haven't prevented him from con-
verting on II out of IL chances.
And Tiny Engebretsen, Green Bay
Little" 240-pounder, hasn't missed
in II shots at the uprights this
year.
Altogether, 1l9 extra points have
been converted out of 146 touch
downs scored in the loop this fall,
with the best club averages turned
in by the New York Giants, who
have a 10-for-1O mark, and the
Pittsburgh Pirates, whose Armand
Niccolai has turned the trick after
each OF the BUGS nine touchdowns.
All of which adds up to a pretty
fair argument in favor of those who
want the college uprights on the
goal line instead of 10 yards back.
Some one has figured up that only
63 per cent of the conversions have
been made after collegiate touch
downs. The reason may not be
the extra 10 yards to the goal posts.
Extra Points Tie Eastern Race.
The pro coaches tell you, how
ever, that fellows like Manders, En-
gebretsen, Niccolai, Bo Russell, who
has converted 10 out of II this year
for Washington, and Chef Adams,
with five for five for Cleveland, do
it simply because the posts are
nearer and the kickers spend hours
rehearsing the play.
The two extra points which de-
cided pro league games this year
have left the Giants and the Wash
lngton Redskins all tied up, like
your new four-in-hand, for the lead
in the loops Eastern Division
championship race, and the chances
are they'll stay that way until their
au-important game December 3 in
New York. Tomorrow the Giants
are hot favorites over the Chicago
Cardinals and the Redskins should
come out on top of Ace Parker and
his Brooklyn Dodger company.
The western title race, however,
is still awhirl, with tomorrows top
league game a strong factor in the
stretch drive. The leading Detroit
Lions, who snapped the Giants 49,
game unbeaten run last week with
superb passing and field-goal kick
ing display, entertain the high
scoring Chicago Bear machine in
what is strictly a toss-up.
Bears Lead in Gaining.
The Bears were in slump there
for a while and have three defeats
against five victories for the season
to date, but they showed plenty OF
what it takes in their 1927 decision
over Green Bay last week. They
still remain the top yard and point
getting machine in the league, hav-
ing advanced the ball 1850 yards
passing and rushing and piled uu
the impressive total of 200 points
In eight games.
Green Bays Packers, whose two
defeats and five victories place
them second to Detroit's once-beat-
en- combination in the Western
race, figure to have breeze against
the Philadelphia Eagles tomorrow
and if they win can go into a first
place divisional tie should the
Lions lose.