Report: NFL using computer-chip balls to test narrower uprights

The NFL will use footballs with computer chips in them in the preseason to help determine if the move to narrower goal posts is a warranted change, John Kryk of The Toronto Sun reports.

The "instrumented" balls, long believed to be in the NFL's future to help determine if a touchdown has been scored when the ball crosses the goal line, will only be used in the kicking game as part of this specific study.

NFL vice president of officiating confirmed this week the league is looking at making the kicking game more difficult.

"The discussion has really revolved around narrowing the uprights," Blandino said during the league’s annual officiating clinic. "That would be one way to affect both the extra point and the field goal. (Success rates) have continued to climb over the years as our field-goal kickers and that whole process has become so specialized, from long snapper to holder to kicker."

"We'll do some studies this year."

The studies could continue into the regular season if more data is needed, Kryk reports, and would be done during Thursday Night games. The goal of using the "instrumented" balls is to determine exact distances by which kicks are being made and missed.

The league has experimented with narrower goal posts during the Pro Bowl n 2015, and could implement the rule change as early as 2017.

"You never know," Blandino said. "We'll see what the data tells us. The committee will discuss it and then make a recommendation for 2017 if they feel that we need to go that route. But I wouldn't know at this point, without seeing how it goes this year."