http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/sh...back-rips-league-s-breast-canc?urn=nfl-276660 Former NFL quarterback Tim Hasselbeck(notes) said that the new footballs featuring a breast cancer awareness ribbon have been a "disaster" for the league. Speaking to a radio show, the current ESPN analyst said he's texted numerous quarterbacks in the league who have complained about the slickness of the new balls. "They're playing with these breast cancer awareness balls. These balls are brand new, right out of the bag," Hasselback explained. "Now they get slick -- I texted a couple quarterbacks during the game. They all said, 'These balls have been a disaster.' So I think that's something to note." The balls are part of the NFL's month-long breast cancer awareness campaign called "A Crucial Catch," which is focused on the importance of annual screenings for women. They have been in use for two weeks. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told Pro Football Talk that the ribbon balls are no different than the ones that were in play in September. Monday night's game between the Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets was specifically mentioned by Hasseleback as an example of how the ball negatively affects play. He noted that the torrential rain and slick balls were a nasty combination. He may be right, but it also could be that the rain was the real issue and no ball, however good, would have made a difference. Complaints over new balls being slick is nothing new. In 2007 the Cowboys lost a playoff game in Seattle when a new ball slipped through the hands of Tony Romo(notes). The team complained that the so-called K-Balls, used specifically for kicking, were too smooth to snap and catch properly. Hasselbeck wouldn't say which quarterbacks complained about the new ball. His brother, Matt, who plays for the Seattle Seahawks, threw for just 189 yards with one interception and no touchdowns in the one game he played with the slick ball. Assuming that he was one of Tim's quarterback sources, Matt would have every reason to want to blame the ball rather than his own shaky play.
I know it was raining, but Jets fans continued to question Mark's deep ball, even though we have seen a great deep ball by Mark in last years post season, and the start of this season. Does this have anything to do with it?
who the hell can see the details on a game ball? Seems like overkill to me. As if the pink gloves, towels and shoes aren't enough, throwing something in there that actually directly affects the game is pure fail.
You've got to get the new ultra HDTV man! You can see everything. :lol: If they designed the ball to look like breasts, I guarantee these guys will do a lot better job of holding on to them. Cro would probably have 11 picks by now. Brady would probably be all grossed out.
It's not about seeing them during the games it's about selling them after the games. http://www.nflauction.nfl.com/cgi-b...br=134807006&prmenbr=65664914&aunbr=135153716
It's probably the colored area on the ribbon logo that is slicker than the rest of the ball. I can see how that might be the case, even more so when it's wet. They use a certain coating to stamp the colored logo on the ball.
Everyone has to use them so this is pretty much a non issue to me. If they are the same cool, if not everyone has to deal with the shitty ball.
favre clearly had an issue on the fumble where he just gripped it and it popped out. both QBs were off and both teams WRs dropped balls. could be a real issue
Without direct quotes, its the newness and slickness of the balls. Fresh from the sweatshops of India, they are still to slippery for the NFL.
if anyone complained it was favre not sanchez. Favre had 2 fumbles and a couple picks while Sanchez had 0 turnovers.
Sanchez Just confirmed that the ball was a problem on Monday during his interview on NewYorkJets.com. http://www.newyorkjets.com/photos-a...8b2d#?id=64aaf63c-824c-4884-bb3c-54f2e130ec94 Look down for the Sanchez interview, its right around 3:30-4mins in.
The problem is not the ribbon, it's the fact that the QB's didn't have time to break them in. They were fresh out of the package before gametime.
