New footballs cause concern among NFL quarterbacks

[jtnc]

The NFL is putting a new type of football into use for the second week of the preseason as an experiment, and it has been met with some opposition from players.

The NFL has distributed balls with synthetic laces, as opposed to the traditional leather ones, to teams to practice with this week and use in this weekend's preseason games. NFL spokesman Michael Signora said that the choice of which footballs to use in practices and games this week remains up to the teams themselves.

A number of active, Pro Bowl-caliber quarterbacks already have lodged complaints about the newer balls to the NFLPA, claiming they can cause micro-cuts and alter a passer's throwing motion. There is some concern among the quarterbacks that this is the first step in implementing the synthetic-lace balls full-time.

In a statement, the NFL said: "The Competition Committee has approved a test in Week 2 of the preseason using footballs with synthetic laces, as opposed to the traditional leather laces. Clubs will have the option of practicing with synthetic laces footballs during the week preceding their Week 2 preseason game. Both balls will be on hand and available for use in Week 2 preseason games, at the option of the offensive club. Footballs with synthetic laces are traditionally used in college and high school football while leather laces are used at the NFL level."

One union source pointed out that this could open the door for Nike, a prominent football distributer at the college and high school levels, to make a run at rights that have been held by Wilson for decades.

The nfl does stupid poo.

http://m.nfl.com/news/0ap2000000050495/

[Black]

If it ain't broke....

[Montsta]

Has the cost of leather risen dramatically or something? Why change for the sake of change?

[UNCrules2187]

This is just like when the NBA changed to that gawd awful composite ball and had to switch back because players complained about the exact same thing, microcuts on their hands.

It might be the most stunning ball reversal in hoops history.

Not even three months into the life of its controversial synthetic basketball, NBA commissioner David Stern moved Monday to hush scores of discontented players by shelving Spalding's new microfiber composite ball and authorizing a switch back to the old leather ball for all games starting Jan. 1.

The move would appear to be an unprecedented in-season change, in terms of primary equipment, for North American major professional sports leagues.

"Our players' response to this particular composite ball has been consistently negative and we are acting accordingly," Stern said in a statement. "Although testing performed by Spalding and the NBA demonstrated that the new composite basketball was more consistent than leather and statistically there has been an improvement in shooting, scoring and ball-related turnovers, the most important statistic is the view of our players.

"In the meantime, we will work with our players and our partners at Spalding to determine the best possible ball for the NBA," he said.

Despite an unrelenting stream of player complaints about the new synthetic model from the first day of training camp in October, skepticism was high among players leaguewide that Stern would consent to a change during the season.

But with a number of prominent stars reporting cuts on their fingertips and hands caused by the new ball's high-friction cover -- Phoenix's Steve Nash, New Jersey's Jason Kidd and Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki among them -- Stern was forced to concede that an in-season swap was unavoidable because the new ball is inflicting injuries.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2694335

Learn from history Goodell.

[thefuzz]

Just wanting to be more "green".

Pretty stupid.

[SauceBoss]

I think leather would be considered more natural than synthetic. It's called cutting costs.

[Jase]

These mystery QBs seem to be decidedly low on swag.

"Oww, my fingers hurt"

[ThrowMetheDamnBall]

All about money bullsh*t, Nike is obviously trying to offer up a contract for the balls, and they'll risk the game just to make more cash.

[KendrickPanther]

9 billion dollar business can afford nice balls.

[Jase]

All about money bullsh*t, Nike is obviously trying to offer up a contract for the balls, and they'll risk the game just to make more cash.

Nike can't make leather laces?

[Khaki Lackey]

It's sad that every high school, college, and recreational football and basketball player has to subject themselves to cheap balls that can shred the flesh of even the toughest of athletes like Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash.

[KendrickPanther]

If they ever put the Wilson Football people out of business I will be very disappointed. These guys are hard working Americans. Not some sweat shop in china.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=lukas/110131_wilson_football_factory&sportCat=nfl

If you're thinking, "Where the hell is Ada?" you're not alone. It's in the northwest portion of the state, about halfway between Columbus and Toledo. Along with the usual small-town staples -- a tavern here, a beauty salon there -- it has two notable institutions: the campus of Ohio Northern University (its teams, which compete in Division III, are called the Polar Bears) and the Wilson football factory, which has turned out every single NFL ball since 1955, along with millions of balls for college, high school and youth leagues.

[KendrickPanther]

It's sad that every high school, college, and recreational football and basketball player has to subject themselves to cheap balls that can shred the flesh of even the toughest of athletes like Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash.

Luckily those lower tier athletes aren't throwing 400 balls a day, every day.

[csx]

Has the cost of leather risen dramatically or something? Why change for the sake of change?

they are trying to suck up every single penny that they possibly can