Peyton demands used balls

[TwinSisters]

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9545884/2

One of the rules changes this season is to allow teams to bring their own balls on the road for use in games. That's key since several quarterbacks complained last year about being forced to throw new footballs, which can be difficult. Spurred by a petition that Peyton Manning led and had signed by several quarterbacks, the league's competition committee agreed to the change. Previously the home teams provided the balls, which led to quarterbacks complaining about their slickness.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith is one who is especially happy about the change. He had trouble holding onto the ball on the road at times last year, leading to fumbles and questions about his hand size. "Some teams' equipment guys broke them in, while others basically took them right out of the box," Smith said. "This will be a better way. In high school and college, you played with the balls like you practiced with. It makes a big difference when the ball is right out of the box. It (holding onto the ball) wasn't a problem at home, so this will help."

Simms said the change won't be that big a deal to him. "Basically, I prefer the new balls anyway," Simms said. "I have extremely big hands. One thing I do is throw with new balls all the time. My dad talked about it for years and years, and he complained about it to the NFL. When I got close to getting to the NFL, I threw with new balls all the time." Simms is worried that some teams might push the envelope with the balls they use. "If you try to use a ball that's been in your closet since 1985, I'm sure you can throw a pretty good spiral with it," Simms said. "I don't think that's totally fair. I understand why they're doing it, but let's hope it's nothing crazy like that."

Under the new setup, teams will be required to make their footballs available to the referee before kickoff to make sure they're regulation.

well what do you know... har har. Talk about excuses...

[chuckm]

so that's why Peyton had such a rough time in the AFC Championship game last year .... it wasn't the Pittsburgh rush, it was new balls ..... oh wait they were at home .... nevermind ....

[Titan "Tack" Fan]

Sorry, Peyton, but used balls won't get you any wins in January!

[HJam72]

If there's something wrong with Manning's balls, I'd really rather not know about it.

[infantrycak]

I believe (heard on NFLNetwork I think) they will only be able to minimally handle the balls (obviously this won't satisfy Manning since he is a compulsive ball handler). They can't scuff them too much or use them in practice and they will be inspected for overuse prior to the games.

[Double Barrel]

Why don't they just have one new ball at the beginning of the game and that is the only ball the entire game?

For some reason, I thought I'd heard last year that they use a different kind of football for kicking field goals. Anyone else know about that?

[swtbound07]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

Why don't they just have one new ball at the beginning of the game and that is the only ball the entire game?

For some reason, I thought I'd heard last year that they use a different kind of football for kicking field goals. Anyone else know about that?

For the sake of time. Think about it DB, what happens when a QB throws a ball out of bounds? You want to wait to retrieve it, or have the ball boy allready on the way with another one. Besides, in some places, players give balls to people in the crowds (randy moss to the person in the wheelchair, t.o. in sharpiegate). Also, players like to keep balls for individual achievements...so you really have to have more than one ball I would say.

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

For some reason, I thought I'd heard last year that they use a different kind of football for kicking field goals. Anyone else know about that?

There is a separate set of balls used by the kickers. Why that is necessary, someone else will have to provide.

[Runner]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

For some reason, I thought I'd heard last year that they use a different kind of football for kicking field goals. Anyone else know about that?

I think they had to use brand new balls to kick. The kickers were doing so much work to the balls to make them more kick friendly they were getting unrecognizable. I think they were moving toward round.

Edit to add: http://www.cincypost.com/sports/1999/beng082699.html

[powerfuldragon]

Peyton just wants his balls to be handled before the game. footballs.

[TwinSisters]

Originally Posted by Runner

http://www.cincypost.com/sports/1999/beng082699.html

that story is from 1999? I thought the balls for kickers were isolated because of the Vermeil/Chiefs-Texans incident?

[ColtsFan in CA]

So now you guys can talk about Tom Brady's balls...


http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=article7&news_id=3788


It was his idea. Why does everyone blame Peyton?

[Double Barrel]

Originally Posted by ColtsFan in CA

It was his idea. Why does everyone blame Peyton?

Because the Texans are 0-8 against the Colts. It is required that you dislike Indy around these parts.

[TwinSisters]

Originally Posted by ColtsFan in CA

It was his idea. Why does everyone blame Peyton?

Good call!!! Brisco is a Jag's patsy so he is going to dig on the Colts every chance he gets.

I should have known better... although thinking about it now, I still would have blamed Manning too!

( O GOD I am evil!! AAHHHHH! I am going to spend the rest of eternity in hell with Limbaugh, Goebbels, Bill Simmons, and Jerry Jones )

[NoBullTexan]

Don't forget the devil's right hand man, Jerry Granville.

[Texan Asylum]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

Because the Texans are 0-8 against the Colts. It is required that you dislike Indy around these parts.

Good one, DB!

[TwinSisters]

Originally Posted by NoBullTexan

Don't forget the devil's right hand man, Jerry Granville.

No, sir. You have to know better in order to hold a seat in the great sulfer flats in the ground. Glanville gets a pass on that account. It's really not all that different then telling a yankee that he has to lift the tail of a skunk to see if it is a boy or a girl. If he starts reaching, you just can't blame him. I mean damn son, like it matters if the skunk is a boy or a girl.

[Runner]

Originally Posted by TwinSisters

that story is from 1999? I thought the balls for kickers were isolated because of the Vermeil/Chiefs-Texans incident?

Hmmm. I didn't notice the date. I thought the rule change was more recent than that. As I recall though, that article does outline the reasons for the rule whenever it was.