Suddenly, NFL's K-Balls Are an Issue
Tuesday, January 9, 2007; 7:32 PM
PHILADELPHIA -- Even in perfect weather, some footballs can be too slippery. While teams are allowed to practice with regular game balls during the week, the ones used on special teams are off limits until shortly before kickoff. They're shiny and new, and even have a name _ the K-Ball.
There's one major problem, though: The balls are a bit slick because they're fresh out of the box.
  Dallas Cowboys' Tony Romo, left, bobbles the snap as kicker Martin Gramatica steps in for the kick with 1:19 left in the game against Seattle Seahawks in an NFC wild card playoff football in Seattle, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007. Romo attempted to run the ball but fumbled as he was hit. The Seahawks won, 21-20. (AP Photo/John Froschauer) (John Froschauer - AP)   The Indianapolis Colts overcome the rain and a sloppy start to beat the Chicago Bears, 29-17. The Colts' victory ignites a wild celebration among the white-and-blue attired fans in the sea of colorful vinyl rainwear that populated the soggy stands. Peyton Manning fills the final hole in his legend as the greatest quarterback never to win the biggest game. Leonard Shapiro: Tony Dungy and Manning seal their place in history by winning the Super Bowl. Manning adds a Super Bowl MVP award to his long list of achievements. Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes plow forward for the Colts go-ahead touchdown and never look back. There was a collective failure by the Bears' offense, but Rex Grossman provides the most vivid images. Notebook: Two assistant coaches who participated in the Super Bowl likely will interview for Dallas' head coaching job. On Our Site Wilbon and Kornheiser share their thoughts live during Sunday's big game. Photos: Relive all of the action from the NFL playoffs. Audio: Manning on the Win. Audio: Grossman on the Loss. Audio: Dungy Praises Smith. Quarterly Report (PDF) A Slew of Errors (PDF) Graphic: Play of the Game. MARK MASKE'S NFL INSIDER • Raiders Release L. Jordan • Cowboys Decide to Cut T. Glenn |
"They're slicker than the plastic balls my kids play with," injured Philadelphia Eagles long-snapper Mike Bartrum said Tuesday.
Since 1999, kickers, punters, holders and snappers have complained to anyone who will listen that they don't like the K-Balls.
It took Tony Romo's bobbled snap to really get everyone's attention.
Romo led Dallas to the playoffs after replacing Drew Bledsoe as the starting quarterback and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl. But he'll be remembered for mishandling the snap on a 19-yard field goal in the closing moments of the Cowboys' 21-20 loss to Seattle in a wild-card playoff game Saturday.
The NFL introduced the K-Balls eight years ago after the competition committee decided teams were abusing their privileges and taking unusual measures to condition balls so they would fly higher and travel farther.
Kickers and punters were accused of using strange methods to soften the leather, spread the seams and inflate the bladder. Rumors included instances of balls being put in microwave ovens, dryers and saunas.
"The reason this was put in place was to prevent teams from doctoring balls for kicking," league spokesman Greg Aiello said.
So the night before a game, 12 balls marked with a "K" are delivered straight from the manufacturer, Wilson Sporting Goods, to the officials. Two hours before the game, a representative from each team can prepare the balls by rubbing them down and brushing them off. An official then checks the air pressure, puts the balls in a bag and subs them in on kicks.
A day after Romo's bobble, David Akers kicked a 38-yard field goal as time expired to give the Eagles a 23-20 victory over the New York Giants in the NFC's other wild-card game.
Though Romo didn't make any excuses for his gaffe, Akers and others around the league blamed the K-Ball.
