Comments on: League, union now squabbling over balls

By: joethelacer

joethelacer — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 21:28:11 +0000

I work at Wilson Sporting Goods and lace the game balls everyday. We also manufacture the game balls for a very high percentage of division 1 college programs as well as the lower divisions and high school balls as well. These are the same laces these guys used in college.

The other point is we made very few of these and shipped them out to be used on a trial basis only. If the league and its players liked them better, great, if not that’s fine too. It appears the players don’t like them as well so they probably will remain the same.

To those of you who say who cares who produces these balls I’d like to give you a little background of the shop… We are located in a small rural town called Ada, Ohio. The plant employs probably 100 employees.

By: mike83ri

mike83ri — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 21:12:37 +0000

Wouldn’t that contract with Wilson/Nike/whoever then result in higher net profits that the players now get an even larger portion of? So isn’t the NFLPA essentially arguing against something that will result in a cut into their own wallets?

JFC, they’d cut off their nose to spite their face.

By: szwhtsup123

szwhtsup123 — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 19:42:15 +0000

Why is it that once the word “Nike” gets into a conversation suddenly everything revolves around money and greed, and everything turns into a mess? Oh yeah and the fans lose too.

By: pigskin28

pigskin28 — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 19:27:46 +0000

Listen, these gentlemen are models. They can’t go out there with calloused hands pitching products and holding their poodles with rough micro cut hands. The beautician would just be so disappointed if they ever showed up with anything but tender roni palms.

By: jimmylions

jimmylions — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 19:25:24 +0000

“Even if Nike merely drives up the price Wilson pays for the privilege of having its balls show up in NFL games, the league wins.”

And when there’s a cost increase with no real benefit, the fans lose.

By: nomoreseasontix

nomoreseasontix — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 19:15:25 +0000

Micro-cuts? Seriously?
Not that I’m in favor of Nike taking over the NFL but….
Put on your big boy skirt!!!!

By: nmking26

nmking26 — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:51:44 +0000

doublenicklejl55 says: Aug 15, 2012 1:55 PM

I feel like there would be pitchers complaining if they changed the laces on baseballs. I feel like this is being marginalized just to poke fun at something that as a collective fanbase will never understand. I know most if the posters and readers will never be good enough to truly appreciate the difference between laces

____________

Yup. Most people don’t understand how small changes like these can affect a lot. The NBA went through it a couple years ago when they tried to change balls. Players complained about microcuts and how the balls didn’t give them the control they needed. Scoring went down. In the end, they went back to the old balls.

Same thing should happen here. A QB NEEDS to have the best feel of the ball possible. If synthetic laces are making them uncomfortable, the league should listen to them and go back to leather.

Elite NFL QBs didn’t get to where they are today by ignoring small details such as the material of footballs and things like that. Such things are important and should be kept as consistent as possible.

By: daysend564

daysend564 — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:23:39 +0000

Drew Brees still trying to get back at Goodell.

By: raiderrawnes

raiderrawnes — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:20:52 +0000

Whatta bunch of ball squabblers….

By: blackfoot11

blackfoot11 — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:08:51 +0000

Who cares what the football components are made of, or who manufactures the ball. As long as 32 teams take the field each week, the fans are happy. Both sides need to have a Coke and a smile, and shut the #$%@ up. We had enough of this B.S fighting last summer.

By: mark0226

mark0226 — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:04:18 +0000

Tony Romo needs an explanation.

By: schrutebeetfarms

schrutebeetfarms — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:04:03 +0000

If it would indeed cause QBs to change their throwing motion, that could lead to decreased performance or injury issues. I can’t believe the NFL would win again if some of their premier stars were off their game or on the IR.

By: doublenicklejl55

doublenicklejl55 — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:55:01 +0000

By: niners816

niners816 — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:38:02 +0000

Squabbling over balls? That’s what she said.

By: Davo

Davo — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:36:46 +0000

Is this a Billion dollar industry, or what? Seriously? Between this, and the referee situation, why are the league screwing with a high premium product by skimping on pennies? (relatively speaking, that is).

By: dexterismyhero

dexterismyhero — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:32:46 +0000

League, union now squabbling over balls……..

Did Favre sext somebody again?

By: hulkhogansays

hulkhogansays — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:29:50 +0000

Neither have any brother. Especially Roger Goodell.

By: t8ertot

t8ertot — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:27:54 +0000

Micro-cuts? Do you want some cheese with that whine?

By: Vegas Guy

Vegas Guy — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:23:14 +0000

Where there’s money.. there will always be conflict.

By: thankheavenfornumberseven

thankheavenfornumberseven — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:21:34 +0000

I hope Nike doesn’t ruin the balls like they ruined the uniforms.

By: whatchutalkinabouthillis

whatchutalkinabouthillis — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:21:18 +0000

Also the Pro Bowls QBs are crying about “microcuts”? From footballs??! My carpenter buddy put a nail through his hand last week and he’s back at work today and you’re telling me that “microcuts” are an insurmountable challenge? I need a drink now.

By: whatchutalkinabouthillis

whatchutalkinabouthillis — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:19:15 +0000

Oh my god can everyone just shut the hell up for ONE WEEK? That’s all I ask, one week. The game is starting to suck, there’s more suits than uniforms in it now.