As I’m sure we’ve all noticed, the NFL has gone above and beyond in recognizing National Breast Cancer Awareness Month on game days. Since the beginning of October, players have been sporting all sorts of pink accessories including wristbands, chinstraps, and cleats in an effort to help raise awareness for a genuinely good cause.
However, there is one change that may not be sitting well with the players. After there were some rumblings that players were having trouble with the footballs being used during October, ESPN analyst Tim Hasselbeck claims he text messaged some quarterbacks who said the balls “have been a disaster.” According to Hasselbeck, quarterbacks have been complaining that the balls, which feature the pink ribbon breast cancer logo, get slick because they are brand new.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello has refuted the claim, saying the balls are no different from regular balls. However, if enough quarterbacks say they’re having an issue, I don’t see why they can’t do away with that one small piece of the cause. Having a popular and marketable organization like the NFL work to raise awareness about breast cancer is obviously a tremendous idea, but there are plenty of other ways it can be done. Players are doing their best to sport pink in any way they can and I don’t think it would affect the cause to make a small change.
Then again, it’s the NFL and nothing irritates the league more than players trying to call the shots. Otherwise, we’d all be able to sleep at night knowing there will be football in 2011.
