Ravens complaining, though not complaining, about game balls

[Naptown Chief]

Short and sweet- Justin Tucker said something seemed off about the k balls (apparently the name for balls specifically used for special teams) against LAC. I'm on my phone and copy and pasting the article would be a pain in the ass (because of the effing adds). Here's the link to the article..

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...-chargers/amp/

[bowener]

Originally Posted by dwwataz

Short and sweet- Justin Tucker said something seemed off about the k balls (apparently the name for balls specifically used for special teams) against LAC. I'm on my phone and copy and pasting the article would be a pain in the ass (because of the effing adds). Here's the link to the article..

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...-chargers/amp/

Both kicker Justin Tucker and special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg made reference to the balls used in their game last week against the Chargers being “different,” while tip-toeing around any suggestion they had been tampered with or in any other way unusual.

Via Edward Lee of the Baltimore Sun, Rosburg was referring to Tucker missing a 65-yard attempt in the second quarter, noting: “In that particular situation, even though you’re in Southern California and it never rains in Southern California, the field was such that it really was not a great plant area, and the footballs were different. Let’s leave it at that.”

Rosburg said after Tucker’s first attempt (the Chargers called a timeout, forcing another), Ravens long snapper Morgan Cox tried to retrieve the same ball.

“Unfortunately, he didn’t get that same ball,” Rosburg said. “They didn’t put that ball back in play. He kicked a different one. Different in quotation marks.”

Tucker agreed that something was amiss, on a day when he also missed a 53-yard field goal.

“They just were different,” Tucker said. “The result of that hour or whatever it was from this last pregame [warmup], none of the footballs were very good, and it was no fault of our equipment staff by any means. It was just what it was. . . .

“I don’t care to get too deeply into the specifics of it because at the end of the day, that can be misconstrued as an excuse when really all I would be trying to do is offer an explanation. So I’ll just echo what coach Rosburg had to say in that the balls were just different than what we’re used to experiencing on your typical NFL Sunday.”

Kickers and punters have long complained about the “K-balls” that are used exclusively for special teams plays, since they’re generally stiffer and less broken-in than other game balls, which affects performance.

According to the league’s operation manual, each team turns in two dozen balls to game officials, who control them (and, ahem, check the air pressure, in case you’ve forgotten) throughout the game.

If the Ravens are alleging anything nefarious — and that seems to be exactly what they’re doing, despite their passive-aggressive attempts to not appear to be — the league should have an explanation.

Aren't they the ones that set off the whole bullshit "deflategate" thing? This doesn't sound like air pressure being a problem. This will certainly stoke the flames of conspiracy, right or wrong.

[Naptown Chief]

Thanks man!

[OKchiefs]

Originally Posted by bowener

Aren't they the ones that set off the whole bullshit "deflategate" thing? This doesn't sound like air pressure being a problem. This will certainly stoke the flames of conspiracy, right or wrong.

Pretty sure Indianapolis set off deflategate.

[Naptown Chief]

Originally Posted by bowener

Aren't they the ones that set off the whole bullshit "deflategate" thing? This doesn't sound like air pressure being a problem. This will certainly stoke the flames of conspiracy, right or wrong.

Yeah, I was a bit hesitant to post it because of the (possible) conspiracy argument but figured news is news. I think it specifically said it wasn't an air pressure thing.

Edit- 5 seconds of reading confirmed that. They're checked throughout the game for air pressure. I guess they're claiming the balls were swapped out with broken in and less stiff game balls?

[chinaski]

Balls, balls everywhere a ball
Doinking on the goal post, losing my mind
Inflate this or that, won't you kick my balls?

[bowener]

Originally Posted by OKchiefs

Pretty sure Indianapolis set off deflategate.

It appears the Ravens felt the balls were underinflated during the divisional game, said something to Colts, who then said they felt the same was true during their game as well.

[BlackOp]

Kickers are very specific/habitual about their craft...and Tucker is the best in world at what he does. He would definitely notice if something was out of the ordinary...I don't think he's being disingenuous.

Not surprised it happened against the Chargers.....

[BlackHelicopters]

Please. One more person say ‘ balls’.

[Naptown Chief]

Originally Posted by BlackHelicopters

Please. One more person say ‘ balls’.

Have balls on your mind? Like having them cumming (in and) out of your mouth? Balls on the tip of your tongue?

Balls.

[Naptown Chief]

Originally Posted by dwwataz

Have balls on your mind? Like balls cumming (in and) out of your mouth? Balls on the tip of your tongue?

Balls.

Balls.

Spoiler!

balls