Need a football? Well I've got a "K" on my chest, here you go!

[Bruce_Daddy]

I was watching MNF last night and noticed the guys on the sidelines that hand the footballs to the refs have these big ass smocks with a “K” on them. What does the “K” stand for?

[Acsenray]

Keeper?

[bordelond]

I’m wondering it this isn’t a big clue to what’s going on:

Ball

1. The home club shall have 36 balls for outdoor games and 24 for indoor games available for testing with a pressure gauge by the referee two hours prior to the starting time of the game to meet with League requirements. Twelve (12) new footballs, sealed in a special box and shipped by the manufacturer, will be opened in the officials’ locker room two hours prior to the starting time of the game. These balls are to be specially marked with the letter “k” and used exclusively for the kicking game.

Perhaps there are separate ball boys handling the for-kicking-only footballs?

[Redsland]

*Originally posted by bordelond *
**Perhaps there are separate ball boys handling the for-kicking-only footballs? **

Correct.

[Bruce_Daddy]

Cool, now I can amaze and impress my friends and family. Thanks guys.

[Tapioca_Dextrin]

What is the difference (if any) between the different types of balls?

[bordelond]

*Originally posted by Tapioca Dextrin *
**What is the difference (if any) between the different types of balls? **

The ordinary game balls are not maintained by the officials before the game. AFAIK, both teams can go through their warm-ups with game balls before the game.

However, the kicker “k” balls (are supposed to) come sealed from the manufacturer, and are kept in the officials’ locker room before the game. This article touches on the purpose of having separate balls for kickers:

The NFL uses special balls labeled with a “K,” along with other marks to denote these balls be utilized for kicking. The Chiefs allege the Texans beat up a ball to soften it and then added a K stamp to it to make it look regulation.

“We noticed there was something different about it, and we brought it to the game officials at the half,” Vermeil said.

In the past, kickers put balls in dryers, scraped them across cement, put them in a sauna and performed other assorted tasks in order to soften the ball. The K-ball rule prevents this from happening and leads to fewer touchbacks.

[toadspittle]

Obviously, the “K” balls use cattle-leather coverings, not pigskin, and are therefore Kosher. Duh.

What?