Kickoff went into the stands
 

I hate to digress from the forum's regularly scheduled self-loathing after the Chiefs' loss and the BCS results but I was wondering if anyone could answer this one for me.

I forget exactly when but sometime during the second half Nate Kaeding kicked off to us. It was a hell of a kick and easily reached the end zone, finally taking an odd bounce and landing in the hands of a fan in the first row. Very shortly after, the ball handling guys and/or security came over and it looked like they asked for the ball back. After a brief exchange, the fan decided that rather than giving the ball back, he would prefer to toss it about 25 rows behind him since if he couldn't have it, no one could.

From my seats in section 134, we saw this at a bit of a distance but everyone around me had a good laugh when the guy tossed the ball away from whoever those guys were that wanted it back. Why would they want it back so badly? I thought I once read there something like 30 or 40 game balls were prepared before every game. And it's not like balls get hurled into the stands very often.

I mean I know this isn't baseball, but what's the harm? What would they have done if the guy ran off with the ball or stuck a knife into it and then handed it back? Forfeit the game?

I'm pretty sure the ball was eventually returned to the officials demanding it. I don't know if the fan that originally caught it was ejected or not (although I'm curious if anyone closer than I could tell the rest of the story).

Anyone know the deal?

It's a ****ing football. People shouldn't make a big deal out of it.

Well I think the balls for kicks and the balls for regular plays are different but if that guy threw 25 rows behind him on the fly then I think Herm should take a look at him at least...

This is something that has always bugged me about the NFL (amongst other things)....security always asks for the ball back.

For the price of admission...and the truly random/limited amount of footballs that leave the playing area....you should leave with a souvenier.

Im excited that Kaeding got a touchback, I didn't see it if it happened.

NFL is too cheap, to worry about a ball? The stands are far enough away, the net for FG's/EP's is up enough times, that the league shows that it's too cheap to let souvenirs go.

Are we now looking at foulballs into the stands in MLB be returned to the playing field?

Pussy NFL cheap-ass booshit.

That makes you excited? Sheet I thought we were desperate for excitement

Knowing our luck, that was probably Herm's magic ball imbued with the magic of field position and a first down pass.

Damn fan cost us the game.

FAX

Well Kaeding is secretly one of my favorite players.

OH SHIT!

Carl must go

If the NFL is forced to buy new balls because of greedy fans, they sure would not be able to keep the measurement chains maintained like they do.

Well, for us to do well in a game we need to take the ball away. Out team just wasn't taking the ball away. You want to take the ball away two, three times per game, then you're in a good position to score.
What happened in this game was the on-field security just couldn't take the ball away. And it's VERY tough to win a game when that's happening. [/HERM]

I agree it's stupid, but then again, a MLB ball is probably what, $25? An official NFL ball is probably $125

An authentic Wilson game ball is $90 retail. You can bet your ass that the teams pay a small fraction of that price.

It's always been the rule. It's unfortunate that this guy had to learn it at his first ever NFL game.

Not to mention that probably 40-50 baseballs end up in the crowd during the course of a game, and a NFL gameball ends up in the crowd about once every 2-3 games.

On a side note, I'm not sure when they started taking them away from fans.

I have a K ball from several years back, no one ever said a word.

really? I guess I always assumed that the "official" balls you buy at stores weren't really exactly "official".

Anways, like I said, it is a stupid rule. They do it at college games too, but that's understandable.

I do not understand why this is a big deal. Why should they let anyone keep the ball? It's their ball. There could be a million different reasons that somebody wants the ball back, and more than likely, not one of them has to do with being cheap.

Maybe, if it was that good of a kickoff, he just might like to kickoff with it again.

Dear Greatest Fans in the NFL:

Those balls are specially hand selected by the National Football League, and are the property of the Kansas City Chiefs, even if they leave the field of play. $90 footballs are valuable, and if left to wander the stands, could become a dangerous projectile and cause injury to one (or more) of our valued season ticket holders.

If a fan refuses to return the ball when asked by security personnel, that fan is escorted to our fan friendly safety and security detention and interview facility deep in the bowels of Arrowhead, right below the steam and sewer pipes which spider web below the playing surface.

Non season ticket holders or visiting fans are water boarded, beaten unconscious and dumped somewhere along Manchester Trafficway.

Season ticket holders are given the opportunity to return the ball, and renew their season tickets. Otherwise, they receive the same treatment as non season ticket holders.

You can purchase official NFL licensed footballs at many popular sporting good and department stores. I suggest you buy one for each child, relative and friend.

You are, and continue to be, the best fans in the NFL.

Your Pal,
Carl "Delano" Peterson
LTGMIPS

Is this the type of Karma Carl is talking about? Cause he's getting some bad Karma here :grr:

The simple answer is "it's not your ball."

Just the right to make it an official NFL ball probably means they are close to free. I have never understood why the league does this it's really pimpy.

Next time they know to give it to a friend or wife and have them leave or go to a different section..


Or maybe they could have wrote **** You herm/carl on it and gave it back..

Do they actually buy new balls for every game? If so, what the hell do they do with them when they are done?