Quote:
Originally Posted by barry_smilez20
did every one forget about the time the lions one a gameand the league took it from us
|
Oh yeah. I remember that. Johnny Morton got pissy with Jay Leno because the Lions were basically a punch line for EVERY JOKE that year.
Quote:
Originally Posted by barry_smilez20
ohh and wait isnt the NFL ball shaped more arrow dynamically to be able to be thrown farther ....sorrry for all those couch potatoes who never checked that out but its true cant ever get that out of NFL owners though throwing 80 yards aint posssiblle aint possible in the beeter league
|
"The Duke” was the name of the official NFL football used from 1941 to 1969. It’s no different than the Wilson football the league has used since, except it bore the distinct imprint of “The Duke” beneath the threads.
Its history is an interesting one. It was originally named in honor of Wellington Mara, whose dad, Tim, was then the owner of the N.Y. Giants. The story is that Mara named his son after the Duke of Wellington. Giants players, in turn, took to calling the boy “The Duke.” Chicago Bears owner George Halas suggested naming the ball after Wellington because his dad had played a pivotal role in nailing down the partnership with Wilson to produce the official NFL game ball.
The league did away with “The Duke” with the AFL-NFL merger of 1970. But it’s back this year – again in honor of Wellington Mara, who succeeded his dad as the influential honor of the Giants and who died last October at age 81. (The words "The Duke" appeared prominently in the original football that bore the name. In the new version, it will be offset to the left of a sizable image of the familar NFL shield logo. See picture below.)
With an old favorite back on the gridiron, we took the opportunity to dig up some Cold, Hard Football Facts about the oblate spheroid we all know and love as the football.
Wilson’s old balls
Wilson has been making the official NFL football since 1941. The two parties recently extended their contract through 2011, according to the NFL, which would mark the 70th anniversary of the partnership.
Pigskin dimensions
The length of the NFL game ball is 10 7/8 to 11 7/16 inches from tip to tip. The circumference is 27¾ to 28½ inches if you measure along the laces. The circumference is 20¾ to 21¼ around the fat side of the ball, measuring perpendicular to the laces.