WHY ARE FOOTBALLS USED BY QUARTERBACKS PREPPED FOR GAMES OR TRAINING?
On social media lately, my most successful videos have been taking people behind the scenes of the football game ball preparation phases before a professional quarterback, like myself, or college/high school quarterbacks will even use a football. One of the most common questions I have received is, "Why do we mud footballs? Can't you just go outside and throw the ball around like a normal person?"
Well today, let's discuss why I, as a professional quarterback, take the time to prep and mud every football I use for training. Disclaimer - GAME BALLS USED IN THE NFL, CFL, XFL, USFL, or ARENA FOOTBALL ARE NOT PREPPED BY THE QUARTERBACK. THESE GAME BALLS ARE PREPPED BY EQUIPMENT MANAGERS TO THE QUARTERBACK'S LIKING AND THEN CHECKED AND INSPECTED BY SPECIFIC OFFICIALS. WHEN I AM PLAYING ON PROFESSIONAL TEAMS, THOSE GAME BALLS ARE NOT USED BY ME UNTIL PRACTICE OR A GAME. WHEN RETURNING HOME TO TRAIN, HOWEVER, I PURCHASE FOOTBALLS TO USE FOR TRAINING AND COACHING AND WILL GAME PREP THESE FOOTBALLS.
Reasons to mud/prep footballs
The simplest reason I can give you as to why you should take the time to prep/mud your football is down to proper care for a product that costs a lot of money. The NFL Duke football is easily $150. If you are going to purchase a ball for this price, why would you not want to take the extra steps to insure the ball lasts a long time, but also make it easier to play with and use? Learn to prep your footballs. Take care of them and they will take care of you with results.
In addition to ball care, a regular football fresh out of the box is tough, slippery with a leather protectant seal that I refer to as "lacker", pointy and brightly colored in red dye that bleeds on your hands when wet, which adds to the lack of grip on the ball.
