Footballs, for the most part, are prepared by the teams using them. They aren’t just ripped out of the box and used in games.

If you’ve ever wondered why NFL footballs used by offenses, which are almost black, look way different than the replicas that the league sells, there’s a good reason: They’ve been worn in, scuffed and mudded to the liking of whichever quarterback is handling said ball. Usually, there’s a little bit of shaving cream involved, too.

The one exception? Recently, it’s been kicking balls, known as “K balls” for short. In the old days, kickers, punters and long snappers were able to prepare their footballs to their liking, just like quarterbacks. That ended when specialists took it too far. Some, for example, used microwaves to get the most out of their pigskins. They lo

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