HAVEN'T THEY EVER HEARD OF LENA BLACKBURNE?:

Suddenly, K-Balls are an issue (AP, 1/09/07)

While teams are allowed to practice with regular game balls during the week, the ones used on special teams are off limits until shortly before kickoff. They're shiny and new, and even have a name -- the K-Ball.

There's one major problem, though: The balls are a bit slick because they're fresh out of the box.

"They're slicker than the plastic balls my kids play with," injured Philadelphia Eagles long-snapper Mike Bartrum said Tuesday.

Since 1999, kickers, punters, holders and snappers have complained to anyone who will listen that they don't like the K-Balls.

It took Tony Romo's bobbled snap to really get everyone's attention.