San Diego Chargers Cleared After NFL Investigation

• 8 months ago
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Sticky Towels: What Does the NFL Rule Book Say?

It's rather vague, but here's what the NFL Rule Book says in regards to the San Diego Chargers situation with sticky towels.

Adhesive, Slippery Substances

(h) Adhesive or slippery substances [are illegal] on the body, equipment, or uniform of any player; provided, however, that players may wear gloves with a tackified surface if such tacky substance does not adhere to the football or otherwise cause handling problems for players.

(b) For violation of this Section 4 discovered while player is in game, player will be advised to make appropriate correction at the next change of possession; if violation is not corrected, player will not be permitted to enter the game. Provided, however, if the violation involves the competitive aspects of the game (e.g., illegal kicking toe of shoe, an adhesive or slippery substance), player will be suspended immediately (removed from the game for one play) upon discovery.

Towels

(e) Towels, provided they are white licensed towels approved by the League office for use on the playing field. Players are prohibited from adding to these towels personal messages, logos, names, symbols, or illustrations. Such towels also must be attached to or tucked into the front waist of the pants, and must be no longer than 6 by 8 inches (slightly larger size may be issued to quarterbacks, or may be folded to these limits for wearing in games). A player may wear no more than one towel. Players are prohibited from discarding on the playing field any loose towels or other materials used for wiping hands and the football. Streamers or ribbons, regardless of length, hanging from any part of the uniform, including the helmet, are prohibited.

• 8 months ago
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"Grip Enhancer" Towel Manufacturer Speaks Out

This from Gorilla Gold, manufacturer of the towel that the San Diego Chargers are being investigated for using during an NFL game.

Gorilla Gold Grip Enhancer, a polyester-blend towel impregnated with all-natural resins, is used in a variety of sports the world over including golf, racquet sports, track and field, soccer, softball, baseball and football. It supplies a light tack, much like a tackified glove. When applied to hands or gloves, as in the case of fastpitch softball, football or rugby, it leaves no discernible residue on the surface of the ball.

"In regards to the recent NFL controversy involving Norv Turner and the San Diego Chargers," Patrick Dugan president and inventor of the towel reported, "they were not the first, nor are they the only team or players to use Gorilla Gold. It has been in use by many teams including the CFL for over ten years on the field, on the sideline, and in the training room."

In addition to providing a light tackification, it makes any surface moisture repellent, improving control in wet conditions. In fastpitch softball, the NCAA, ASA, USSSA and the International Softball Federation currently approve Gorilla Gold for use by pitchers on the mound.

Source

It is interesting that they don't specifically say that it is used by other NFL teams. Also, that towel sounds awesome and I would like to do science things with it.

The real question here is, if so many of the players already wear tackified glove, who was using this towel and why?

• 8 months ago
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Does This Catch Look Sticky Assisted?

The really unfortunate side affect of the Chargers possible banned substance story, is that amazing grabs like this one now have to be called into question. We're used to seeing Antonio Gates make ridiculous one handed snags, but this Touchdown from the night of the alleged bust takes the cake. I keep watching this one over and over. I can't decide if three and a half fingertips could be able to stop that ball's momentum so quickly; even if it is the death grip of a future hall of famer. If it is just some towel that every other team uses, or one rogue equipment manager, we're always going to wonder now. In the same way the haters love to (rightfully) rag on Merriman for steroids or (inaccurately) call Rivers a cry baby; for the next three years we get to hear about 'Stickum' every time a blogger or facebook lunatic wants to score some easy points. This will be the one thing that people who don't know anything about the Chargers will know about the Chargers. And that sucks.

Meachem got asked if the #Chargers cheated. "We lost. How could we have cheated?"

— Annie Heilbrunn (@annieheilbrunn) October 22, 2012

On the other hand, one of the Charger players that would directly benefit from using a banned sticky substance has cleared up this little misunderstanding for us. This quote already got obliterated from every angle on twitter. No Robert, that fact that you might have cheated and still didn't win just means you guys suck at cheating (and also at burning clock with a lead).

• 8 months ago
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Norv: "Nobody from this organization has used Stickum in any game."

Here we go.

Norv "Nobody from the SD Chargers used stick em. Nobody from this organization has used Stick em in any game."

— Marty Caswell (@MartyCaswell) October 22, 2012

Can he say that for sure? What if Robert Meachem used it in a game when he was with the Saints? That'd be someone from this organization using it in a game.

Norv "it's a towel that, I understand a lot of golfers use it to dry their hands...it's used across the league."

— Marty Caswell (@MartyCaswell) October 22, 2012

Brilliant. Always blame golfers. People hate golfers, especially the way they're always trying to keep their hands dry.

Norv "If they decide the team shouldn't use it, there's going to be a lot of teams that will have to stop using it."

— Marty Caswell (@MartyCaswell) October 22, 2012

This baffles me. I know for a fact that Norv Turner has a brother. Yet, somehow, he still hasn't learned that "But he was doing it too!" doesn't work as an excuse for why you were doing something wrong.

Norv "If you start to believe everything you read, you'll be chasing a lot of wrong stories.". That's why I recommend radio...

— Marty Caswell (@MartyCaswell) October 22, 2012

If I want to believe everything I read.....I.....I don't even know what to do with that. Here's what I read: "The NFL is investigating the San Diego Chargers and an incident where they were caught using an illegal substance."

Now, I don't know about Norv, but the Chargers send me press releases. They confirmed that the NFL is investigating them for an incident where they were caught using an illegal substance. Hell, Norv, you just said that they were caught using a towel that they probably shouldn't have been using (even if everyone in the league uses it).

So, please, tell me what was written that I shouldn't believe. I'm dying to know.