The K ball was introduced to prevent kickers from breaking balls.....

[gocolts 300]

......in too much.

 

Wrong ball to blame for missed FG

 

Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell thought he had the distance to kick a career-long 57-yarder at the end of the first half.

 

But he was duped by the old-switcheroo - or lack thereof.

 

"They put a quarterback ball in," Longwell said, referring to the different balls used in the game. "They didn't put a K ball in the game."

 

The K ball was introduced in 1999, to prevent kickers from breaking balls in too much. But those balls differ from the other ones because they're more broken in.

 

"The quarterbacks' (ball) are a little bit tackier and have better grip," Longwell said. "Obviously, the K ball was flying pretty well today."