National Football League

ESPN analyst: QBs hate ribbon footballs

Published Oct. 13, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

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The NFL's method of support for a worthy cause may not sit entirely well with its players.

An ESPN analyst said on a radio show this week that the league's special footballs for breast cancer awareness are not popular with the players.

"They're playing with these breast cancer awareness balls," former NFL quarterback Tim Hasselbeck said on ESPN Radio's "Mike and Mike in the Morning," according to the Huffington Post. "These balls are brand new, right out of the bag. Now they get slick. I texted a couple quarterbacks during the game. They all said, 'These balls have been a disaster.'"

The footballs Hasselbeck is referring to are emblazoned with a pink ribbon and are being used for all games throughout the month of October.

League spokesman Greg Aiello rejected the criticism and told Profootballtalk.com that the balls are no different from the regular balls.

Players have all sported pink accessories this month in support of the cause, including pink towels, headbands and cleats.

Hasselbeck — now working as an analyst for ESPN's football coverage — played parts of four seasons in the NFL from 2002 to 2007. He is the husband of The View's Elisabeth Hasselbeck.