NFL quarterbacks aren't just reading plays off a piece of paper; some wear them on their wrists instead. The Bengals' Joe Flacco is one of 20 starters who use these wristbands, which contain simplified versions of the playbook with key information like base runs and dropback passes.
The idea behind the wristband dates back to 1965 when Tom Matte, a Baltimore Colts player-coach hybrid, got an emergency start due to injuries in the team's quarterback room. Shula used a simple version of the play sheet written on plastic-covered card covered by a terry cloth wristband to help Matte call plays.
Nowadays, it seems that about 18 teams have their quarterbacks wear these play sheets. However, some prefer not to use them because they don't want to lose eye contact with teammates while calling a play. Dak Prescott doesn't like wearing his wristband during the huddle, saying he likes looking into the eyes of his teammates and getting a feel for what they're doing.
Coaches suggest that quarterbacks need to memorize the verbiage in their offense, but some teams still allow them to wear the wristbands as a way to communicate quickly with players. The San Francisco 49ers require their quarterbacks to have the information memorized before wearing the wristband during games.
The use of wristbands has sparked debate about its usefulness and effectiveness. Some argue that it helps quarterbacks process complex plays more efficiently, while others claim it can make them reliant on a crutch and not truly understand the game.
A few players even reported losing their pages in the heat of the moment, which could lead to confusion. However, even if other teams have access to the call sheet, they won't be able to hear which play is being called over the headset due to communication issues.
Not all NFL quarterbacks use wristbands; Matthew Stafford has chosen not to wear one since his time in Detroit. For him, hearing and seeing plays are essential parts of the game he trusts more than relying on a piece of paper or technology.
The idea behind the wristband dates back to 1965 when Tom Matte, a Baltimore Colts player-coach hybrid, got an emergency start due to injuries in the team's quarterback room. Shula used a simple version of the play sheet written on plastic-covered card covered by a terry cloth wristband to help Matte call plays.
Nowadays, it seems that about 18 teams have their quarterbacks wear these play sheets. However, some prefer not to use them because they don't want to lose eye contact with teammates while calling a play. Dak Prescott doesn't like wearing his wristband during the huddle, saying he likes looking into the eyes of his teammates and getting a feel for what they're doing.
Coaches suggest that quarterbacks need to memorize the verbiage in their offense, but some teams still allow them to wear the wristbands as a way to communicate quickly with players. The San Francisco 49ers require their quarterbacks to have the information memorized before wearing the wristband during games.
The use of wristbands has sparked debate about its usefulness and effectiveness. Some argue that it helps quarterbacks process complex plays more efficiently, while others claim it can make them reliant on a crutch and not truly understand the game.
A few players even reported losing their pages in the heat of the moment, which could lead to confusion. However, even if other teams have access to the call sheet, they won't be able to hear which play is being called over the headset due to communication issues.
Not all NFL quarterbacks use wristbands; Matthew Stafford has chosen not to wear one since his time in Detroit. For him, hearing and seeing plays are essential parts of the game he trusts more than relying on a piece of paper or technology.
but seriously, it does make sense for them to have that info handy especially with how fast the game moves now. i mean, joe flacco is a pro tho, he can pull off wearing one on his wrist while still reading the defence like a pro 
and its interesting that some teams require qbs to memorize everything first before using the wristband, that way they really get the hang of it 
. Some teams use 'em to help QBs process complex plays, but others say they just rely on crutches and can't think for themselves 
. Like, if you're gonna wear a piece of paper around your wrist, are you really gonna understand the game? 
It's all about balance, I guess. Some QBs like having that extra info at their fingertips (no pun intended), while others prefer to trust their instincts and not get bogged down by playbooks 
. I'm kinda curious to see how this plays out in the long run... or should I say, how it plays out on the field 
?
. It's all about finding what works for each QB, I guess 
Maybe the solution is to find ways to balance both? Like having the info memorized and still using the wristband as a quick reference. Just something to think about! 
. But at the same time, how often are we talking about a quarterback being able to recall every single play on the fly without any help? It's like trying to remember an entire math book in your head 
.
like I get it if it helps but it seems kinda high-tech for football right? I mean what's next are they gonna be wearing smartwatches on the field to track their heart rate and stuff? 
anyway back to the wristbands so some guys like having them but others don't wanna take their eyes off teammates during huddles which makes sense I guess 
some ppl say they make qs rely too much on paper or tech but idc, as long as its not hurting the team... i mean, weve seen games where players lose their pages in the heat of battle lol like what if u r down by 10 points and ur QB loses his wristband 
. anywayz, gotta respect those who use them, it shows theyre willing to learn & adapt 
and omg can't even a simple game be played without some quarterback drama? 
. I mean, what happened to learning the plays and remembering them? It feels like we're losing the connection with our teammates and the game itself. And yeah, Dak makes a good point about eye contact - that's an important part of being a QB!