Gorilla Gold Provides Possible Trouble For San Diego Chargers In ‘Stickumgate’

May 29, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; General view of the San Diego Chargers helmets of tackle Jared Gaither (right) and defensive end Logan Harrell (both not pictured) at organized team activities at Chargers Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

While the NFL is investigating the San Diego Chargers for a possible violation of league rules for using an illegal sticky substance, the last thing they needed was a company like Gorilla Gold to come out and take responsibility for providing their product to the team for use.  But it gets worse for the Chargers, Gorilla Gold gave details of their product which shows it is clearly an illegal substance.

“In regards to the recent NFL controversy involving Norv Turner and the San Diego Chargers,” Gorilla Gold president Patrick Dugan and inventor of the towel reported said via a press release, “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.”

Here is how the folks at Gorilla Gold explain their product:

"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 discernable residue on the surface of the ball."

This type of product clearly violates Rule 5, Section 4, Article 4(h) of the NFL rulebook which bans any “[a]dhesive or slippery substances 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.”

The company claims to have a long history with the NFL over the past decade so it will be interesting to see if any other teams could surface for their illegal use of the towel during the investigation.

Of course, it is not 100 percent that Gorilla Gold was the product being used on Monday Night Football but the company’s press release provides some pretty damning evidence. Then again, perhaps the company was just looking for some publicity.