May 19, 2007
What is the rule for winning the coin toss?  I saw one year that the cowboys won the coin toss and choose which side of the field to defend.  The Giants were able to get the ball first in both halves.  Is that still the way it works? – Keith A.

Yes it is. The team winning the toss has the choice of whether to receive or kick-off or to defend either goal. The option of deferring the choice to the second half (like in college or high school) does not exist in the NFL. Therefore, the team winning the toss and choosing to defend a specific goal will likely kickoff in both halves. However, the team making the choice in the second half has the same options so they may also choose to defend a specific goal.

May 18, 2007
What is the football made of now? -- Tomeka B.

Rule 2-1: "The ball shall be made up of an inflated rubber bladder enclosed in a pebble grained leather case (natural tan color) without corrugations of any kind." The rules do not specify what type of leather is to be used.