The above patent image? HA! Hilarious!

It looks like Nintendo has been cooking up a soft football controller for the Wii, according to a recently filed patent submitted by Howard Chang, VP for R&D. It looks to be something like a NERF football with a groove cut out for the Wii Remote. You wrap your hands around the ball as normal, and your fingers can touch the Wii Remote buttons. Other images in the patent suggest that even the Nunchuck could be stuffed inside. Siliconera explains that the ball would even be able to sense shifting and running. And in true Nintendo fashion, there's a handstrap to keep things safe.

Look, it's going to be hard for kids to resist the urge to throw this thing. If you're supposed to mimic the football throw to control it, these kids are only one step away -- letting go -- from having this ball fly into your television.

What do you think of this thing? Do you see yourself using this kind of controller?