I have had a more stretched span for the last year or so. Just recently I have has some issues with the thumb rubbing and getting out of the ball clean. Today I grabbed a football and noticed that I can't get my hand around a football like I used to. I am wondering if my hand has gotten smaller. Could using a stretched span cause my hand to actually contract and get smaller.

I'm not a doctor but using a stretched span in some cases can cause tendon damage. If so, that may be why you have trouble gripping a football. Hall of Fame bowler Don Johnson(deceased) did career ending damage to his bowling hand when he experimented with a stretched span.

I am going to get refitted and experiment with my thumb pitch next week. Bad part is I have 8 balls to change.