NFL investigating the Patriots on possible deflated football allegations

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Trojita

Trojita

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http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/12193345/nfl-investigating-whether-new-england-patriots-deflated-footballs-indianapolis-colts

Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports

The NFL will investigate whether the Patriots intentionally deflated footballs Sunday, making them easier to grip and catch in the rainy conditions at Gillette Stadium.

A league spokesman confirmed the investigation, which was first reported Sunday by television station WTHR in Indianapolis, to ESPN on Monday morning.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, however, laughed when asked about the report.

"I think I've heard it all at this point ... it's ridiculous," Brady said Monday morning during his weekly interview with Boston radio station WEEI. "I don't even respond to stuff like this."

An underinflated football could be easier to grip and catch. NFL rules stipulate that footballs must be inflated between 12.5 and 13.5 pounds per square inch and weigh between 14 and 15 ounces.

Former NFL official Jim Daopoulos, in an interview with ESPN on Monday morning, explained the process in which footballs are managed. Two hours and 15 minutes before each game, officials inspect 12 footballs from each team and put a mark on them to indicate they meet the proper requirements and are good for usage. Then those footballs are given to the ball attendant.

I think I've heard it all at this point ... it's ridiculous. I don't even respond to stuff like this.
”- Tom Brady, to WEEI, on report that Patriots intentionally deflated footballs
in AFC Championship Game vs. Colts

There also is a second set of six footballs, used specifically for the kicking game, that are marked appropriately and remain in the possession of officials at all times.

"Officials check balls as they go into the game, and if the ball doesn't feel perfect, they can throw it out," Daopoulos said. "There is always the possibility that balls can lose air due to the conditions."

A team can be fined if it is found to be knowingly altering the weight of the football.

The NFL's game operations manual states: "Once the balls have left the locker room, no one, including players, equipment managers, ball boys, and coaches, is allowed to alter the footballs in any way. If any individual alters the footballs, or if a non-approved ball is used in the game, the person responsible and, if appropriate, the head coach or other club personnel will be subject to discipline, including but not limited to, a fine of $25,000."

Heavy rain began falling at Gillette Stadium in the second half of Sunday's game. New England owned a 10-point lead at halftime before pulling away in the second half, scoring three third-quarter touchdowns en route to a 45-7 victory over the Colts.

On the first offensive play from scrimmage in the third quarter, following a kick return, referee Walt Anderson briefly stopped play to replace a football which could have been related to this issue.
Click to expand...
 
God's QB will defeat them

nTr2EUJ.jpg
 
They've cheated before, I wouldn't be surprised.. But really, it didn't matter how much air was in that football. They destroyed the Colts.
 
If they did cheat wouldn't the officials and Luck be able to tell the difference? It's not like Luck is a rookie.
 
The Raiders need to start winning again so they can get their cheating stereotype back. It's a damn shame the torch has been taken by the Pats.
 
Yeah, inflated ball or not, no way the Colts would have won this. Still, if the Patriots get penalized for this, they're going to feel silly after how well they played.
 
NH Apache said:
Hmm, an officially checked set of balls that is handled every play by the officials. I think the officials were cheating.
Click to expand...

This is what I'm confused about. It's not like the pats can go and deflate a ball and bring it back. Officials always handle the ball before the play right?

I think there's a possibility the ball was deflated, but it wasn't intentional.

But I'm biased
 
Or, the balls were filled to set PSI in a warmed environment and SHOCKER when the balls sit in a cooled environment, air density increases and you experience a pressure drop in the enclosed space.

I could actually do a calc on this, but i can't be arsed to do math over allegations.
 
Mdot said:
"Quarterbacks have been allowed to use their own balls for home and away games since 2006, as the NFL’s Competition Committee cited “no competitive advantage or disadvantage” from the change."

Source
Click to expand...

That's not exactly explicit in the rules, but even after the equipment people break them in the officials check them before the game.
 
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