Former Dolphins quarterback says Brady was using doctored footballs in 2004

[jakeXT]

A.J. Feeley, the former Dolphins and Eagles backup quarterback, and not the former Arizona Cardinals kicker who said Tim Tebow is the worst quarterback he’s ever seen (that’s Jay Feely), said he saw Tom Brady receiving broken-in footballs during a game in 2004, back when the same balls were used by both teams. Feeley, meanwhile, said the Dolphins were getting new balls every time they were on offense.

The revelations which are about 11 years and two Super Bowls late came during an interview on 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia.

“Prior to Tommy and Peyton Manning going to the league and saying, ‘Let us doctor our balls’ we used to all play with the same balls. […] Somehow this beat-up ball from the ball boy was getting thrown in on offense for New England, yet when we were on offense this orange brand new ball was getting thrown in.”

The main thing that jumps out, obviously, is that Brady was using doctored balls all the way in 2004, though it should be noted that he was a pedestrian 7 for 19 in defeating the winless Dolphins in that game, while Feeley took a total of two snaps and was watching from the sideline, not throwing the new, slick ball. But two other things jump out:

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/05/aj-feeley-tom-brady-doctoring-footballs-2004-before-2006-rules-deflategate

[yallerdawg]

1. What I don't understand is...

every play, referees are handling the balls. Wiping them, tossing them, holding them, setting them, squeezing them. If they can't tell the difference from the balls they "tested" and every ball after that, the balls from one team and the balls from the other, just how big an issue to the integrity of the NFL can this be?

Maybe the "gamesmanship" is the team or player whining about something technically a rule, but nobody ever gave a shit about.