What are the chances that the Deflatriots will be kicked out of the Super Bowl?

[derby378]

It would be an NFL first, wouldn't it? Something on the same level as the Black Sox Scandal, perhaps?

[isobar]

1. NIL.

The worst they can get is to lose draft picks.

[Submariner]

72. ALL NFL teams cheat and we watch it all without complaining

Look at all the cheating that goes on during each game.

Interference of the pass receiver, holding, head/helmet butting, tackling with intent to injure opposing team players, stepping on opposing players legs, hands, unnecessary roughness, etc. That's called cheating.

And each of these cheating infractions has a penalty involved like loss of down with a 5/10/15 yard penalty.

If the deflated ball problem was found to be intentional, then there will be another penalty.

That's football. Win by any means and hope you don't get caught cheating. Instant replay makes it tougher nowadays, but the football players still try and get away with cheating multiple times during each game. Sometimes their caught, and sometimes not.

We watch them trying to cheat every weekend as they commit the same holding, pass interference, unnecessary roughness plays to get over on the other team, so why is everyone surprised now about deflated balls?

[kwolf68]

74. Comparing regulating rules of the game

with video taping and doctoring balls to give the home team an unfair advantage is quite the leap.

Further, when a player HOLDS (or as you say cheating) he may well not be doing it on purpose and he is facing the potential of being penalized.

The Patriots obviously doctored the balls, which is a bush league, unsportsmanlike things to do even if one tries to conflate it with rules of play.

Whatever the case, their Super Bowls are tainted. Just like baseball players during the steroid era. May not be right, but it's the way it is, they won't ever be considered as good as the great dynasties, because of the outright cheating and alleged cheating. For an organization to have been caught such as this one, it begs the question WHAT ELSE have they done not yet discovered?

[shedevil69taz]

2. Zero...unfortunately...nt

[yeoman6987]

9. Never! A little fine and a lost draft pick maybe

I still say Go Patriots!

[Avalux]

3. Won't happen. Too much money involved.

I think Goodell does have an option to force a replay of the Colts/Pats game, but that would delay the Superbowl and piss off a whole lot of people. Did I mention money? A lot would be lost.

I don't think anything will happen, unfortunately.

[NuclearDem]

4. *Colts/Pats game

Nitpicky Indy resident is nitpicky.

[Avalux]

5. I am so sorry!!!

I'll fix it.

[gopiscrap]

54. Not really

he could make them play on Saturday or Sunday and still have the game on Feb 1

[liberalhistorian]

6. Oh, I am sooo stealing that nickname "Deflatriots"

for them from now on, lol! I'd already been using "Belicheat" long before this. So now there's a twofer!!

[derby378]

8. I just wish I thought of it first

The name is starting to trend in the intertubes, along with some hilarious pictures of a deflated Lombardi trophy.

[IDemo]

35. Or simply "Flatriots" n/t

[liberalhistorian]

76. Except that "Deflatriots"

packs a bit more punch, since it's exactly what they did. The whining and caterwauling here of the DU Pats-right-no-matter-what brigade notwithstanding.

[cherokeeprogressive]

7. Zero to None.

[gopiscrap]

10. If the NFL had any integrity

they would make the Patriots forfeit and send the Colts to the Superbowl

[hack89]

32. The Seahawks would love that. nt

[hifiguy]

48. What a massacre that would be.

Of the Colts, that is.

[JonLP24]

11. Slim to none

Draft picks & a fine.

[Marrah_G]

12. Not going to happen

Pats will be cleared of any wrong doing.

[PeteSelman]

13. None. This is ridiculous.

This might be the dumbest "scandal" ever. They would have killed the colts had they played with a balloon or a watermelon.

[AgingAmerican]

16. Not more ridiculous than cheating

Doesn't matter if they would have won anyway. Cheating is cheating. That's like saying, "I would have gotten an A- on my test had I not cheated".

[pipi_k]

24. Nobody even knows

if they cheated.


As the article here

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/21/many-questions-linger-regarding-deflategate/


states, there could be a whole host of reasons for the balls to be underinflated.

But, as usual, people rush to judgement before all the facts are in.



I have a feeling that even if the Colts' balls were checked during the game, more than a couple of them may have come in underinflated as well.

Or, as one of the points in that article states, the mishmash of officials could have led to errors being made.


One thing is sure, though...even if there's no fault or intent on the part of NE, there will always be the tin foil hat crowd that insists that somehow the Pats were responsible.

Jealousy is a miserable thing.

[AgingAmerican]

28. It doesn't matter if the Colts balls were under inflated

...because they were supplied by the Bradys. Brady has stated that he prefers under inflated balls. Also, it isn't the first time New England has done this against the colts.

Colts Told NFL Pats Were Deflating Balls in November

Sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter on Wednesday that the Colts had concerns about underinflated balls after their regular-season game against the visiting Patriots on Nov. 16.

During that game, Colts safety Mike Adams twice intercepted Tom Brady and gave the balls to the Colts’ equipment manager to save — and both times there were concerns about the balls feeling underinflated, sources told Schefter.

Those sources said the Colts raised concerns to the league, which was aware of the issue going into this weekend’s AFC title game.

Yet to be determined is what, if any, penalties may be imposed upon the Patriots. One source described the league as “disappointed … angry … distraught” after spending considerable time on the findings earlier Tuesday.

So the league was watching and waiting? Not good!

[pipi_k]

44. Each team

provides its own balls to officials a little over 2 hours pregame in order to be checked.

So the Colts would not have been playing with balls provided by the Patriots except in the case of an interception, whereby the Pats ball would be picked up and run in for a score or just some yardage. Then that ball is handed back to the officials and the Colts would get one of their own balls.

The Colts had their own set of game balls. It would be interesting to see what the pressure was on those.

If they were filled and checked indoors where it's warm, then brought outside where the temperature started out 20 degrees colder than inside, it's entirely possible the air inside could have lost pressure.

Also...if the Colts had concerns as far back as November, why didn't we hear about it and why was nothing done about it? Like, oh...checking the NE balls before actually using them in the AFC game? Wouldn't that have made sense?

[hifiguy]

50. Yep. Eact team in an NFL game has its own footballs

for their offensive possessions.

[sabbat hunter]

59. they checked the colts balls

there was no problems with their inflation.

it is possible for a couple of balls to come in underinflated, but when 11 out of 12 do....

[Arkana]

53. Do you have any evidence?

If so, I'd love to hear it. All we have are a bunch of slightly deflated balls. Until the league finds proof of actual wrongdoing, the Patriots are (to the chagrin of fans of every other team) innocent until proven guilty.

Here's what I'd like to know: All balls are inspected by the officials prior to the game. Why were these balls cleared if they were indeed underinflated?

[AgingAmerican]

69. Do I have evidence?

I do not personally, no. The NFL however does.

The Patriots used underinflated footballs on Sunday night

The next question is how did it happen?


According to a National Football League letter about the investigation into the controversy that was shared with the Globe, the Patriots were informed that the league’s initial findings indicated that the game balls did not meet specifications. The league inspected each of the Patriots’ 12 game balls twice at halftime, using different pressure gauges, and found footballs that were not properly inflated.

According to ESPN, 11 of the 12 game balls were found to be underinflated by about 2 pounds each. The NFL specifications say they must be inflated to 12½ to 13½ pounds.

The investigation is still ongoing.

...

If the Patriots are found to have deliberately doctored footballs, the organization can be fined a minimum of $25,000, and if the NFL finds the incident egregious, the Patriots could potentially lose a draft pick. In 2007, commissioner Roger Goodell took away a first-round draft pick and fined Patriots coach Bill Belichick after determining the team had spied on an opponent.

...

The balls were deflated after they were inspected, obviously. It is definitely not shrinkage from the cold, it was a balmy 51 degrees at game time. It looks mighty suspicious, combined with Belichick's history of cheating, I am sure the NFL will leave no stone unturned.

[Arkana]

82. They have evidence of underinflated footballs.

Underinflated footballs that were CLEARED BY THE OFFICIATING CREW.

So I ask you:

1) Why did the officials clear them?
2) Where is your evidence that anyone in the Patriots organization had anything to do with it?

[adigal]

33. So that makes cheating OK? Glad to see such moral relativism here. nt

[pipi_k]

45. How about

"cheating" and then losing?

What if the Colts had actually won this game?


Would there be such an outcry as there is now? I don't think so.


One of the reasons given for the poutrage over this issue is "The Integrity of the Game", even if the Colts would have lost anyway.

So what if the Colts had won? Would the "Integrity of the Game" still matter? I think not.

It's not "game integrity". It's suspicion and jealousy.

[adigal]

46. If the Colts won, the Patriots would be sitting at home Super Bowl Sunday

To send a team that probably cheated to the Super Bowl means there is a tacit acceptance of their behavior. If they lost, well, yes, punish them, but the wouldn't be in a position to win. That makes a difference. And yes, the integrity of the game (Hahahaha!!!) is still important.

[Arkana]

55. I particularly like the Ravens who decided to jump in

and say "YA KNOW, OUR KICKOFF BALLS FELT FUNNY".

If true, why didn't they report it to the league after the game? You know, instead of waiting a week and then deciding to dogpile.

[hughee99]

73. According to Rule 2

http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/rulebook/pdfs/5_2013_Ball.pdf

"For all games, eight new footballs, sealed in a special box and shipped by the manufacturer to the Referee, will be opened in the officials’ locker room two hours and 15 minutes prior to the starting time of the game.

These balls are to be specially marked by the Referee and used exclusively for the kicking game. "

I don't believe the balls used for special teams (kickoffs, FG's) are ever under the control of the teams, so I don't think they'll get very far with that claim.

[pipi_k]

75. Yah, now every

single team they ever beat since 2001 is going to chime in with the same whining bullshit.

[adigal]

79. Please don't make assumptions - to me, it's about the integrity

I couldn't care less who won or lost.

[City Lights]

65. And yet they felt it was necessary to cheat. nt

[LeftOfWest]

67. This. nt.

[MohRokTah]

14. Zero, even if it's proved beyond a shadow of a dooubt they cheated.

They'll be fined and lose draft picks.

That is all.

[AgingAmerican]

15. They will probably have to pay fines

...and lose draft picks. I hope the cheating New England Brady's lose. Go Hawks!

[TheCowsCameHome]

17. About the same as Vince Wilfork riding a Kentucky Derby winner.

[LibertyLover]

21. I just thought you ought to know

that you owe me a cleaning kit for my computer monitor after reading that comment.

[TheCowsCameHome]

27. Oh, dear.

Send me $500 in unmarked bills and I'll give you my season tickets to make up for your loss.

[LibertyLover]

70. Hey, if they are Ravens season's tickets

you might have a deal.

[KamaAina]

30. DUzy!!

[hack89]

31. NFL Investigating Whether Patriots Played Game With Properly Inflated Vince Wilfork

http://www.theonion.com/articles/nfl-investigating-whether-patriots-played-game-wit,37805/

[geomon666]

90. You never know

He loves horse racing.

[TheCowsCameHome]

91. The look on the horse's face

says "Don't even think about it, big guy"

[PCIntern]

18. Less than Zero and in fact

it may be a great gambit to raise viewership - if that's even possible- for the Super Bowl. At least it gives people something to talk about, I mean, unless you're a native of New England or Seattle, who the Hell would care what happens here unless you're a bettor?

The other teams have gone home...who would play Seattle? The Washington Generals?

[pipi_k]

40. Raise viewership and

possibly provide some pretty good bulletin board material for the Pats.

I think they prefer going into difficult games as maligned underdogs

[stevenleser]

19. Fine them, including Belicheck, all money they would receive for making the playoffs and Superbowl

All the players and the coaches and the team should be fined all the money they make from all of the above.

[LibertyLover]

20. I'd like to see the NFL force

a replay of the Ravens/Patriots game and the winner of that play the Colts to go to the Superbowl. Of course, it's not going to happen because the Ravens' market share is less than that of the Patriots'. Oh well, a girl can dream.

[octoberlib]

22. Apparently the Patriots aren't the only ones.

Former Tampa Bay QB Brad Johnson Says He Paid People to Tamper with Footballs


Hard on the heels of the Deflategate scandal enveloping the New England Patriots, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Brad Johnson has admitted to paying personnel to doctor footballs.

In an interview with the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud (h/t ProFootballTalk’s Michael David Smith), Johnson said he shelled out thousands of dollars to have game balls scuffed up before Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl XXXVII matchup against the Oakland Raiders in 2003.
Johnson, who perspired heavily in his football equipment, was adamant about having the 100 or so newly made Super Bowl game balls roughed up for a better grip.

“I paid some guys off to get the balls right,” Johnson told Stroud. “I went and got all 100 footballs, and they took care of them all.”Tampa Bay went on to roll Oakland 48-21. Johnson says he paid $7,500 to have a number of individuals (who remain unidentified) perform the task. He claims he couldn’t have performed without the altered balls.“I wouldn’t have been able to play without it,” Johnson said.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2337416-former-tampa-bay-qb-brad-johnson-says-he-paid-people-to-tamper-with-footballs?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=programming-league

[pipi_k]

41. Not only that, but

Aaron Rodgers liked/likes his footballs a bit overinflated.

[Arkana]

56. How is this story not a much bigger deal?

He admits to PAYING OFF people to tamper with game balls.

[zappaman]

23. This is the chance

[belzabubba333]

26. hey look it's dean wormer

[zappaman]

29. Maybe he can put the Patriots on double secret probation. n/t

[belzabubba333]

25. it's too bad that people even care about this or football

[adigal]

36. You know why I care?? It's more of the same of the powerful and wealthy getting away with everything

If the team with the least influence and success did this during the regular season, would there be a more severe punishment?? I bet so. But because it's Belichek and that cheater Brady, they will get a slap on the wrist.

I'm amazed to see liberals defending the Patriots. This is what I would expect from my Republican a-hole brother.

[Iggo]

34. Zero.

They should really stop cheating, though.

[adigal]

37. With no consequence, why should they?? Why should bankers stop cheating - no one was jailed.

See a pattern here?? If the Patriots won some other close games doing this, their cheating pays off for them, so why in the world would they stop???

[Iggo]

39. I hear ya.

Another chance at a teachable moment for the NFL, and they'll fuck it up again.

[mythology]

38. Unfortunately zero

The NFL doesn't actually care about honest competition.

There's a reason international sports ban people for a year or more for a failed drug test where the NFL only suspends for 4 games. There's a reason the NFL didn't suspend Bill Belichick after he was caught spying and there's a reason the NFL burned the evidence from the Patriots other illegal videotaping.

[ScreamingMeemie]

42. They would sort of have to replay the whole post season... seeing as Aaron Rodgers

(and I love Aaron Rodgers) went on record, saying he loved using overinflated balls.

[Arkana]

52. They'd also have to go back to the 2002 season and replay that too

seeing as how Brad Johnson (then the QB for Tampa Bay, the eventual SB Champion) admitted to bribing people to tamper with the balls he used during the game that year.

[mnhtnbb]

43. OMG. The Deflatriots. That is too funny.

[jmowreader]

47. Two pounds of air won't make you win by 38 points

If the Patriots would have won by one TD and the Colts would have scored more than once, then we should start looking at replaying the game, forfeitures, etc...but since the score was that lopsided, it's safe to assume the ball wasn't the deciding factor.

And really, if we wanted a real investigation they should have impounded all 24 balls at the end of play...you know as soon as Ballgate hit the coach of the Colts went to the equipment room and reinflated all the balls.

[pipi_k]

60. Not only that, but

If having underinflated footballs was such a deciding factor, then why were the Pats ahead by only 7 points during the first half.

Then, assuming the balls were reinflated to proper pressure after halftime they went on to destroy the Colts in the second half.


I guess nobody quite sees the non-logic there.


Oh, and like was mentioned above, Brad Johnson and Aaron Rodgers both paid people to tamper with ball weight when they played.

Why no ranting and raving over that...

[LiberalFighter]

61. Too many didn't review other details.

Like the score when they pulled the footballs out of play was 17 - 7. After they supposedly used properly inflated footballs the scored shot up to 45 - 7.

Or how about that the slightly less deflated ball should be easier for the Colts to catch too.

Or why didn't the referees notice anything wrong with the balls since they handle the balls all the time.

[beam me up scottie]

77. So the Pats played even better after the underinflated balls were replaced.

Interesting.

[Arkana]

49. Zero, considering the league has (so far) found zero evidence

that they actually did anything wrong.

[onenote]

51. zero. nada. zilch.

[sabbat hunter]

57. zero

instead they will get draft picks taken from them, big fines, and possible suspensions of coaches.

[dilby]

58. Not happening, too much money to be made on the Super Bowl.

If the Pats win the Super Bowl then it will go down in history that they most likely should have never been there. I have a feeling the Patriots are going to lose and the game has already been decided so the NFL can save some face. Can't have cheaters win the biggest game of the year.

[LiberalFighter]

62. There is nothing in the rules to disqualify a team.

[City Lights]

63. Zero. nt

[DrDan]

64. zero - not going to happen

big fine - suspension . . . but no, they will be playing

[onecaliberal]

66. This is the same team who was caught spying on other teams.

[Dreamer Tatum]

84. and which went undefeated after they stopped nt.

[onecaliberal]

85. I couldn't care less they are cheaters. They are

The worst example for young men who aspire to play the game. Cheaters and liars are the worst. I hope they get stomped into the dirt and utterly humiliated.

[Dreamer Tatum]

86. looks like you care a lot, as you've condemned them. nt

[onecaliberal]

87. Yup long ago when they revealed themselves to be

Cheaters. I won't be watching the game.

[LittleBlue]

68. Zero

There is a minuscule chance that Belichick could be suspended for it.

Most likely it will be draft picks for next season and a small fine. Possibly a full season suspension for Belichick like the one given to Payton, since he's a second-time offender.

[Stephen Retired]

71. ZERO

[distantearlywarning]

78. Zero.

They should be, but they won't be, because it involves the almighty dollar.

[workinclasszero]

80. Zero

I think they are going to win it actually.

[yuiyoshida]

81. Zero

The Revenue they will make, will fatten a lot of people's wallets.

[OnlinePoker]

83. Not a chance

It's not like a few slightly less inflated balls would have influenced the lopsided victory. The Colts were outplayed everywhere last week.

[former9thward]

88. Approximately the chance I will play in the NFL.

[fishwax]

89. much lower than the chances of winning the Mega Millions

[Wounded Bear]

92. I'd say about 75-80%

But Goodell and the league won't be the ones kicking their asses out. That'll be the Seahawks.

[sendero]

93. As close to zero..

.... as anyone can imagine.