NFL investigating New England Patriots over deflated footballs

[uhnope]

Source: CBS

The NFL has opened an investigation into whether the New England Patriots deflated game balls before their thrashing of the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship.

The news, first reported by Bob Kravitz of WTHR.com in Indianapolis, is likely to be a hot topic heading into the media storm that surrounds the league in the two-week run-up to the Super Bowl on Feb. 1 in Arizona, when the Patriots will take on NFC Champions Seattle Seahawks.

At a press conference Monday afternoon, Patriots coach Bill Belichick would only say of the controversy that he first heard of the accusations earlier in the day and that his team would cooperate with the NFL.

According to NFL.com, the league's rulebook states game balls must be inflated with between 12.5-13.5 pounds of air. Each team must provide 12 primary balls for testing prior to the game.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/nfl-investigating-new-england-patriots-over-deflated-footballs/

---

Let's not forget what's really important in life

[murielm99]

1. I'm glad you added that last sentence.

If you hadn't, that would have been my reply to this story, more or less.

[big_dog]

2. sith lord Belichick responds....

Bill Belichick said the Patriots are fully cooperating with the league's request for information as it checks into the possibility of deflated footballs during last night's AFC Championship Game victory against the Colts.

"We'll cooperate fully with whatever the league wants, whatever questions they ask, whatever they want us to do," Belichick said this afternoon. Belichick was asked if the officials gave him any indication during the game that the footballs were not up to standard.

"I didn't know anything about it until this morning," Belichick replied. Belichick was then asked directly if the Patriots deflated any footballs for the game.

"I just said the first I heard about it was this morning," Belichick said. The NFL told the Herald this morning that it is looking into the matter.
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/patriots_nfl/the_blitz/2015/01/bill_belichick_says_patriots_are_fully_cooperating_with_nfl

[uhnope]

3. thx. But wouldn't it help both teams equally?

[big_dog]

8. both teams get 12 game balls for their ball boys to 'break in' with mud so the new ones arent slick

according to ESPN this morning

[petronius]

9. I would think so, but if one team is more of a passing team and the other relies on running,

or if one team has made a point of practicing with the deflated balls, or if the sideline staff are providing the deflated balls to one offense but not the other, then I guess it would give an edge.

I doubt any of that is really the case here, though - probably just a bit of rumor-mongering complaint...

[George II]

12. And Indianapolis relied (poorly) on passing while New England relies (successfully) on running.

[Tempest]

10. No.

Each team submits 12 balls for inspection. The balls are used for their team's offense. After inspection, the balls are given to the respected team ball handlers. Which is why there are rules against tampering with the balls after inspection.

[Dr. Strange]

15. Everything that has transpired has done so according to his design.

[big_dog]

19. its all a jedi mind trick

[George II]

4. The only deflated balls (and egos) last night belonged to the Indianapolis Colts players and staff.

[TheCowsCameHome]

11. ^^^^ this is the thruth ^^^^

[PatrynXX]

5. then the Seahawks had to compare football to Martin Luther King Jr day

so no angels in the room. yeah we can beat up women and get away with it..

[PatrynXX]

6. not that the NFL can investigate anything right

Ray Rice incident nope... punish the president nah he didn't know anything about it do'h...

[Corey_Baker08]

7. Interesting Story But If Found To Be Untrue The Colts Will Be Labeled Bad Sports...

I highly doubt anything will come of this, even if found to be true it will be swept under the carpet to protect the 'integrity' of the National Football League...

[former9thward]

13. So you will find them guilty no matter what they do.

[Corey_Baker08]

20. Why Are U Putting Words In My Mouth, I Never Said That...

In fact I am not even a big football fan, my team is the Miami Dolphins, I am referring to the many controversies the NFL has faced this season...

[former9thward]

22. Your words, not mine.

"even if found to be true it will be swept under the carpet to protect the 'integrity' of the National Football League..." So if they say it happened then they are guilty. If they say it did not happen then since they will have swept it under the carpet they are guilty.

[Thor_MN]

29. Some people have trouble reading things...

Most people would read it as if it were true, it would be swept under the rug and so doubly guilty, and if not true, then, well, nothing. But some people like to pick fights and can't ever contemplate that their hurried response might be wrong...

[Tempest]

16. Colts didn't start this, the refs did

One of the Pats' balls was suspect so the refs put it aside and inspected it after the game.

The Colts had nothing to do with it.

Why do people comment on something they know nothing about?

[George II]

42. Balls are taken out of the game all the time for a number of reasons, including their pressure.

[KelleyD]

18. Indy did not start this "ball rolling" NFL instigated this investigation on their own. Indy Colts

Just found out about this Monday morning like everyone else. During the game the Umps weigh the balls. Don't know why?

[Spooky69]

14. Funny . . . Ive been watching ESPN almost the whole day . . .

I have yet to see anyone from the Colts management, coaching staff, or players say anything about this . Curious that . . . . .

[Tempest]

17. Not at all curious

The refs found a suspect ball from the Pats, put it aside and started the investigation after the game.

The Colts are waiting for the results. I doubt they believe there's anything amiss.

[global1]

21. Let's Say That They Find That The Balls Were Tampered With - What Would The Effect Be....

on the Patriots win? Would they disqualify it? Would they be considered the loser? Would the Colts go to the SuperBowl? Would the game have to be played over?

Or would they just get a big slap on the hand and a fine?

[former9thward]

24. The Pats are in the Super Bowl.

If the balls were tampered with they would lose draft choices for next year. BTW I don't believe any of this since the officials receive the balls before the game and keep them in their possession. The balls are checked for weight before the game by the officials.

[tabasco]

23. The Cheatriots strike again!

This will jinx them in the Super Bowl!

You heard it here first.

[Baclava]

25. Once a cheater, always a cheater. they can't help themselves.

Go Seattle

Go karma

[fbc]

37. If they are winning again, they must be cheating.

They haven't won a thing since the last time they got caught.

[underpants]

26. This is complete nonsense

Each team has to turn in their game balls 2 hours and 15 minutes before the game. The balls are tested. This wild conspiracy would require a ball boy or someone on the sideline with an air needle who took exactly the right amount of air AND that no one would notice. The NFL has people watching the sidelines, recording uniform violations, monitoring the officials, etc.

This has been a huge topic on sports talk radio today and universally laughed off

[Tempest]

30. The balls are returned to the teams

After inspection. Each team has a ball handler.

Which is why there are rules against tampering.

[olddots]

27. as a Pats fan all I can say is

I GOT YOUR DEFLATED BALLS RIGHT HERE !

[Unknown Beatle]

32. Really?

You've got deflated balls? Does it hurt?

[bluedigger]

28. As long as it's an NFL investigation, they're the best at that sort of stuff.

[underpants]

33. Yes!

[montana_hazeleyes]

35. I think I see where he hid two of the balls.

[grasswire]

31. In 2012, USC was fined and sanctioned for just this trick.

In the game against Oregon. IIRC, it cost SC $25,000.

[Justice]

34. ridiculous story, first leaked by a reporter from the losing team

[nilesobek]

36. If true, a huge advantage.

The softer ball is much, much easier to catch than the properly inflated ball. Brady sure had a good game. Reminds me of my old basketball days when crooked coaches would get a ladder and tighten the rim screws a turn or two and make it twice as hard to make a basket.

[George II]

41. True, but the thing is the Colts relied on the passing game, the Patriots relied on the .....

...running game. So if true (and it's HIGHLY doubtful), by deflating the balls they didn't do themselves much good but helped the Colts.

[nilesobek]

44. I agree that it might not have had a defining impact on that particular game.

Because it was such a blowout. Really I think this should be a learning thing for the Seahawks in preparation for the Super Bowl. Brady's passes are between 3-5 yards with run after the catch. Seahawks are going to have to jam those receivers and deny them these short pass plays which are, virtually, unstoppable if you don't jam everyone and put the old man on the ground.

When you are throwing blue lazer darts, short passes from Brady, then an underinflated ball doesn't bounce off helmets and pads as much. Much easier to catch, much easier to avoid turnovers.

What concerns me more is the pattern of deception used by Belicek. After the new information today, it looks like they were caught red-handed in this and will lose draft picks. My question is: What other little edges is Belicek trying to utilize? And, is he the only one? I seriously doubt it.

[Botany]

38. Bill Beli-cheat strikes again

he has used cameras and computers to steal the other team's defensive calls and
jammed the other teams QB's head set for calls from the bench ..... Bill really
doesn't give crap one about the rules.

The NFL should take the Pat's win away and give it to the Colts.

[DonCoquixote]

39. while this was not a poltical topic

It sure expalins why the right wing wins. Our Culture will defend a cheater because he is a winning cheater, and they think anything won by cheating as the rightful spoils of war. It is why our electiosn are between a rabid GOP thug and whoever the Clinton like (and we love Bill because he knows how to cheat)

[Enrique]

40. i knew it

you could tell by looking at them.

[George II]

43. Rob Gronkowski posted this on twitter yesterday!

:large

[uhnope]

47. +1

[Tempest]

45. 11 of 12 Pats balls under inflated.

None of the Colts balls were deflated.

Belicheat strikes again.

[IDemo]

46. Andrew Luck on playoff loss to New England Patriots: 'You feel deflated'

Phoenix -- Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, perhaps inadvertently, walked right into a storyline Wednesday at the 2015 Pro Bowl Draft.

Controversy has built all week following a report that the New England Patriots had deflated 11 of their 12 footballs under the minimum standards in an 45-7 win against the Colts in the AFC Championship game last week.

Asked how it felt to be at the Pro Bowl instead of preparing for the Super Bowl, and Luck answered without thinking.

"The energy is sucked out of you," he said. "You feel deflated."

http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2015/01/patriots_deflategate.html