- Joined
- Apr 17, 2010
- Messages
- 4,340
- Reaction score
- 2,939
There is no way IMO that the NFL can let the Patriots off with nothing. If the report is true it is fact that 11 out of 12 were underinflated. How that happened doesn't really matter, just like you can't say oh sorry officer I didn't know I was speeding saying we have no idea how they got underinflated won't get you out of it. I listened to the two press confrences yesterday and I came away with this notion. Our coach and QB are two of the most competitive people the planet has ever seen, they absolutely push the envelope and search for loopholes to give them any competitve advantage they can find and I love them for it. What they are not is liars. Think back to 2007, they came out and said we misunderstood this rule and we did violate it so we will accept any consequences the league hands down. They then shut up and allowed a witch hunt that continues today. Not so with this based on the press confrences. They flat out said "we had nothing to do with it, and have no idea how it happened." I believe them and do not think they knowingly "cheated". That said I can see the league making everyone unhappy (isn't that what compromise is all about?) by saying "we have no evidence that the Patriots intentionally deflated the game balls, however they were under league standards so that's a 25k fine per ball". It will make the pats mad that they are being punished for doing nothing wrong, and it will drive the haters nuts because there are no loss of draft picks or suspensions.
The NFL should let the Pats off because it's the RESPONSIBILITY OF THE REFS to insure the balls are properly inflated, not the Pats (unless the Pats intentionally altered the pressure of which there is absolutely no evidence)