Vegas Rumour: No Punishment For Patriots

[Sfpat]

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)

 

[Bobsyouruncle]

the chicago ball boy was probably talking about 10 years ago. It could be different now. Also, the ball boy may have been talking what is routine in the NFL - that is, they don't check most times with a pressure gauge. however, the league was tipped off by the colts that the pats might be using underinflated balls. that is why the refs probably checked at the beginning of the game the air pressure.

Yes but the league found that the pressure guage they were using was 2.7 PSI off calibration.

If we're just gonna pick and choose which rumors to believe no matter how outlandish, I'll use my own.

 

[PatsSox363804]

the chicago ball boy was probably talking about 10 years ago. It could be different now. Also, the ball boy may have been talking what is routine in the NFL - that is, they don't check most times with a pressure gauge. however, the league was tipped off by the colts that the pats might be using underinflated balls. that is why the refs probably checked at the beginning of the game the air pressure.

We have no idea if that is true. I said it in another thread, I really can't believe the NFL would be dumb enough to set up a sting on one of their likely superbowl participants. It's much more likely that Harbaugh said something and the Colts equipment manager started the chain, which goes along with Jackson saying he didn't notice anything.

 

[Big-T]

The league never said a pressure gauge was used in fact the lawyer speak says the opposite.

The NFL are trying to get out of it blameless and need a scapegoat.

 

[Sfpat]

If the Pats were using an underinflated football, the Colts should have stayed quiet because anyone who has ever thrown a football knows that it is better to throw a properly inflated one versus an underinflated one (despite what Mark Brunell said). And the proof was on the field as Brady sucked in the first half and was spectacular in the second half with a properly inflated ball.

 

[upstater1]

however, the league was tipped off by the colts that the pats might be using underinflated balls. that is why the refs probably checked at the beginning of the game the air pressure.

Wait, let me get this straight.

1. the league was tipped off
2. So it checked the balls at the beginning
3. It brought the balls to the field minutes before the game started
4. It then took its eye off the ball bag and let the Patriots do whatever?

Um, the league didn't want to catch the Patriots redhanded? You know, altering the balls?!??!

Is that what people are thinking?

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Wait, let me get this straight.

1. the league was tipped off
2. So it checked the balls at the beginning
3. It brought the balls to the field minutes before the game started
4. It then took its eye off the ball bag and let the Patriots do whatever?

Um, the league didn't want to catch the Patriots redhanded? You know, altering the balls?!??!

Is that what people are thinking?

number 3 is incorrect. the league does not hold the footballs after the refs check them. they hand them back to the teams - that is protocol. Then the balls are not to be touched until 15 minutes or so before the game. The NFL can't just decide to hold onto the footballs after inspection because it would break protocol and raise the suspicions of the pats.

 

[cupofjoe1962]

Read the rules. If the Commissioner feels there is enough evidence to believe a team or player cheated, but no hard evidence they did, he can still punish them.

I read on another thread that it is a $25,000 fine.

If there is a specific fine in the rule book, how can he set deviate from the defined penalty?

 

[Tunescribe]

Unless we somehow find that the NFL is lying in its statement, something happened. Some of the balls used in the game were found to be inflated below the required minimum. At this point, it's about about the "how" and, perhaps, the "who".

Or, the balls never were manipulated because they were low to begin with and not adequately inspected by the refs.

From the league's statement: Prior to the game, the game officials inspect the footballs to be used by each team and confirm that this standard is satisfied, which was done before last Sunday’s game.

I want to know exactly how far below league specs the Patriots balls were measured. I'd like to know how stringently the refs check ball pressure and whether they ever find it necessary to add air or let air out before approving them for use. Plus: other than giving their word, what proof is there the refs did their job?

Assuming BB and Brady are being truthful -- and there's no reason to believe they aren't -- the refs must be cleared, the Patriots equipment people must be cleared, and the ballboy(s) must be cleared. Any anomalies involving the balls themselves (defects, team conditioning practices, weather-related compromise, loss of pressure from use in the game, etc.) also must be ruled out.

We know that Brady's performance improved in the second half with regulation balls, so any alleged "competitive advantage" from under-inflated balls in the Colts game is moot.

I also don't think you can rule out shenanigans by the Colts (in cahoots with Baltimore, as we know about the tight relationship between Pagano and John Harbaugh).

Bottom line:
* The "fact" that "something happened" must be proven/verified by game officials and the NFL.
* The degree to which "something happened" must be specified.
* No competitive advantage was realized.
* Fingers can be pointed in directions aside from the Patriots.

 

[2000army]

number 3 is incorrect. the league does not hold the footballs after the refs check them. they hand them back to the teams - that is protocol. Then the balls are not to be touched until 15 minutes or so before the game. The NFL can't just decide to hold onto the footballs after inspection because it would break protocol and raise the suspicions of the pats.

Pretty sure they are in the Refs possession until 10 min before kickoff

https://twitter.com/benvolin/status/557901154106224643

 

[BelichickFan]

Pretty sure they are in the Refs possession until 10 min before kickoff

Not that I'm a big Ben Volin fan but he claims a source that said that the balls were kept in the officials' locker room until about 10 minutes before game time.

 

[cupofjoe1962]

It seems obvious that the pats gave the referees deflated footballs (like rodgers does in the opposite way) and the ref crew did not properly inspect them. It was the refs' job to inflate the balls to lesgue minimum. That's on the NFL.

There are also reports that the ball boys are NFL employees and not Patriot employees.

If the balls went from the refs to the ball boy after the alleged inspections, then this is 100% on the NFL.

I just wish Bob Kraft would stand up and fight back. He should call Goodell & tell him he will expose all the flaws in their handling of the situation and fight tooth and nail to protect the Patriot name.

I sadly have little to no faith in Kraft fighting back.

 

[FrodoBagginz]

The Science has proven the balls PSI can drop to 11 PSI or even lower from 12.5 PSI. The Colts balls need only to have been submitted at 13.5 PSI and/or inflated to minimum PSI outside in the cold or in a cold room and the PSI wouldn't drop outside.

If this were a court of law the Pats would be found Not Guilty as there is way too much doubt.

 

[libra957]

TMZ Seriously,http://www.tmz.com/2015/01/23/nfl-we-have-video-evidence-in-deflate-gate/,i'm surprised they don't have anything on Bieber and the Kardashians to report.

 

[Deus Irae]

Or, the balls never were manipulated because they were low to begin with and not adequately inspected by the refs.

From the league's statement: Prior to the game, the game officials inspect the footballs to be used by each team and confirm that this standard is satisfied, which was done before last Sunday’s game.

I want to know exactly how far below league specs the Patriots balls were measured. I'd like to know how stringently the refs check ball pressure and whether they ever find it necessary to add air or let air out before approving them for use. Plus: other than giving their word, what proof is there the refs did their job?

Assuming BB and Brady are being truthful -- and there's no reason to believe they aren't -- the refs must be cleared, the Patriots equipment people must be cleared, and the ballboy(s) must be cleared. Any anomalies involving the balls themselves (defects, team conditioning practices, weather-related compromise, loss of pressure from use in the game, etc.) also must be ruled out.

We know that Brady's performance improved in the second half with regulation balls, so any alleged "competitive advantage" from under-inflated balls in the Colts game is moot.

I also don't think you can rule out shenanigans by the Colts (in cahoots with Baltimore, as we know about the tight relationship between Pagano and John Harbaugh).

Bottom line:
* The "fact" that "something happened" must be proven/verified by game officials and the NFL.
* The degree to which "something happened" must be specified.
* No competitive advantage was realized.
* Fingers can be pointed in directions aside from the Patriots.

Either way, something happened, which is all I'm saying.

 

[NJPatsfan26]

The Science has proven the balls PSI can drop to 11 PSI or even lower from 12.5 PSI. The Colts balls need only to have been submitted at 13.5 PSI and/or inflated to minimum PSI outside in the cold or in a cold room and the PSI wouldn't drop outside.

If this were a court of law the Pats would be found Not Guilty as there is way too much doubt.

Unfortunately for us this is Goodells law which is unethical

 

[supafly]

Yes but the league found that the pressure guage they were using was 2.7 PSI off calibration.

If we're just gonna pick and choose which rumors to believe no matter how outlandish, I'll use my own.

I'm not sure what you're referring to? The NFL confirmed today that the officials had properly measured the footballs, which is directly from the NFL themselves. How is that considered to be a rumor still?

 

[Tunescribe]

Either way, something happened, which is all I'm saying.

I understand what you're saying and I'm not arguing with you. I'm just making an outside-the-box suggestion that the league's claiming the refs did their due diligence from the outset shouldn't necessarily be accepted out of hand, and that the Patriots aren't the sole prospective "culprits."

 

[supafly]

I read on another thread that it is a $25,000 fine.

If there is a specific fine in the rule book, how can he set deviate from the defined penalty?

The official rule states that it's not limited to, but suggests a 25,000 dollar fine. It also states that the commissioner can exceed the recommended punishment at his discretion. In other words, I don't think we can take much from the 25,000 dollar "rule."

Goodell has already proven time and again that he does what he wants.

 

[supafly]

There are also reports that the ball boys are NFL employees and not Patriot employees.

If the balls went from the refs to the ball boy after the alleged inspections, then this is 100% on the NFL.

That's not accurate at all, Joe. If it were, this wouldn't even be much of a story blaming the Pats in any way.

The ball boys are the responsibility of the Patriots and are part of their equipment team. They may not be an "official" employee and may be contracted from the outside, but they are still with the team that they represent.

There have been some who have claimed to watch the all-22 tape footage and have claimed that they saw nothing outside of the ordinary in regards to the ball boys, but they are from Patriots Pulpit (Rich Hill, I believe).