1) By these the rules, the referee is not obligated to check if a ball is suitable at any particular time before, during, or after game. What the rules state is that balls that do not fit the specification must be replaced for ones that are, and if that fails, the best possible ball available is used. Instances where a ball is chosen for another must be reported to the NFL as part of a normal process.
2) However, the referees most definitely have a list of best practices they must follow before every game where they do in fact check a few, if not all, the balls prior to the game, and then throughout the game if a player appears to have a sincere complaint.
3) Interestingly enough, the kicking balls are sealed in the box and shipped directly to the referee and must be opened at exactly 2:15 before the game start. Since the game was delayed by 10 minutes due to an unexpected overtime NFC game, the referees already "screwed up" by opening the balls at 2:25 before the game started.
Presumably, they are inflated at this point since balls are shipped slightly (if not completely) deflated.
4) There is an allowance for +/- 0.5 oz in weight if the game balls were weighted to be 14.5 oz indoors. The problem is, any value from 14 to 15oz can be fine at one point in the day, but leather absorbs water and a 15oz ball will become invalid as soon as rain touches it, never mind soaking in the rain and rolling in wet turf. Even a 14oz ball may weigh more than 15oz by the time it has soaked up water.
5) Replacing balls, reporting such discrepancies to the NFL, and investigating the report are all normal parts of every game unless the league finds otherwise in the coming days or weeks.
6) The game balls must be official NFL balls with specific size, weight, shape, color, and inflation. However, here are some creative ways to push this rule:
- Use official balls from 10-30 years ago, which may be different from the current game ball. Even if they're physically practically the same, the NFL logo might be the old one and this would give the visiting team less confidence. Even better, make each of your game balls different in some way.
- Polish up the leather in a unique way such that the gloves your team wears stick to them easily, and/or make it harder for your opponents to catch or throw with regular gloves.
- Write messages to the opposing team on the ball. Why should Goodell's signature be the only writing there?
