Deflate-Gate: Here We Go Again

I feel sick to my stomach for the players on this one. If Belichick did this at the expense of his players, I don't even know what to think. Please let there be a reasonable explanation.

I'm trying to remain optimistic, but this is seriously disappointing and upsetting news. Regardless of the penalty, if we did this, even if the impact is negligible, I'm going to be extremely disappointed.

Can we for once enjoy something without hearing anything about spygate or some stupid crap like what they are investigating. I bet this wasnt bb's fault and it is most likely the refs fault. They have handled the footballs all game and said nothing! Didnt stop play, nothing. If it was such a big deal, when did they continue playing?

Deus Irae said:

Let's wait for the actual report before we go hanging anyone. Just for the hell of it.

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This is a very trying moment.

TBR said:

Please just a fine. If Belichick gets suspended or some insane penalty like forfeiting the SuperBowl - I would never watch a football game ever again.

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That's ridiculous. There is no way they will have the Pats forfeit the SB. What would they do, skip it altogether? Or have a team that got destroyed the previous week play in it instead of us?

Belichick being suspended for all of 2015 is a possibility though.

TBR said:

I'd personally like to feel an 11 PSI ball vs. 12.5 PSI ball. I wonder how noticeable the difference would be.

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It doesn't matter at this point though. It was a 38 point blowout and the PSI didn't make a difference and everybody (well, the sane people at least) knows that.

People are pissed more that (if true) the team cheated again. I'm at least hoping it was just a move by equipment staff or something rather than an order from BB

Boston Boxer said:

If we are found guilty of deflating the balls, then BB needs to be fired. Sorry to say, but if we are caught, then he needs to go. this is just plain embarrassing.

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Methinks Kraft will feel similarly.

I'm not ready to jump to conclusions -- let's see how this plays out. But if Belichick did this I'd have a hard time rooting for the team in a couple weeks. This is really unfortunate. At a time when my fandom has never been greater, to have such a strong conflict of interest would be brutal. I'm crushed right now and if this is as bad as it looks, I'll have a psychological crisis.

Geeze.

I just can't believe our organization would do this if it is indeed true. We are a great team and we do stupid things like this. It's inexcusable and in all likelihood will taint us, fair or not. It sucks.

I mean.. did the pats need to use under inflated balls the 3 previous times they best the colts by over 20 points?

Did they use under inflated balls against the ravens and they didn't snitch?

Do they always do this cause everyone does this and the colts had sour grapes?

Honestly, if the REFS didn't notice, why is it a big deal?

I just keep hoping somehow this isn't true.

How in the **** does this take off... why would we even do this.

EVERYONE MUST BE CALM
COACH BELICHIK WILL NOT BE FIRED OR SUSPEND
PATRIOTS WILL USE STUPID CRITIC AS MOTIVATION AND DESTROY SEAHAWK. MAYBE WE GET FINE. WHO CARES? JUST SOME UNDER INFLATED BALLS. NFL FAULT FOR NOT CHECKING. AARON ROGER DO AS WELL.

Meanwhile, the Seahawks coaches get to focus on important things, like offense, defense & special teams.

F U Goodell.

Some of you guys are getting ahead of yourselves. Especially the people calling for Bill's job. How about we wait and see what happens? All speculation and no evidence and all you people want is an execution.

festy1986 said:

Honestly, if the REFS didn't notice, why is it a big deal?

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Because there's a black and white rule saying no one can screw with the footballs after they are handed in to the refs before the game.

For crying out loud .... I was hoping that we'd win another SB and put to rest that spygate crap that the Pats can't win unless they cheat. Now this!

I would say I'm interested in how Belichick responds to this, but he'll just answer questions in the same way he always does and find a sentence to repeat over and over.

Deus Irae said:

Let's wait for the actual report before we go hanging anyone. Just for the hell of it.

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1. Not hanging anyone. I'm not calling for anyone to be maimed or fired. Just saying Belichick needs to stop pushing the damn rules, particularly the off field ones.

2. The actual report isn't even necessary anymore. Our reputation is once again sullied for no good reason. Regardless of the report.

Without jumping to conclusions, this feels eerily similar to the ex-GF you keep taking back even though you know she's going to cheat on you.

I sincerely hope there is a reasonable explanation for this otherwise something needs to be done at Foxboro. I'm going to let more facts come to light before teeing off.

To be completely honest. Listening to Bill's interviews for years now. I dont think him or the team knew anything about this. Why else would they all joke about it if this was some big deal? Bill is usually vague and in this instance he was honestly confused when asked saying things like 'I just heard about this' and 'I dont know what we're even talking about here'.

I dont know that's just me. If they were doing this intentionally im sure he'd tell the team not to comment. edelman, slater and Brady seemed confused by the question when first asked.

patsfan06 said:

I'd be distraught too if the refs assigned to the game didn't realize the balls were 2 pounds lighter until halftime.

That's not taking blame away from the Pats, but that's distrubing to say the least.

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A fully inflated ball weighs less than a pound. The difference is ounces, not pounds. The unit of measurement here is PSI. ESPN made this mistake as well. Trust me, QBs are not heaving 13 pound balls 50 yards downfield. Have you ever picked up a football? how much do you think it weighs? I can easily see a non anal retentive ref not giving 2 u-knows.