ESPN: 11 of 12 footballs under inflated by 2 pounds of air.

The only way this can go for the NFL is for them to say this is common due to the differing conditions all games are played. The league can then say this matter will be reviewed by the rules people in the off season. IMO there is no other way to diffuse this issue to let the Super Bowl proceed as normal.

the refs didn't notice a thing the entire game......they handle the ball every down.....if they didn't notice, then there should be no problem

IllegalContact said:

the refs didn't notice a thing the entire game......they handle the ball every down.....if they didn't notice, then there should be no problem

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My point exactly. Anderson is the judge. The only judge. And his actions speak louder than words.

TomPatriot said:

Probably because they have a million other things to think about in the middle of a game and the balls' psi doesn't make much of a difference to them or anyone else except the QB.

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True but it is part of there pre game check list of stuff to do. I bet now they will be spending more time on it.

Local sport talk idiots this morning were complaining that all the Pats want to do is win and listed all the ways they cheat including beauties like using a formation the Ravens were't expecting and studying how far punted balls roll (They had other inane examples like this but I can't remember them all). I think it's great that the Pats are getting into everyone's head.

festy1986 said:

the answer should be zero. The penalty for altering a ball is already written in the rule book, it's 25,000. Are they gonna rewrite the rule book just to punish belechick and the pats harder?

I'd go rip **** if I'm kraft if that happened. In this case, the commissioner can't just make up a penalty like he did with Spygate, as much as he no doubt would love to.

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He made up a penalty for Ray Rice then increased it under pressure so I have no doubt that he would ignore the rule book in this case.

Something REALLY bad is going to happen here for the Pats, league wouldn't be taking this long investigation if it was nothing.

moejr said:

If it's on us then we deserve it.

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No, it is on the Patriots, NOT the fans. The fact that we as fans have to go through this yet again is completely ******** and I'm getting sick of it.

Instead of talying about 2 great playoff wins and a chance at redemption, we're now faced with the exact same garbage cheater talk being flung in our face for the next 8+ years. . And for what! ?!?! Because our team decided to push the envelope again and deflate some game balls!? Are you ****ing kidding me!! Why risk such a stupid thing when they have kicked the Colts asses every time the last 3 years

This is UNREAL and Kraft better make it right this time and not sit in the shadows while his team and fans are attacked and ridiculed yet again

Saw an article where two scientists stated there is both a positive and a negative associated with ball deflation.

Positive - better grip both for throwing and catching

Negative - less mass so balls will not go as far as you want (i.e.: under-thrown)

interesting to note is that many of Brady's balls lately have been under-thrown not just in the AFCCG.

They stated the grip advantage outweighs the under-throw disadvantage but not by much. And based on the recent games by Brady where he has under-thrown many WR's it might even have been a disadvantage for Pats.

pats4life12 said:

True but it is part of there pre game check list of stuff to do. I bet now they will be spending more time on it.

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I won't take that bet.

My feeling is if Goodell wanted to sweep this under the rug he would've put a sock into it ASAP and done so. Investigating for days and letting the team take heat like this for this long probably means a fine is coming.

You people jumping to conclusions are this are ridiculous. Unless I'm missing something, there is absolutely no evidence linking Belichick or the Pats to the deflated balls.

Pretty depressed

Everyone hates the Pats because they win, and they hate Belichick because he isn't a suck ass like Rex Ryan, and because they win all the time.

NOW 11 balls were underinflated. Seems that the refs didnt check them, and the Pats inflated them low.

What I think is missing is there is a fraternity of Football Coaches, and they try to beat the crap out of each others on the field, but I really believe they try not to rat each others out, because every team is doing stuff.

Mangini broke the code, and where has he worked in the NFL since then?

Irsay doesn't care and he broke the code.

The Pats are going to take a huge hit from this, and I only wish that NOW is the time to payback and speak up, and pull the covers on all the shenanigans that the Commissioner pulls, the other teams pull, injury reports liars ( Broncos) Salary cap cheats ( Broncos) Drug using cheaters ( Ravens) Side line trippers ( Jets) Ball Overinflaters ( Green Bay) Ball Heaters ( Jacksonville) Tamperers ( Jets) and that's just off the top of my head.

Screw them all Kraft, drop the dime, name names, blow up the whole ****ing league.

My best guess is we under inflated the balls, sure the refs didn't catch it, but we did it. That breaks a rule that is written, and we are going down for it

So lets blow up the house and take down all the cheaters, eg the whole league.

Christ this is disheartening.

Marqui said:

Something REALLY bad is going to happen here for the Pats, league wouldn't be taking this long investigation if it was nothing.

Belichick needs to go if he's guilty. This is just ridiculously embarrassing.

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I think it's awesome.............The league is actually in a bind, and this has now become more complicated than it needs to be........the refs didn't notice, isn't it their job to notice? The league has a ball policy that is designed so that people can do this. The is a media circus that needs to be put to bed.

and finally, how can it be on BB if Brady is the one who works with the equipment guy to make the balls the way he wants them?

nowayback said:

If found guilty, how will the league punish the Patriots?

Again, from the game manual: "If any individual alters the footballs, or if a non-approved ball is used in the game, the person responsible and, if appropriate, the head coach or other club personnel will be subject to discipline, including but not limited to, a fine of $25,000."

So that's how serious this is...25000 $ fine. and perhaps other measures(if its the Pats) because up till now no penalties have been handed out to other teams for such violations >> heaters. Geez I wonder why Rodgers is so good at home and especially 1st half(before psi falls).

What they are saying is that if you are caught(needle in hand) deflating then its 25.000 at least. 1st offence...for any team but Pats. And suspending the person who was responsible> ball boy, equip manager or BB . Like Sal Alosi.>> which was much worse then deflating balls imo.

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25000/ball?

Why can't they just expedite the process. This nonsense (if it turns out to be) is defaming the Patriots organization and putting a damper on this whole Superbowl experience for many. If this turns out to be beyond the Pats control(not there doing) the NFL will lose points for sure. At least in the New England region. This is B***S**T and obviously an indictment on refs and personnel not doing there job as BB would say.

Yet to be determined is what, if any, penalties may be imposed upon Patriots. One source described the league as "disappointed ... angry ... distraught," after spending considerable time on the findings earlier Tuesday.

This is the key. Disappointed, angry, distraught, at WHOM? The Patriots organization or the officiating crew?

My gut tells me it's the former, and if that's the case, get ready for a typhoon the likes of which we haven't seen post Spygate. The NFL wants to protect it's officials anyways, and they're especially soft-footed around them following that strike.

At the end of the day its just air in a ball. Winners don't make excuses and neither do losers. The Ref. touches the ball before every play and to him the "weight/feel" was not out of the ordinary. So how much advantage was there really?

The story will only get to you if you let it. All the people that try to rib me. I am going to say the exact same thing.

PatCat said:

Why can't they just expedite the process. This nonsense (if it turns out to be) is defaming the Patriots organization and putting a damper on this whole Superbowl experience for many. If this turns out to be beyond the Pats control(not there doing) the NFL will lose points for sure. At least in the New England region. This is B***S**T and obviously an indictment on refs and personnel not doing there job as BB would say.

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the problem is that I'd bet the front office doesn't think it's as big as all those haters in the media do.......on behalf of Peyton Manning, they changed the process to allow this kind of thing to happen.....it's actually the fault of the NFL itself

Double TE said:

Perception is reality. This is not good news for the organization and the fans. Most unfortunate.

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As many times as this is repeated, it simple is not true, though magicians wish it so.