PFT theory:How this all unfolded

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/05/13/a-theory-on-how-deflategate-initially-unfolded/
The on the money quote. Blame freaking mort.

Then, someone from the league (it surely wasn’t someone from the Patriots) leaked to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen that 10 of the 12 balls were a full two pounds below the 12.5 PSI minimum. The measurement reveal that this information was false.

The false information leaked to Mortensen gave the story more traction and a higher degree of significance. It also placed the Patriots on the defensive without the Patriots knowing the specific PSI measurements against which they were defending. If true and accurate information had been leaked to the media or given to the Patriots, coach Bill Belichick’s notorious Mona Lisa Vito press conference would have been far more persuasive, because the data from one of the two significantly conflicting gauges used to determine the air pressure generated measurements in line with the expected loss in pressure during 90 minutes in the elements of a January day in Foxboro.

Think of how different the narrative would have been if, in the early days of the scandal, the prevailing information from one of the largest sports-media outlets in America had been not that 10 of the 12 balls were two pounds under the minimum but that all 12 balls (including the one that had been intercepted by Jackson) tested within the range consistent with the application of the Ideal Gas Law.

Also, think of how different the narrative would have been if, in the early days of the scandal, the league had acknowledged that the officials used two different gauges with dramatically different readings generated.

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And imagine, take a trip with me down fantasy land, if the league had sent a memo that said please make sure the balls measured 12.5 at all times, and when they didn't the league gave the patriots a 25k fine, which BB would have then submitted to the rules comittee to change a rule which makes about as much sense as the earth being the center of the universe.

Still waiting for Morty to say he was wrong or got wrong info from someone with an agenda, wait that will be in the wells report, right?

When the gauges used are off by .5 from 1 gauge to the next how does a range of 1 psi even make any sense.

When they saw Brady and Belichick flailing about trying to account for a 2.0 PSI loss in air pressure in the footballs and media across the country hammering the Patriots in the run-up to the Super Bowl, why on earth didn't the NFL correct the Mort report? They routinely correct what they perceive to be erroneous reports when they are so inclined (e.g., the Myers report that the NFL had already determined that Brady would be suspended). The failure to correct the report demonstrates that the anti-Patriots agenda at the NFL office was not just confined to the leaker.

PFT has been ****ing nailing it.

I absolutely hated Florio but he has been fairly unbiased and even seems to be somewhat on our side (or at least not on the NFL's side) which I never would have believed a couple weeks ago. This article points out a lot of flaws that went on initially in the process and the way the NFL seems to be trying to spin the blame for any of this away from them.

Frankly I think the only reason Florio is publishing this stuff is because it gets page clicks from Pats fans but I don't care, at least it's being printed.

It's so weird that Florio has been relatively Pro-Brady during this entire thing dating back to January (his website is 100% flip flopping, though), there is absolutely an agenda waiting to be found, but he's been unusually friendly.

And I don't like it.

Occam's razor, right? Florio's theory makes a lot of sense.
There remains one problem, almost entirely ignored by the press and conveniently omitted from the Wells report:

Who leaked the incorrect numbers? It almost certainly had to come from the front office.
And that leak was made with the sole purpose of damaging the Patriots.
Mission accomplished.

SVN said:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/05/13/a-theory-on-how-deflategate-initially-unfolded/
The on the money quote. Blame freaking mort.

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I tend to think the money quote is that the NFLs Dave Gardi wrote to the Patriots that one of the balls was at 10.1

There are a number of issues with this seemingly pro-Patriots article.

1. The whole 'we didn't take it seriously' angle is absurd. The NFL was aware of this issue from the very beginning - this isn't non-football people (like Wells) - they had plenty of time to decide how to play this - and they chose to go nuclear.

2. The 'its all spun out of control and now we have to do something' narrative is also absurd. Never forget that it was undoubtedly the league that was sanctioning the almost daily leaking of incorrect, and apparently damning, evidence leading up to the Superbowl. If the NFL had wanted to squash this, they could have - just like they did with the Atlanta, Minnesota/Carolina and Cleveland issues.

3. The NFL has attempted a sleight of hand with this sting operation that the PFT article at least hints at. The original 'investigation' was strictly about the apparent loss of air pressure in the Patriots balls - now that they have established the narrative of the 'cheating Patriots' they quickly moved from the stuff affected by 'boring science' (deflation) onto some much more fertile ground (the Patriots alleged obstruction of the investigation).

4. The Patriots are not like any other franchise. They win WAY TOO MUCH - and in the gutless minds of rivals fans - SOMETHING MUST BE WRONG . This is why everyone is so quick to jump on the bandwagon - just look at that Weasel John Elway today shouting from the rooftops what a great move this was by the NFL. How about salary cap violations John? What do you think those do for the 'integrity of the game'.

Again, do not confuse this for incompetence - this is how this charade was supposed to play out from the beginning - a type of military campaign to bring the Patriots down in stages.

Also, do not think that Goodell is the man behind the curtain - HE IS NOT.

Goodell merely serves the wishes of his puppet masters - the 31 other NFL owners.

Removing Goodell solves very little - the '31 owners' can just as likely hire another lackey to do a similar job - what is to stop this happening again in the future?

Nothing.

Mere aspertions, chinese whispers are enough to get the Hate bandwagon rolling again....and they can do it whenever they please.

Remember that, if you choose to continue to watch the NFL - its a ticking timebomb - they can, and most likely will, attempt to bring down the Patriots again in the future.

Florio seems to have been mostly pro-Patriots since the Belichick press conference he mentions in this article. Obviously he still puts up the occasional appease the idiots article for clicks.

Wasn't it that day when Curran (and then later Florio) got a nice juicy leak about Kensil direct from (assumed by most on here) Belichick himself?

I still don't buy the fact that this was not a sting.

-Why did the Colts measure the air pressure of the Pats ball? Answer: Collecting evidence
-Why was Grigson screaming from the pressbox at Kensil to get down to the field. Answer: Because the Colts equip guy measured the Pats ball and a handful of the Colts balls and came to the conclusion that the Pats balls were deflated.
-Why was Troy Vincent there? It that common? Answer: No. He was on the email chain and between he, Gardi, Kensil and others wanted to nail the Pats and the Colts were happy to oblige/in on it.

For now, though, it’s clear that this investigation proceeded aggressively despite a history of less-than-zealous attention to air pressure

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It proceeded aggressively because there is an element of hatred of the Patriots and the league wanted to nail them. Its that simple.

Just to followup on Mr. Objective's post #5.

WHY DIDN'T THE NFL CORRECT THE FALSE LEAKS?

FRAMEUP.

That is all. And THAT is why Kessler will take hundred of millions of dollars out of their Manhattan office.

Florio offers a balanced and plausible account that the situation arose largely due to a number of missteps by Goodell's NFL, which then goes all self-righteous and attacks the Patriots integrity while acknowledging exactly none of their own mistakes. Many are happy to pick at the Patriots reaction while ignoring the NFL's flawed processes and lack of attention to ball pressure. Not that anyone really cared, especially the NFL

Big-T said:

Florio seems to have been mostly pro-Patriots since the Belichick press conference he mentions in this article. Obviously he still puts up the occasional appease the idiots article for clicks.

Wasn't it that day when Curran (and then later Florio) got a nice juicy leak about Kensil direct from (assumed by most on here) Belichick himself?

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BB told Curren. Prior to the PC, he told Curren what questions to ask him and afterwards pulled him aside, cracked open a couple of Bud Lights and told the story about one Mike Kensil as he was cutting off sleeves for his AFCCG hoodie.

Hes been feeding him ever since. "Lord of the 6 Rings" is his alias.

The other day I was thinking about game 1 of the 2013 World Series. The camera saw a "substance" on Jon Lesters glove. The media attempted to run with it after the game, but it went no where and do you know why? Because Lester said it was rosin and sunblock, the Cardinals said it didn't matter, and the league didn't pursue something so foolish.

Now compare that to how the NFL responds to things. Within a day or two a few psi of ball pressure was the leading story on all national media. In the 2013 World Series that story was dead by game 3. Roger Goodell makes me want to write an apology to Bud Selig for ever calling him a bad commissioner.

livinginthe past said:

Also, do not think that Goodell is the man behind the curtain - HE IS NOT.

Goodell merely serves the wishes of his puppet masters - the 31 other NFL owners.

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which is why it is being written that they are afraid that kraft is going to get angry.......fact is that kraft has done more to evolve his franchise and location to go far beyond simply what's part of the NFL.....many don't even have their own stadiums

The value of the pats is 2nd only to the cowboys......don't be surprised if the pats pass the cowboys in a couple of years......the top 3 teams include the redskins also......all 3 teams generate plenty of negative press

they are smart to fear him

Remember that, if you choose to continue to watch the NFL - its a ticking timebomb - they can, and most likely will, attempt to bring down the Patriots again in the future.

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pffft.....they are merely ankle weights .... how did the first attempt go? at some point, the machine can't be stopped.......as long as Kraft and BB work together the way they have, they can lie **** down on the tracks, and it will only get run over

who knows maybe this whole thing is just a dog and pony show to give the rest of the NFL fandom someone to hate........humans are good at being that way

SVN said:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/05/13/a-theory-on-how-deflategate-initially-unfolded/
The on the money quote. Blame freaking mort.

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Anybody posting here or elsewhere with "if Brady was innocent, why didn't he just hand over his phone?" should read this over and over again. If it came out that the NFL had his phone, or some of his texts, people could have hurt him with leaks that had nothing to do with anything actually on the phone.