PatSunday
Third String But Playing on Special Teams
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2007
- Messages
- 601
- Reaction score
- 195
Question for you guys. What if a team wanted to have under-inflated balls and found a way to fill the balls with air such that the pressure was a valid 12.5 psi before the game and dropped to 10.5 psi by half-time, and there was no tampering with the balls after the referees inspected them?
Is that creative, or is that cheating? Specific examples follow.
1) What if instead of room temperature, the Patriots fill the empty skins with hot air (or in a very hot room) just prior to handing them off to the official. The leather does not get hot, but the hot air expands and increases the pressure significantly. The balls are measured to be 12.7 psi at 2.5 hours before the game. In actuality, the balls only have enough air for 11.5 psi under regular indoor conditions, and with the cold weather, the ball drops to 10.5 psi by half-time 5 hours later (2 psi below the minimum). Is this creative? Or it is cheating?
2) What if the Patriots do the opposite, and refrigerate the balls (or apply a coating that prevents the leather from stretching). They inflate them with very warm air. The leather is not fully stretched at the time, and the pressure is 12.7 psi exactly 2.5 hours before the game. In actuality, the balls only have enough air for 11.5 psi under regular indoor conditions, and drop to 10.5 psi by half-time 5 hours later (2psi below the minimum) as the leather expands and the temperature drops. Is this creative? Or is it cheating?
Is that creative, or is that cheating? Specific examples follow.
1) What if instead of room temperature, the Patriots fill the empty skins with hot air (or in a very hot room) just prior to handing them off to the official. The leather does not get hot, but the hot air expands and increases the pressure significantly. The balls are measured to be 12.7 psi at 2.5 hours before the game. In actuality, the balls only have enough air for 11.5 psi under regular indoor conditions, and with the cold weather, the ball drops to 10.5 psi by half-time 5 hours later (2 psi below the minimum). Is this creative? Or it is cheating?
2) What if the Patriots do the opposite, and refrigerate the balls (or apply a coating that prevents the leather from stretching). They inflate them with very warm air. The leather is not fully stretched at the time, and the pressure is 12.7 psi exactly 2.5 hours before the game. In actuality, the balls only have enough air for 11.5 psi under regular indoor conditions, and drop to 10.5 psi by half-time 5 hours later (2psi below the minimum) as the leather expands and the temperature drops. Is this creative? Or is it cheating?
