Is Brady to Blame?

[voluntarysaftey]

When Rodgers says he likes the ball 'overinflated', was he referencing the 12.5 psi - 13.5 psi rule? Based on what?

I think its a reasonable interpretation that the Packers routinely submit balls above 13.5psi and hope some of them make it through. That interpretation is based on Rodgers saying the refs will deflate his balls and he doesn't like it when they do -- the only reason the refs would deflate the balls would be if they were above 13.5; and for this to happen often enough for Rodgers to mention it would mean they often enough submit over-inflated balls.

If the Pats decided to submit balls at 12 or 11 psi, then its on the refs to validate it before the start of the game.
If the balls deflated within the rules -- the cold weather or they were initially filled with hot air, then its the rule books fault for allowing such -- maybe they should mandate balls are filled on the sidelines, not indoors.
If someone tampered with the balls after they were checked, then I would say that's a serious offense -- but there's no evidence of that and the above 2 scenarios are much more likely explanations. But even if there was tampering, the NFL would be hypocritical to come down hard on the Pats when they did nothing except a memo warning to the Vikings for tampering with balls on the sidelines this season.