Posted on 01/30/2015 7:39:36 AM PST by PROCON
PHOENIX -- The 108 official Super Bowl XLIX footballs will receive additional security this weekend amid an ongoing NFL investigation into the inflation of game balls in the AFC Championship Game, vice president of officiating Dean Blandino said Thursday.
"There will be some added security just because of the environment we're in for this game," Blandino said during a football operations news conference at the Phoenix Convention Center.
ESPN.com reported last week that, per longstanding NFL policy, an independent set of equipment managers and ball attendants will handle pregame preparation of game balls. This year, Chicago Bears equipment manager Tony Medlin was chosen to supervise the group.
(Excerpt) Read more at espn.go.com ...
Ping.
Will the official actually check them, or just say he did and stamp them again?
I think it should be standard procedure, during the bowls, for the NFL to provide the footballs.
If this isn’t a HUGE PR gimmick, I don’t know what is..... (LOL)
The headline, “Brady’s Balls to be Checked” said it all.
Right. At least in recent years, SB balls have been handled completely differently than balls for regular season games. The different feel of SB balls may account for some of the sloppy play in SBs.
Before this whole story erupted, how many of you knew that each team supplies their own footballs at a game? I think the NFL is going to change the rules on how balls are handled, and that the referees or some other neutral party will supervise the balls from now on.
Why anyone would be complicit with this regime and watch the game is beyond me.
I played and used to be a big fan.
Today I don’t know who won the college `BCS Lite’ bowl or who is playing in the pro Toilet bowl.
Is it this weekend? Meh.
Grumpy Cat
There’s only 16 regular season games. There’s tons of commercial breaks. If football inflation is so vital to the integrity of a sport that only has 16 regular season games, why the heck aren’t the officials in charge of the pointed ovoids all the time, and why don’t they just check the current play ball at all commercial breaks?
Freegards
Snark!
If not, then quarterbacks get used to using a ball that has been worked up a bit.
Before a game ball is used, it has been said that somebody on the sideline is rubbing and trying to stretch the ball to make it a bit more pliable, more like a practice ball.
Actually, I don't know what the big deal is one pound of air one way or the other. Some quarterbacks like more air and some like less.
I don't understand why this all is such a big deal.
This may be a little bit off topic but it is tangential to football:
I am asking any software/hardware engineer to write for me the software and design the hardware combination that would accomplish the following:
An audio detector for all televisions and the internet that would automatically mute the audio every time it ‘hears’ Chris Collingsworth’s voice signature. Then it would automatically un-mute the audio when his voice signature is no longer heard. It would save me and I am sure, others, of upset stomach and nausea every time his voice is on the Television or internet.
He is such a white-guilt, apologist, socialist b*tch! Besides, Collingsworth’s voice is absolutely repulsive and he speaks such drivel that I can no longer stand to hear his voice. He knows less about football than the fingernail on my little finger.
Please pass the word to all software/hardware programmers/engineers who you know of my dilemma!
I would pay big bucks for such a device! Besides, the software/hardware engineer who can design this device and if it actually works.....would become an instant millionaire!
That is a classic!
I’ll sleep better tonight knowing that the NFL is concerned enough about the teams’ balls to provide an added level of security for them.
“Before this whole story erupted, how many of you knew that each team supplies their own footballs at a game?”
I knew that. It has been discussed in previous years by the MSM sports media.
If you’re right and nfl handles supply of all footballs starting next season...back up will go patriot fumble rate...to 2006 totals...
As long as it can be adjusted for Chris Berman I’ll buy in to it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.