Posted on 01/22/2015 7:45:17 AM PST by Red Badger
Bill Belichick said he did not know how the Patriots’ footballs became underinflated in Sunday’s game. By Matt PepinGlobe Staff January 22, 2015
Coach Bill Belichick said he did not know of any issue with the Patriots’ game balls in Sunday’s AFC Championship, and did not learn the league was investigating his team until Monday morning.
He also said he did not know how the Patriots’ footballs became underinflated during the game.
“I have no explanation for what happened,” he said.
It was Belichick’s first appearance since news emerged that 11 of 12 footballs the Patriots used against the Colts in the AFC Championship were underinflated. He gave a lengthy opening statement, but responded to questions only by saying he had no more to say about it.
“When I came in Monday morning, I was shocked to learn of the news reports about the footballs. I had no knowledge whatsoever of this situation until Monday morning. I’d say I’ve learned a lot more about this process in the last three days than I knew or had talked about it in the last 40 years,” Belichick said.
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David L. Ryan/Globe Staff
Bill Belichick said he did not know how the Patriots’ footballs became underinflated in Sunday’s game. By Matt PepinGlobe Staff January 22, 2015
Coach Bill Belichick said he did not know of any issue with the Patriots’ game balls in Sunday’s AFC Championship, and did not learn the league was investigating his team until Monday morning.
He also said he did not know how the Patriots’ footballs became underinflated during the game.
“I have no explanation for what happened,” he said.
It was Belichick’s first appearance since news emerged that 11 of 12 footballs the Patriots used against the Colts in the AFC Championship were underinflated. He gave a lengthy opening statement, but responded to questions only by saying he had no more to say about it.
“When I came in Monday morning, I was shocked to learn of the news reports about the footballs. I had no knowledge whatsoever of this situation until Monday morning. I’d say I’ve learned a lot more about this process in the last three days than I knew or had talked about it in the last 40 years,” Belichick said. View Gallery Photos: Belichick speaks about Deflategate controversy
Patriots coach Bill Belichick spoke to the media Thursday morning on issues surrounding underinflated balls used during the AFC Championship game.
Belichick said he does not concern himself much with the condition of game balls, although he acknowledged players would have a greater interest in it.
“I think we all know that quarterbacks, kickers, specialists, have certain preferences on footballs, they know a lot more about it than I do, they’re a lot more sensitive than I am, and I hear them comment on it from time to time, so I can tell you, and they will tell you, that there is never any sympathy whatsoever from me on that subject,” Belichick said.
Belichick said he did not know quarterback Tom Brady’s preferences for game balls.
“Tom’s personal preferences on his footballs are something that he can talk about in much better detail and information than I could possibly provide,” Belichick said. “I can tell you in my coaching career I have never talked to any player, staff member, about football air pressure. That is now a subject that I have ever brought up. To me, the footballs are approved by the league and game officials pregame, and we play with what’s out there. And that’s the only way I have ever thought about that.”
Belichick said prior to this issue emerging, he was unaware of the exact process by which game balls were prepared and handled.
“Let me just say that my personal coaching philosophy and my mentality has always been to make things as difficult as possible for players in practice, and so with regard to footballs, I’m sure that any current or past player of mine will tell you that the balls we practice with are as bad as they can be. Wet, sticky, cold, slippery, however bad we can make them, I make them,” Belichick said. “Any time the players complain about the quality of the footballs, I make them worse.”
The Patriots face the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX on Feb. 1.
Quarterback Tom Brady is scheduled to meet with the media on Thursday at approximately 4 p.m.
I’m not excusing any cheating, if it happened. I’m only disputing whether an under-inflated ball is an advantage. The evidence does not correlate that it is, which was your claim.
That’s the thing. Where were these balls inflated at? Did the Colts use outside ambient air that would have maintained pressure? It is getting hard to believe that they don’t have info out on this yet. One thing for sure, this affair IS drawing interest and making money. I normally don’t watch the Super Bowl, but I think I will this time...
I doubt the balls had any real impact on the outcome of the game.................
Just last week or two I saw one of those ‘How do they do it’ type cable shows and they had the NFL football factory spotlighted. They are initially inflated at the factory to the correct PSI at the room temp of the factory inspection room just before they are put in the shipping container to go to the games....................
I bet from now on they will all be checked before the game, during half time and after the games..............
Good, then we’re in agreement! ;->
Cheating = Bad
Deflated Ball = Meh
They may be completely innocent of the charge, since the balls could have deflated naturally according to the Laws of Physics..........
A team could just ice the ball down to deflate, too. Or stick by one of those heaters to over inflate it for kicking. I don’t think there any rules about all of this?
The ‘kicking’ balls are separate from the ‘scrimmage’ balls. The Refs hold the kicking balls......................
Actually the Vikes got scolded earlier this year for heating balls. It was a cold game. But in general once the balls have been approved you’re not supposed to mess with them.
Seattle’s hands aren’t totally clean as Cowboys’ fans can recall
Seattle K ball conspiracy theory still lingers
http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4697590/the-curious-case-of-the-k-ball-vs-seattle
There’s no whining in football!
What do we know:
1. The officials checked the balls at the start of the game.
2. The officials handled the ball between every play.
3. The officials never had a problem with the balls.
So who did have a problem?
The Ravens and the Colts — who were both beaten by the Patriots — and the Colts weren’t just beaten, they were embarrassed.
So what did those sorry asses do?
WHINE! No fairs! Not fairs!
It’s the Colts who have deflated balls!
There must be some regulations that I don’t see in the rule books that I looked at online.
Are you a Patriots fan? Dream on. The minimum punishment will be the loss of a first round draft pick. Belicheat or shady Brady may face a suspension as well.
Each team provides their own balls for use in a game. The Colts' balls were properly inflated and the Patriots' weren't.
Sure, but also a realist - and would have the same view no matter what team was involved.
Rush made a great point today - the outrage by the media is so over-the-top for something so trivial - Obama shreds our Constitution and lies to our faces and there is nary a a squeek.
I heard it on sports media and various news broadcasts.
Other than that, I don’t have an link to any official NFL statement.
Tom Brady is supposed to have a news conference at 4:00 PM Eastern time. It will be interesting to hear what he has to say.
I like the comment Rush made the best. He said everyone is all worked up about this. He (Rush) wishes people would get as worked up about voter fraud, illegal immigration, Obama shredding the Constitution, etc.
Which doesn't solve any problems for the Patriots since the Baltimore Raven players were the ones that tipped the Colts off the balls might be deflated.
The Ravens lost by a mere four points to New England.
Nonsense. It's a big deal since there are accusations that the Patriots have been doing this for other games, including the divisional playoff game against Baltimore that they barely won.
It's also the second time something like this has happened with Belichick.
Question. I thought we couldn’t post Globe articles.
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