Per the white hat (ref), they were reviewed over 2 hrs before game. So they were up to snuff THEN.
Let me give a parallel situation.
In some levels of baseball/softball, bats are checked by umpires pre-game.
So let's say during a game a broken bat reveals a corked bat. In those situations, a corked bat could get a batter tossed from the game, and in some levels, could either get a head coach either warned or tossed, too.
By warned, I mean, if a SECOND illegal bat is found, it could lead to a manager ejection.
Well...what if...midway thru such a baseball game...11 of the 12 bats in the dugout were found to be illegal...perhaps it was either missed by said umpires and/or some of them were substituted for the legal bats.
Well, we'd have some immediate consequences DURING the game...if it was baseball.
By not having IMMEDIATE consequences in football, the cheaters are only encouraged to cheat. I mean, what's $25,000 in a fine if it helps you get to the Super Bowl?
The other thing in this analogy is...that if 11 of the 12 bats in a baseball game came up as "illegal" -- and in ONLY one of the two dugouts -- who would be stupid enough to think it was...
..."accidental"
..."random"...
..."air temp"...
..."happenstance"...
...some bumbler's "mistake"...???
...fill in the blank...
If it was the equipment manager, he better either fess up & take the fall...or fess up & point the fingers at who directed him to do it.
So if the refs followed protocol, the verified balls were given to the ballboys on the sideline 10 minutes before the game. In those 10 minutes on the sideline, or at some point during the first half, someone let a small yet relatively consistent amount of air out of most of the balls on the patriots sideline. Is that what we have for facts?
So what do you think should be done now?
I say go all ‘duke lacrosse’ on the patriots. Who is with me??????????