Yes, but what I’m trying to point out to you is:
1) Most QBs prefer the balls under-inflated, so at most they would be handing in balls at 12.5—not the average that is allowed.
2) Reportedly it is not uncommon for teams to hand in under-inflated balls, hoping that the refers don’t bother to find and correct the difference.
3) In cold weather, balls deflate outside after that measurement. It wasn’t really cold in New England for the game, but it often is for games this time of year.
Put that all together and refs are probably used to handling balls that are under the technical 12.5 minimum.
This is interesting—the memories of a ball boy for Bill Belichick. Sounds like Bill got to know at least this ball boy, up close and giving him favors, pretty quickly:
Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie, ball boy New England Patriots 2000-2001: “Larry Izzo was a special teams player, and he recognized I was Steve DeOssie’s son when I walked in the door. He took me under his wing, and all of the linebackers then sort of adopted me as their ball boy. I took care of them. They let me get a pair of shoes. It was an incredible experience.
“Coach Belichick asked me during camp if I like Bon Jovi. I told him I did, even though I really didn’t know much about him. He said, ‘Great, we’re going to the Tweeter Center tonight to see him.’ I said, ‘Are you kidding? What about bed check?’ He said, ‘Don’t worry about it.’ I went to the concert with coach Belichick, his wife at the time, his right hand man Berj Najarian and his wife. I’m standing next to Coach Belichick and we’re jamming out to Bon Jovi. I’m a junior in high school. To have him include me in that was pretty cool. Those memories will stay with me for a long time.
“Then when the Patriots went to the Super Bowl, Coach Belichick let me come to the game and be a ball boy on the sidelines. No responsibilities. Just stay out of the way. And I was there on the field to watch Adam Vinatieri kick the game winner against the Rams... Fast forward five years, I’m playing against the Patriots and Larry Izzo in the Super Bowl my rookie year. I’m lining up for a punt snap and half of the punt return team is calling me ball boy and yelling at me to go get them a Gatorade after I botch the snap.”