This is the ultimate proof of why the “cheater” obsession spawned by the deflated balls is so stupid. Rules violations are a basic part of sports, it’s built into the fabric of the games, and the structure is such that breaking the rules is often the smart play. It’s not cheating, it’s accepting the potential punishment as worth the risk. Sports is all about risk and reward, you take actions (prescribed and proscribed by the rule book) knowing that it could go well or it could go poorly. And remember the “punishment” for under inflated balls is they switch them and/ or fix them. Exactly what happened.
The only thing that’s actually interesting about Seattle leading the league in penalties and going to the SB is usually the team that leads in penalties is sloppy and poorly coached. This is clearly not the case in Seattle. If other teams figure this out the NFL will join the NHL and NBA that truly understand the idea of a good penalty to take.
Yes, just like how laws & codes are a basic part of society and built into the fabric of culture...and, yes, "the structure is such that breaking rules" (laws/codes) "is often smart play" for the criminal as well.
It’s not cheating, it’s accepting the potential punishment as worth the risk."
(Yeah, just like criminals accept the "potential punishment as worth the risk" of getting away with XYZ.
"Sports is all about risk and reward, you take actions (prescribed and proscribed by the rule book) knowing that it could go well or it could go poorly.
So is life. Your philosophy applies to criminals and potential criminals and even those who engage in criminal activity (& not YET been caught) as well.
And remember the “punishment” for under inflated balls is they switch them and/ or fix them. Exactly what happened.
Not good enough. In baseball, if you cheat with a corked bat, and it's discovered, somebody can get tossed. If a pitcher cheats with a foreign substance, somebody can get tossed.
In football, the only penalty is a post-game financial one. That needs to be fixed. When the Pats were found to be cheating in that game by halftime, the head coach (or identified cheater) should have been tossed.