Posted on 01/21/2015 6:57:45 AM PST by Colehill1999
The Patriots used underinflated footballs on Sunday night.
The next question is how did it happen?
According to a National Football League letter about the investigation into the controversy that was shared with the Globe, the Patriots were informed that the league’s initial findings indicated that the game balls did not meet specifications. The league inspected each of the Patriots’ 12 game balls twice at halftime, using different pressure gauges, and found footballs that were not properly inflated.
According to ESPN, 11 of the 12 game balls were found to be underinflated by about 2 pounds each. The NFL specifications say they must be inflated to 12½ to 13½ pounds.
"Brad Johnson and altering footballs"
Tampa Bay Times reporter Rick Stroud, who covers the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, wrote a story this morning about former quarterback Brad Johnson and how he paid to have footballs altered before Super Bowl XXXVII.
Writes Stroud:
At the Super Bowl, the NFL had 100 footballs. They were new, slick and supposedly under the league's watchful eye. But not leaving anything to chance, Johnson made sure the balls were scuffed and ready well before the Dixie Chicks sang the national anthem.
"I paid some guys off to get the balls right," Johnson now admits. "I went and got all 100 footballs, and they took care of all of them."
How much did it cost Johnson? "Seventy-five hundred (dollars)," he said.
"They took care of them."
Johnson made the revelation several years ago, prior to the 10-year reunion of the Bucs' Super Bowl champion team.
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4776791/brad-johnson-and-altering-footballs
draft picks, suspend the coach for x games. something needs to be done
Having this be the lead story is probably the worst possible thing for Seattle. Remember last time there was a big cheating scandal the Pats rattled off 17 straight wins. They kind of like being stigmatized.
No Super Bowl this year! Patriots have to forfeit the game! /S
NFL makes the teams supply the balls?
Cheap bass turds.
I hope they both lose.
Malfunctioning pressure gauge....
They are the Democrat Party of professional sports.
Did the NFL check the Colts balls? I cannot find that answer.
“It does irk me that professionals make simple mistakes/error like this.......”
I don’t think we know what happen yet. They have a 2 lbs psi window to inflate them prior to the game, does the rule require the psi remain within that range the entire game?
A ball inflated at the lower edge of the scale indoors at 70F would likely lose pressure outdoors in colder weather, a ball inflated indoors at the upper edge would likely exceed that is sitting in the sun on a 90F day.
Were the Colts balls tested for comparison ?
I think the Patriots did inflate them to the lower edge of the scale, I hardly doubt they deflated them after inspection.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!!
Belichik is the greatest coach in the game.
The Dolts didn’t beat the Pats secondary, they didn’t beat the Pats run D.
They didn’t stop the Pats running game.
Patriots are AFC champs - period end of story.
2lbs may give the receivers a slight advantage in wet weather - otherwise the velocity of the ball is negatively affected.
The 2 best teams are going to the Super Bowl - and all this controversy is just going to fire up the PATS. I see a big surprise coming for the Hawks, and the Dolts next year - when coach BB runs the score up over 50 in thier first meeting.
This is a clear, recurring pattern with the Patriots. They are pathological cheaters...they just do it even when there is no perceived need to do so. In college, this would be called “lack of institutional control” and would result in loss of scholarships and a bowl ban.
I suggest a loss of draft picks and a ban on postseason play in the 2015-2016 season.
“A long suspension of all coaches, management and knowing players.”
It was 500 grand the last time on Belichick with spy-gate.
Wonder how many times it happened during the season?
Is this the first time a game has been played in freezing temperatures? Ever?
It didn't seem to affect the balls used by the Colts...
Let the Colts deflate their balls by 2 lbs and move along. Everyone will feel better.
If the refs inspect the balls before the game sounds like a problem for the NFL, not the Patriots.
Rule 2
The Ball
Section 1
BALL DIMENSIONS
The Ball must be a “Wilson,” hand selected, bearing the signature of the Commissioner of the League, Roger Goodell. The ball shall be made up of an inflated (12 1/2 to 13 1/2 pounds) urethane bladder enclosed in a pebble grained, leather case (natural tan color) without corrugations of any kind. It shall have the form of a prolate spheroid and the size and weight shall be: long axis, 11 to 11 1/4 inches; long circumference, 28 to 28 1/2 inches; short circumference, 21 to 21 1/4 inches; weight, 14 to 15 ounces. The Referee shall be the sole judge as to whether all balls offered for play comply with these specifications. A pump is to be furnished by the home club, and the balls shall remain under the supervision of the Referee until they are delivered to the ball attendant just prior to the start of the game.
Section 2
BALL SUPPLY
Each team will make 12 primary balls available for testing by the Referee two hours and 15 minutes prior to the starting time of the game to meet League requirements. The home team will also make 12 backup balls available for testing in all stadiums. In addition, the visitors, at their discretion, may bring 12 backup balls to be tested by the Referee for games held in outdoor stadiums. For all games, eight new footballs, sealed in a special box and shipped by the manufacturer to the Referee, will be opened in the officials’ locker room two hours and 15 minutes prior to the starting time of the game. These balls are to be specially marked by the Referee and used exclusively for the kicking game. In the event a home team ball does not conform to specifications, or its supply is exhausted, the Referee shall secure a proper ball from the visitors and, failing that, use the best available ball. Any such circumstances must be reported to the Commissioner. In case of rain or a wet, muddy, or slippery field, a playable ball shall be used at the request of the offensive team’s center. The Game Clock shall not stop for such action (unless undue delay occurs). Note: It is the responsibility of the home team to furnish playable balls at all times by attendants from either side of the playing field
I found NOTHING regarding penalties nor if the 12 1/2 - 13 1/2 rule was mandated or advisory
IMO ... the ones calling NE cheaters need to determine how a ball got out onto the field approved by a judge and then deflated by a center (most likely/obvious) without anyone seeing it
>br>A ref trained to have an eagle eye and reactions (throw the flag, blow the whistle) probably has had simular training a bank teller has in spotting bad bills ... something about the feel is the first tipoff.
That feel of a ball would occur when it's gotten by the judge and then thrown into the game .. by the judge.
I'm willing to be corrected, but the ball argument this year is (again, IMO) ... nothing more than another element of confusion to keep America in turmoil
Stupid ?
Goebbels didn't think so
I don’t think anyone’s arguing the balls won the game for the Pats. The Colts have been playing terrible ball lately, with the Denver game being the exception. However, if the Pats were doing the same thing against the Ravens — which is now being suggested, and at this point I don’t doubt it — it COULD have made the difference in that game.
This latest incident seems to indicate a clear history of cheating by the Pats organization, which is the real issue. There are only two reasons to cheat, IMHO — either you feel your organization can’t win without cutting corners, or the desire to win trumps everything, including the rules.
The fact that Brady would call the allegations “ridiculous” is also worrisome, especially since 11 out of 12 of the balls weren’t properly inflated. He picks up a football every day of his life, and the only thing that’s “ridiculous” is for him to pretend the balls were up to spec. He would know, immediately, just as Jackson did when he intercepted the ball. And it looks especially bad on his part since he would have known at halftime that it was true, but he denied it after the game. No class, or character.
Ah...the NY Post...
They didn't have a veterinarian on staff.
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