I don’t know either way and I don’t really care either way.
But they said it was 55 degrees out. How much hotter indoors would it have to be to make that difference?
The balls are inspected ahead of time (every ball? I’m not certain on that.) If so how were these tampered with.
Does two pounds of pressure really make that big of a difference? The outcome would have been similar would it not?
It does irk me that professionals make simple mistakes/error like this, if it is a cheat then glad they got caught. More exposure of how it was done and who did it would be great!
In wet conditions, it is easier to grip. That makes throwing and catching easier, fumbling harder.
“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.
“Does two pounds of pressure really make that big of a difference? The outcome would have been similar would it not?”
You bet it makes a huge difference. In wet weather the ball becomes ‘softer’ and more easy to throw.
The balls were checked prior to the game. the deflation had to have occurred on the sidelines during the game.
It would be very easy to let a little air out of the ball. It could have been anyone that held the ball more than a few seconds. It could have been on the field or on the sidelines. Really easy.