If the ball boys get the balls 10 minutes before the game, then there almost has to be video of coach Bill letting the air out of the balls. Unless they had extra time because of the OT in the previous game.
I think the NFL will say the gauge was bad. New rule will be that the officials will use the same 2 gauges to check all the balls from both teams. And no cost to the Pats.
Otherwise, all we have is ‘the seriousness of the charge’. But we all know how far that can take ya...
Maybe there was a “bad” air gauge? But, if the refs used a “bad” air gauge for the Pats balls, then why did one of the 12 balls meet pressure specs after the game?
We do not know the exact process (e.g. 1 or 2 gauges). My understanding is that about 2 hours before kickoff, each team provides the referees with 12 game balls and 6 kicking balls. Each set of balls are stamped with the team logo so they can be kept separate during warmups and the game. It makes sense for Andrew Luck or Tom Brady to use the their own warmup balls during the game.
My understanding is that the ball testing occurs in the referee locker room or in an off-field office, out of camera view? My further understanding is that after testing each ball is marked by the refs that they meet pressure and weight spec and ALL (both team’s) balls are given to the home team “ball boys”, Pats employees, to be brought to the sideline of each team. If this is the case, there is unlikely to be a video of BB or anybody else (TB?) inserting an inflation pin into any ball on the sideline. However, there appears to be a chain of custody break here that provides the “ball boys” with the time and opportunity to alter the balls.
It would be helpful for the NFL to explain the normal process and what actually happened before this game.