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.
12 balls. 1 of them was still 'in range'. The other 11 were 'low' and 1 of them was as low as 2 pounds under. That is my understanding. Could happen with a bad gauge, seems completely reasonable.
Many have jumped to the conclusion that the owner and/or head coach were involved in the process of defrauding the NFL. The one owner that built his own stadium instead of using his team to pressure a city/county/whatever to build them a stadium. And this owner is the cheat...Pathetic.