I predict the Pats will beat the Seahawks by at least a TD.
Belichik is brilliant - and no team in the league would say no if he was available.
The rest of the league can go pound sand. They all do it to some extent - and Pagano’s whining will now have affect every NFL quarterback that has a preference for the feel of the ball.
2lbs of pressure is damn near meaningless. Helps the receivers maybe a little. Doesn’t help the QB as it slows the ball down faster.
The Seahawks did a number on the Broncos last year. Belicheat has yet to beat the Giants in The Big Game. Seattle may or may not lose the the Cheatriots but I’m pulling for them. Can’t stand the Cheatriots winning another VL trophy. Let them join the Broncos as five time losers.
Brady has said he prefers his footballs to be underinflated. Aaron Rodgers likes them over-inflated. As the ones who handle the ball the most during any game, quarterbacks have their preferences for a reason. And you can guarantee that centers also have their preferences as well.
In my playing experience, I could easily tell the difference between ball types, sizes, weights, etc. (just as I have preferences for certain weapons on the range, btw). And I knew which balls I could get better reactions with from the grip and feel and would adjust accordingly. Similar to basketballs as well. 1-lb of PSI will definitely alter how a basketball bounces when dribbling or how a shot comes off the rim. In football, the same. In my case, tighter grip meant tighter spiral and a harder throw into traffic with less chance of bouncing off the receiver.
Even at my amateur level, I was much more confident and accurate with a softer ball. Fortunately for me, our practice balls were so horribly ragged and bloated (think medicine ball) that picking up a game ball was like shedding ankle weights or popping the donut off the Louisville Slugger.
With a football, at the skill level of these quarterbacks?... sorry, but 2lbs is huge.