Weird that such measurements have never happened like this in another game. Green Bay nor their opponents in the frozen tundra. Buffalo (if they ever played in January, that is). NY, Philly, Chicago or other cold cities. Only the Patriots. The idea that such suspicion was raised and all the balls were brought back in during the first half to re-measure is unprecedented. Not to mention that zero of 12 balls from the Colts in the same game.
These balls were two full pounds lower than the minimum (at least some of them were). That’s a pretty big drop on a day that wasn’t all that cold. Assuming they pushed the minimum to start with and filled them ONLY to the minimum of 12.5, it’s not likely to drop that much in a matter of an hour or so before the refs re-tested them.
Couldn’t the league fill them to the minimum and then put them in the fridge for an hour, then test them. I know they would be lower, but how much. Simple experiment really.
[B]
“Weird that such measurements have never happened like this in another game. Green Bay nor their opponents in the frozen tundra. Buffalo (if they ever played in January, that is). NY, Philly, Chicago or other cold cities. Only the Patriots. The idea that such suspicion was raised and all the balls were brought back in during the first half to re-measure is unprecedented. Not to mention that zero of 12 balls from the Colts in the same game.
These balls were two full pounds lower than the minimum (at least some of them were). That’s a pretty big drop on a day that wasn’t all that cold. Assuming they pushed the minimum to start with and filled them ONLY to the minimum of 12.5, it’s not likely to drop that much in a matter of an hour or so before the refs re-tested them.”[/B]
Good point, the reason is that nobody ever complained and went to the press like the Colts owner (crackhead junkie) Isray.
If measurement happened every halftime plenty of times balls would be out of spec. The likely case is that the refs don’t measure every ball, if they ‘feel’ ok they go in the bag. The rule is poorly written it fails to take into account Physics from the 1700’s.
This says more about the press and the lack of intelligence in the media than the Patriots.
The press and NFL establishment hates Belicheck.
1) What was the testing procedure performed by the refs prior to the game and what were the conditions under which the tests were performed.
2) What were the results of the test for ALL footballs (Patriots and Colts)
3) What were the measured results of the tests performed at halftime? According to the “insider information” that has now come to light, only ONE ball was deflated by as much as 2 psi. The remaining 10 balls tested were approximately 1 psi under the league limits - repeatedly proved as “natural” by numerous empirical demonstrations. Again, according to “insider sources”, the football which fell out of these limits was the one intercepted by the Colts and kept in THEIR POSSESSION until sequestered by the refs at halftime.
4) We DO NOT KNOW that the Colts’ footballs were tested at halftime and found within NFL limits nor do we know what the original inflation pressures of these footballs was prior to introduction to the game. I have read that the Colts use a ball-warmer on the sideline for their footballs. If true, this would absolutely maintain internal air pressures within the footballs.
5) The Patriots DO NOT use ball warmers, so the footballs on their side of the field would be subject to greater fluctuation in inflation pressures due to the cold.
6) The “Person of Interest” who carried the footballs to the filed from the refs locker stopped for 90 seconds - IN A BATHROOM - before proceeding to the field. If you think it is possible to reduce the air pressure in 12-24 footballs precisely by 2 psi in 90 seconds, I think you have a great future in NASCAR.
I strongly suspect that the final word on this is that NO attempt was made by the Patriots to alter the game footballs in any way. And if there is s shred of integrity left in the NFL, they will conclude that the Patriots football held in the possession of the Colts (via interception) was subject to tampering by person or persons unknown.