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NFL investigating if Patriots used deflated footballs in AFC Championship game
FoxNews.com ^ | 1-19-2015 | Fox News

Posted on 01/19/2015 7:48:57 AM PST by servo1969

The NFL has confirmed it is looking into charges the New England Patriots cheated Sunday night when they clinched a trip to the Super Bowl Sunday night by using deflated footballs.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed the probe Monday, following the AFC championship game, in which the Patriots demolished the Indianapolis Colts, 45-7. The charge was first made Sunday night, when an Indianapolis reporter that the NFL had seized at least one game ball from the AFC championship game to examine whether pigskins were intentionally deflated to make them easier to throw and catch.

“The NFL is investigating the possibility,” Bob Kravitz, of WTHR, tweeted, adding that, “at one point the officials took a ball out of play and weighed it.”

If the Patriots did cheat, it would not be the first time. The team was penalized a first-round draft pick, fined $250,000 and head coach Belichick was personally fined $500,000 after an investigation by the NFL determined the team had illegally videotaped their opponents hand signals during a 2007 game.

And unsubstantiated accusations of cheating have long dogged the team, stemming from their Super Bowl wins in 2002, 2004 and 2005. The St. Louis Rams claimed the team illegally videotaped their walk-through practices prior to the 2002 game, and players on the other defeated opponents have said the Patriots seemed to have inside knowledge of their playbooks.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: ball; cheat; cheating; deflate; deflategate; deflatriots; football; jealousofthepatriots; newengland; nfl; patriots; patriotswin; sorelosers; whiners
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To: servo1969

“....said the Patriots seemed to have inside knowledge of their playbooks.<

.
Patriots’ intelligence agency.


41 posted on 01/19/2015 8:03:49 AM PST by 353FMG
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To: jettester

Very logical explanation, I admit. But it doesn’t dismiss the need for an investigation of the football charge.


42 posted on 01/19/2015 8:03:52 AM PST by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: servo1969

Aren’t the officials handed the ball after a play? I’ve seen players toss the ball to the ref ... couldn’t he tell if the ball was not inflated properly?


43 posted on 01/19/2015 8:04:48 AM PST by SkyDancer
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To: servo1969

I’m a Bears fan and I have to say that even if this claim was true it seems like the Colts were completely outclassed yesterday and not even fully inflatable footballs could have saved them from that ass kicking last night.


44 posted on 01/19/2015 8:04:50 AM PST by erod (Chicago conservative)
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To: servo1969

Maybe the New England Patriots have Too Many Whites ?


45 posted on 01/19/2015 8:05:04 AM PST by molson209 (Blank)
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To: ClearCase_guy

The Colts didn’t show up for the game.


46 posted on 01/19/2015 8:05:21 AM PST by PhiloBedo (You gotta roll with the punches and get with what's real.)
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To: Vigilanteman

This behavior would stop of the NFL started vacating achievements like the NCAA does. Look at Denvers SB’s in the late 90s. They were found guilty of violating the salary cap thus keeping top end players they should not have been able to afford under the rules every one else was playing under. They just got a token slap on the wrist. Cost of doing business I guess.


47 posted on 01/19/2015 8:05:29 AM PST by copaliscrossing (Comparison is the beginning of discontent.)
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To: ilgipper
I can’t see the league allowing one team to manage the game equipment in that manor.

The home team is responsible for providing ball handlers to get officials balls on the field. The scrimmage balls are inspected by the officials and then given to the ball handlers before kickoff. As such, there is an opportunity for the home team to tamper with the scrimmage balls. The "K" balls - kicking balls - remain in the custody of the officials because teams used to tamper with the kicking balls.

48 posted on 01/19/2015 8:06:22 AM PST by IamConservative (If fighting fire with fire is a good idea, why do the pros use water?)
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To: Vigilanteman

A slightly deflated ball would be easier to hold on to for a running back or receiver to prevent fumbles or bad catches.........


49 posted on 01/19/2015 8:06:41 AM PST by Red Badger (If you compromise with evil, you just get more evil..........................)
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To: servo1969

Wouldn’t a deflated football weigh the same as an inflated football 13 psi doesn’t “weigh” 13 lbs?


50 posted on 01/19/2015 8:06:41 AM PST by edzo4 (You call us the 'Party Of No', I call us the resistance.)
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To: servo1969

I noticed in a close-up of the football during a South Carolina game that the ball looked well worn.

Is it possible that Spurrier is purposely using well worn footballs because they are tackier and softer? Would they even be illegal


51 posted on 01/19/2015 8:08:34 AM PST by yarddog (Romans 8:38-39, For I What am persuaded.)
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To: Vigilanteman

The Pats have this renditions of the Colts’ number. Prior to yesterday their average margin of victory against the Luck Colts was 26, and they were averaging a 3.5 running TDs a game. Both those numbers went up yesterday, but it really wasn’t that different than the previous 3 matchups. The Colts have no run defense and not much run offense, you don’t want to take a one dimensional team against the Pats.


52 posted on 01/19/2015 8:08:43 AM PST by discostu (The albatross begins with its vengeance A terrible curse a thirst has begun)
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To: maddog55
Pounds of air pressure in an NFL game ball: 13 psi

At what temperature? If inflated in the factory at 75°F and then played on the field at a substantially lower temp, then the 13 psi would be slightly less..........

53 posted on 01/19/2015 8:08:54 AM PST by Red Badger (If you compromise with evil, you just get more evil..........................)
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To: edzo4

Well, if they do, hoe does anyone know that any ball was slightly deflated?

What is the basis for this accusation even being leveled?

How was this determined, and by whom?


54 posted on 01/19/2015 8:09:11 AM PST by chris37 (heartless)
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To: servo1969
This whole thing sounds like fried bologna sandwich, if only because the NFL referees at the game would check the inflated pressure of all footballs so it meets the 12.5 to 13.5 psi inflation reading just two hours before the game. And with all those cameras on the field, it would be rather easy to spot if the Patriots deflated the footballs.
55 posted on 01/19/2015 8:09:15 AM PST by RayChuang88 (FairTax: America's economic cure)
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To: ClearCase_guy

Yes because it’s not like the pats have a history of being caught cheating or anything... /sarcasm


56 posted on 01/19/2015 8:10:27 AM PST by HamiltonJay
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To: Bucky14

Exactly.

If the so-called deflated footballs were easier to throw and catch for the Patriots, wouldn’t they have been easier to throw and catch for the Colts as well?


57 posted on 01/19/2015 8:10:30 AM PST by july4thfreedomfoundation (Everytime the cash register rings in a gun store, a Founding Father gets his wings.)
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To: Red Badger
To me it seemed every time Brady took the field, he brought his own ball to play with...................
That's because his wife was keeping them warm.



58 posted on 01/19/2015 8:10:43 AM PST by Bratch
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To: edzo4

Journalists didn’t take science courses. The ball would ‘weigh’ the same, but at a different temp than what it was when inflated the pressure would be different. Colder = less pressure, warmer = more pressure, but how much is the difference? +/- A psi or so?...........


59 posted on 01/19/2015 8:10:55 AM PST by Red Badger (If you compromise with evil, you just get more evil..........................)
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To: Bratch

Well, he ain’t Arnold Palmer...................


60 posted on 01/19/2015 8:12:33 AM PST by Red Badger (If you compromise with evil, you just get more evil..........................)
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