Evidence suggests Patriots deliberately deflated footballs

Boston Globe ^ | 1/21/15 | Ben Volin

[randita]

The Patriots’ run to the Super Bowl has turned into an episode of “Law & Order.” And three days into Deflategate, it is becoming increasingly clear that the “law” was broken.

Now the tricky part: Figuring out the appropriate punishment.

The NFL’s investigation into the Patriots using under-inflated footballs in Sunday night’s AFC Championship is still ongoing. The league has said very little about the investigation or the timetable for its conclusion. The NFL sent a letter to the Patriots on Monday informing them that the league concluded that under-inflated footballs were used on Sunday. The investigation is now centered on how this could have happened.

We don’t need official word from the NFL to know it’s not looking good for the Patriots right now.

We know the Patriots’ footballs weren’t fully inflated when tested by officials at halftime. We know it wasn’t cold enough (51 degrees at kickoff) for the balls to deflate by almost 20 percent on their own. Pro Football Talk reported Tuesday that the officials tested the balls properly before the game. WEEI reported that the officials removed the faulty footballs at halftime and replaced them with properly inflated backup footballs. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported that the Colts noticed the under-inflation in the teams’ Nov. 16 matchup and alerted the officials to it before Sunday’s game.

[dragnet2]

The Seahawks have their own history with doctored balls, as anyone here in Dallas remembers.

They probably covertly replaced the balls with remote controlled balls, which can inflate or deflate on command as well as homing in on sensors that were stuck on Seahawks helmets.

[FamiliarFace]

If that wasn’t against the rules, it would only be taking advantage of a situation, but if it is against the rules, then it’s considered cheating. One is legal, the other MUST be punished. Since this is the second time the Pats have been CAUGHT, and I use that word on purpose, there really ought to be serious repercussions. Whether there will be serious repercussions remains to be seen. I pretty much doubt it.

[timestax]

[867V309]

We see enough of this garbage in politics, now the Cheatriots have brought this crap into sports!! Enough is enough.

Exactly.

We will see Goodell (NFL paid craphead) bury this embarrassment for his crazy multimillion salary as he did before. He never saw the elevator tape before TMZ? LIAR.

If sports are an escape, NFL is treading on dangerous ground.

[M1911A1]

You guys need to give the Deflatriots a break.

Let’s all sing the Pina Colada song:

If you like cheating at football
Softer balls in the rain
If you want every advantage
Signals taped before games
You’ll beat the tar out of Baltimore
Everything’s looking great
But why not cut some corners
So the ball you deflate

[dragnet2]

Deflatriots?

I like it.

[mmichaels1970]

And if a team thinks it has an advantage playing on mud or really wet grass, would it be cheating if their landscapers flooded the field the night before a game?

Only if there is a rule in the rule book against it. There is definitely a rule in the books governing ball inflation specifications. The Patriots broke that rule. Those that claim that all teams do it not only are justifying bad behavior with other bad behavior, but are also conveniently overlooking the fact that all of the Colts' balls were within specifications. The Pats will be fined and will lose a couple of draft picks and that will be it.

[M1911A1]

There you go, using reason and logic in a sports thead.

[mmichaels1970]

Thanks. And I intend to steal the term “deflatriots” and use it at least once tomorrow.

[Eva]

Suspend the coach for the Super Bowl. I’m a Seahawks fan.

[P-Marlowe]

If that wasn’t against the rules, it would only be taking advantage of a situation, but if it is against the rules, then it’s considered cheating. One is legal, the other MUST be punished.

If you have a rule with no punishment specified, then you don't have a rule. If deflating the ball was against the rules, then the rulebook should have specified what the punishment should be. You can't just make up a punishment after someone violates a so-called "rule."

[Eva]

A soft ball is easier to hang on to in cold wet weather. It might not be as important for a guy with big hands, but Brady doesn’t look like he has large hands.

[mmichaels1970]

Minimum fine of $25000 for tampering. Commissioner also has wide discretion to impose stiffer penalties.

[P-Marlowe]

There is definitely a rule in the books governing ball inflation specifications. The Patriots broke that rule.

What does the rule book say the punishment would be for violating that "rule"?

[mmichaels1970]

See #93. Their is also an “unfair acts” clause that allows the commissioner to suspend rule breakers. Basically though the commissioner has the power to punish or not punish as much as he sees fit.

[mmichaels1970]

Here is a decent link to some of the basic info.

[sunrise_sunset]

This didn’t just happen in one game. The Patriots very well might have cheated their way through the entire season.

[McGruff]

Somebody should fire all the referees then if they can’t tell a football is deflated or not. Jeez.

[jonrick46]

Go Seahawks!

[Svartalfiar]

Since both teams are using the same ball, can you tell me where there’s an edge??

Why would an underinflated football favor one team over another?

Both teams don't use the same ball, they each provide balls for their own team's offense. And since an underinflated ball is generally considered easier to throw/catch, since you provide the balls for your own offense only, underinflation gives you an advantage. Only few QBs (like Rodgers) prefer an overinflated ball.