2003-2004 playoffs "conspiracy" (1 Viewer)

[TinHat]

I heard somewhere that in the 2003-2004 playoof matchup between the Pats and the Titans, which the Pats won 17-14 on a 44 yard FG in sub-zero temperatures, a theory was posited that the Patriots' players conspured and succeeded in deflating the ball a bit, so that it would move better in the ice cold air.

Has anybody else heard this rumor?

TIA

 

[AB in DC]

I heard somewhere that in the 2003-2004 playoof matchup between the Pats and the Titans, which the Pats won 17-14 on a 44 yard FG in sub-zero temperatures, a theory was posited that the Patriots' players conspured and succeeded in deflating the ball a bit, so that it would move better in the ice cold air.

Has anybody else heard this rumor?

TIA

No players have access to footballs before a kicking play.

 

[SSOG]

I heard somewhere that in the 2003-2004 playoof matchup between the Pats and the Titans, which the Pats won 17-14 on a 44 yard FG in sub-zero temperatures, a theory was posited that the Patriots' players conspured and succeeded in deflating the ball a bit, so that it would move better in the ice cold air.

Has anybody else heard this rumor?

TIA

It's amazing just what conspiracy theorists will come up with, even when it makes no sense whatsoever.An object's inertia is proportional to its mass. Deflating a ball would decrease its mass, which would decrease its inertia, which would actually (theoretically) decrease the distance it travelled, rather than increase it (for example, filling a ball with helium will actually reduce the distance it travels). Furthermore, underinflating a ball would decrease its natural springiness, which would reduce force transfer. Now, I'm not physicist, but I really don't see any law of physics which would explain why an underinflated football would travel further than an overinflated football- in fact, it should be quite the opposite.

If I'm way off base here, hopefully someone can come in and point out the error of my ways. As it stands, I think that whoever started the rumor was an idiot conspiracy theorist who knew nothing about the laws of physics. A more credible rumor would be that they got a hold of the ball and OVERINFLATED it.

 

[Tom Servo]

I heard somewhere that in the 2003-2004 playoof matchup between the Pats and the Titans, which the Pats won 17-14 on a 44 yard FG in sub-zero temperatures, a theory was posited that the Patriots' players conspured and succeeded in deflating the ball a bit, so that it would move better in the ice cold air.

Has anybody else heard this rumor?

TIA

It's amazing just what conspiracy theorists will come up with, even when it makes no sense whatsoever.An object's inertia is proportional to its mass. Deflating a ball would decrease its mass, which would decrease its inertia, which would actually (theoretically) decrease the distance it travelled, rather than increase it (for example, filling a ball with helium will actually reduce the distance it travels). Furthermore, underinflating a ball would decrease its natural springiness, which would reduce force transfer. Now, I'm not physicist, but I really don't see any law of physics which would explain why an underinflated football would travel further than an overinflated football- in fact, it should be quite the opposite.

If I'm way off base here, hopefully someone can come in and point out the error of my ways. As it stands, I think that whoever started the rumor was an idiot conspiracy theorist who knew nothing about the laws of physics. A more credible rumor would be that they got a hold of the ball and OVERINFLATED it.

You probably did better in physics than I did, and I was an engineering major.

 

[DropKick]

Actually, they used a special ball outfitted with strong magnets deep within the pigskin. Then, directing the ball from a space ship disguised as a blimp, they guided it through the uprights.

 

[stedman]

It must be something about the Titans franchise. In 1992, living in Houston at the time, there were a few conspiracy theories circulating about Warren Moon after the Oilers blew a 35-3 lead.

 

[tomarken]

Actually, the entire New England "dynasty" of the past few years has all just been a cleverly designed conspiracy by the U.S. Government to garner support for the Patriot Act.

 

[Bri]

I heard somewhere that in the 2003-2004 playoof matchup between the Pats and the Titans, which the Pats won 17-14 on a 44 yard FG in sub-zero temperatures, a theory was posited that the Patriots' players conspured and succeeded in deflating the ball a bit, so that it would move better in the ice cold air.

Has anybody else heard this rumor?

TIA

It's amazing just what conspiracy theorists will come up with, even when it makes no sense whatsoever.An object's inertia is proportional to its mass. Deflating a ball would decrease its mass, which would decrease its inertia, which would actually (theoretically) decrease the distance it travelled, rather than increase it (for example, filling a ball with helium will actually reduce the distance it travels). Furthermore, underinflating a ball would decrease its natural springiness, which would reduce force transfer. Now, I'm not physicist, but I really don't see any law of physics which would explain why an underinflated football would travel further than an overinflated football- in fact, it should be quite the opposite.

If I'm way off base here, hopefully someone can come in and point out the error of my ways. As it stands, I think that whoever started the rumor was an idiot conspiracy theorist who knew nothing about the laws of physics. A more credible rumor would be that they got a hold of the ball and OVERINFLATED it.

that's a pretty great post SSOG.If looking for an advantage, taking the ball in the lockerroom and getting some warm air into it might have helped. A cold ball seems hard to kick and even seems harder for the QB to grip+ throw. Vinatieri's made enough winning kicks that I can't see how a conspiracy theorist could think this was a good place to start. I guess they got sick of that play against the Raiders and the Supe/refs last year.

 

[Winston Wolfe]

IIRC, there was some video associated with this conspiracy theory. Something along the lines of Vinatieri or other Patriots gaining access to the K Balls or Vinatieri bringing his own ball onto the field.

 

[kwille]

 

[nygiants56]

who cares anyways, didn't half of the Raiders secondary have 4lbs of stick 'em on their hands ? lol..Hollywood Henderson claims to have carried a small plastic bottle which contained a mix of water and cocaine onto the field, and he'd take sips of it in the huddle, did that in a SB too..

i don't think deflating a ball is better or worse than these other things..you still have to go out and kick it thru the uprights..