Patriots being investigated after Colts game (4 Viewers)

[Phlash]

Surprised he talked about it, maybe Kraft lit a fire under him?

Weird Colts didn't have these issues.

I suspect this was it.

Kraft probably told him something along the lines of, well, if you did nothing wrong, explain it to everyone this weekend because we're getting hammered right now.

 

[Bucky86]

Wow. What a big F-U to the League, the media, and the haters. He couldn't have been more emphatic. Wish he would have done this during Spygate.

Now watch all the mediots who blow with the wind change their tune. This thing blows over and is DEAD.

You're like a puppy....ooooh shiny!!!!

And you're like a drooling idiot, Bucky, as always.

I do drool in my sleep sometimes.

 

[General Tso]

I love that he stated multiple times that you can replicate the experiment and encouraged everyone to go do it.

I think General is the man for the job

If the experiement involves dissecting your sorry ### piece by piece, I'm all in.

 

[Anarchy99]

What prep could they do

BB saying the way they prep the balls increases PSI by a pound off the bat. Said they did their own experiment to emulate what happened and found the difference from outside to inside accounted for 1.5 PSI. Said balls were requested to be set at 12.5 PSI when given to refs. Said if they did not check them or adjust to that level that is on refs.

What could possibly be done to prep the balls to increase the PSI other than filling them with heated air?

Someone may have to clarify, but I think he said or implied that they rub the ball that may warm up he ball and extra PSI would go away after time.

 

[GoBirds]

I love that he stated multiple times that you can replicate the experiment and encouraged everyone to go do it.

I think General is the man for the job

Except it doesn't account for the control set of the Colts footballs showing no such changes.

They seem to deal with the climate changes just fine.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Having watched that, honestly, I think I'm siding with the Patriots on this one.

Me too -- with the exception that I don't believe they weren't aware of what was happening to the PSI and am not ready to rule out that "the process" was more about temporarily increasing the PSI than it was about "getting the feel" right. And obviously we're taking BB's word that "the process" only added one temporary PSI.

But if there's nothing else to it, it'll be really hard to prove shenanigans and I'm not sure what the NFL can do except say cut it out.

 

[John Bender]

Pretty cool presser.

I hate that man.

But, I'm thinking, at this point, nothing was done intentionally to circumvent the PSI requirements.

Should they still be responsible for making sure the balls stayed at 12.5 though? That I'm not sure of. It's under him to follow the rules.

If Brady can tell Harbaugh to learn the rulebook, maybe the same could be said here?

 

[Evilgrin 72]

I love that he stated multiple times that you can replicate the experiment and encouraged everyone to go do it.

I think General is the man for the job

Except it doesn't account for the control set of the Colts footballs showing no such changes.

If the Pats balls registered 2 PSI lower than the Colts' (minimum) than wouldn't their unique prep have to account for that difference and not 1 PSI? Only way that wouldn't be the case is if the Indy balls were inflated more initially but he said the referees inflate them and don't have direction from the team on that, so wouldn't they inflate all the balls the same? They wouldn't arbitrarily put more air in one team's balls.

 

[Bucky86]

I love that he stated multiple times that you can replicate the experiment and encouraged everyone to go do it.

I think General is the man for the job

If the experiement involves dissecting your sorry ### piece by piece, I'm all in.

You want to dissect my ###? That's just odd dude.

 

[General Tso]

I love that he stated multiple times that you can replicate the experiment and encouraged everyone to go do it.

I think General is the man for the job

Except it doesn't account for the control set of the Colts footballs showing no such changes.

Pretty simple explanation. The Colts inflate the ball to 13.5 pregame. It drops 1 psi due to atmospheric changes and they are still within range.

 

[Old Smiley]

In Bill we trust, man.

 

[Thorn]

What prep could they do

BB saying the way they prep the balls increases PSI by a pound off the bat. Said they did their own experiment to emulate what happened and found the difference from outside to inside accounted for 1.5 PSI. Said balls were requested to be set at 12.5 PSI when given to refs. Said if they did not check them or adjust to that level that is on refs.

What could possibly be done to prep the balls to increase the PSI other than filling them with heated air?

A lot of friction on the surface would heat the air inside

 

[NE_REVIVAL]

I love that he stated multiple times that you can replicate the experiment and encouraged everyone to go do it.

I think General is the man for the job

Except it doesn't account for the control set of the Colts footballs showing no such changes.

We don't know what the baseline for the colts was in the 1st place, but if the experiment with the balls that BB talked about can be duplicated then this is much ado about nothing. If it can't be duplicated then the beat goes on......Does that seem reasonable?

 

[Run It Up]

Transcript including Q&A courtesy of /u/vgman20 of /r/patriots:

Spoiler

"How we doing?"

I want to take this opportunity to share information

I spent a significant amount of time this weekend learning what I could about letters, air gauges, stitches, ball preparation, etc.

Trying to be as helpful as I can and share what I learned. Having coached for several years, growing up in a football family, being around this game the entire life, it's clear I don't know very much about this area. I've learned a lot more, exponentially more, than I have ever known.

There have been questions raised, and I believe now, 100%, that I have personally, and we as an organization, has followed every rule to the letter, and on behalf of the organization, we have to say something

I've talked to and gathered a lot of information from staff, talked to other people familiar with this subject in other organizations, and we have performed an internal study of the process and there are other things we can do, but i have enough info to share with you

based on the events of today, this is the time to do it, it's impromptu but w/e

first of all, the process

as Tom said, the most important part of the ball for the QB is the feel of the ball, exterior. It's critical and easily identifiable. You can tell how broken in it is, etc. Easy to identify. That's the essence of the prep. We prepare the balls over time, use them in practice, that process continues right up until balls are given to officials. Thats when theyre finalized

In that process, I've handled dozens of balls over the past week the texture is very easy to identify. The pressure is a whole different story

It's much more difficult to feel or identify. So the focus of our prep is based on feel and texture. Tom went into that and he's the one who can go through it in more detail than I can

We simulated a gameday situation in terms of prep of footballs and where the balls were at various times of the day, and our preparation process for the footballs is what we do, can't speak for other teams, and that process raises the PSI approximately 1 pound. (psi, i assume). The process of creating the feel they want elevates the PSI approximately 1 PSI, based on what our study showed, doing what we would do for a game.

When the balls are delivered to the locker room for the refs, we asked them to bring them down to 12.5. That's what we did in the study, but we don't know what the refs do with them. That's done in a controlled climate. Prepared in our locker room, delivered to official's locker room, which is also controlled environment. When the balls go outside into the elements, that's where the footballs are played with, and thats where the measurements would be different then what they are in a controlled environment, and thats what we found. When the footballs were on the field for an extended period of time and adjusted to temp and reached equilibrium, they were down approximately 1.5 psi.*

When we brought them back in after and retested them in a controlled environment, those measurements rose approximately 0.5 PSI. The net of 1.5 back to a half is about 1 PSI.

Now, we all know air pressure is a function of atmospheric conditions. If there's activity in the ball relative to the rubbing process, that explains why, when we gave them to the officials, if they put them at 12.5 psi, once it reached equilibrium state, it was closer to 11.5. Those were our measurements, we can't speak to what happened on that day. We don't touch them after the officials have them

it's similar to when your car says check tire pressure when its been out and cold

the atmospheric conditions relative to the ball is critical

At no time were any of our footballs prepared anywhere other than the locker room. never in a heated room or heated condition. that has absolutely never taken place to anyone's knowledge. didn't happen.

when you measure a football, there are a number of different issues that come up. Gauges (different types, accuracy, etc.), all footballs are different.

Each ball has it's own characteristics. It's an animal skin, it's a bladder, it's stitching, and each has it's own unique characteristics. When you do the same thing to different balls, there will be variance.

Footballs do not get measured during the game. We have no way of knowing, til we did the study, that this has taken place. When we give them to the officials, they put them to what they put them at, let's say 12.5, the air pressure from then to the rest of the game, we have no knowledge of. It's never been a concern. the concern is the pressure.

We had our QBs look at a number of footballs. They were unable to differentiate a 1 PSI difference in those footballs. They were unable to do it. On a 2 PSI difference, there was some differentiation, but not consistent. They could pick out some of them, but not all of their guesses were right. I can't tell the difference if there's 1 PSI or 0.5 PSI in any footballs.

Anyone who has seen us practice knows me make it harder to handle the ball. players train in conditions some people would say you shouldn't drive in. They're a mentally and physically tough team that works hard and has met every challenge I put in front of them. I know that because I work them every day. Best team in the AFC, beat 2 good teams in the playoffs, best team in the postseason. That's what this team is. I'm proud of this team.

I just want to show you what I've learned. I'm embarrassed to say how much time i've put into this vs. super bowl prep. i'm not a scientist or an expert in measurements, just telling you what i know. Not Mona Lisa Vito of the football world.

At no time was there any intent, WHATSOEVER, to compromise the integrity of the game. We feel we followed to letter of the rules in procedures, regulations, and every game we played in as it relates to this matter

We try and do everything right, we err on the side of caution. it's been this way for years. Anything that's close, we stay away from the line. In this case, we did everything as we could do it. We welcome the league's investigation, there are a number of things to be looked into, but that's not this conversation.

This is the end of this subject for me for a long time, ok? we have a huge game, and that's where this focus is going to go. I've spent more than enough time on this and im happy to share all that i've learned over this week. The matter is very complex, we're not landing a guy on the moon but there are a lot of things that are hard to get a handle on.

Alright, i'll take a couple questions then moving on

Q: Did NFL share...

A: talk to the NFL

Q: you don't know if they documented the pressure at various..

A: Tom, we could talk about this for 2 hrs. If you want to ask the league about what they do, ask the league. I'm just saying what I've learned. That's all I can say, I'm not a scientist nor a league official

Q: Do you feel after this work, you'll be exonerated

A: I just told you what I think

Q: usually this is spent on gameplanning

A: I have spent time game planning

Q: Do you think time's been compromised from gameplanning?

A: It has to be done

Q: it's a combo of atmospheric pressures and trusting the officials inflated the balls to 12.5 is that correct?

A; you can take the atmospheric conditions out of it. If there taken in the same conditions, they should be the same. If you expose them to elements, they'll be different. That's not the issue. Depending on where/how balls were measured, that's a whole different discussion. The prep caused the ball to be artificially high when it was set to the regulation level, then reached it's equilibrium at some point during the game, which was below what was set. anyone who wants to do the experiment, go ahead

Q: You try and err on the side of caution. You were pushing the envelope on video taping, has that changed?

A: The guy's giving signals in front of 80k people, we filmed that like a lot of other people were at the time. 80k people saw the guy, everyone saw us. It was wrong, we were disciplined for it, that's it. We're not going to do that again. We always will err on the side of caution.

Q: did you have any "science people" help with your investigation

A: we talked to a lot of people

Q: How much time spent?

A: didn't log it

Q: are you relieved by what you found?

A: on thursday i said i didn't have answers. We went through everything, im confident in what i've told you.

Q: so is that a yes?

A: i did what i did. I'm not using those adjectives

Q: Do you know what made the pressure rise?

A: You rub it to get to the texture, etc. (Bill's getting really pissed here). Does that stimulate something inside the ball to raise PSI, i would say yes

Q: based on research, what will you do differently

A: that's another whole area here. its a very important question

he finished here

 

[Touchdown Syndrome]

I love that he stated multiple times that you can replicate the experiment and encouraged everyone to go do it.

I think General is the man for the job

If the experiement involves dissecting your sorry ### piece by piece, I'm all in.

#kinky #grindr #nttawwt

 

[Deamon]

I love that he stated multiple times that you can replicate the experiment and encouraged everyone to go do it.

I think General is the man for the job

Except it doesn't account for the control set of the Colts footballs showing no such changes.

Sure it does. Maybe the Colts beat up their balls less? Maybe Luck likes his balls set at 13.5? Maybe the Colts (knowing there would be some testing done at halftime) adjusted to make sure theirs didn't look bad too? Maybe the colts beat up their balls outdoors? Or maybe they have a different process of breaking in theirs?

Doesn't seem to be that much up for debate anymore. If you don't believe BB that breaking them in raises it 1psi, then do the experiment. He challenges anyone to do so, and I'm sure SOMEONE out there will do it. Don't think he'd make this challenge if he was purposely lying about this whole thing.

 

[zilladog]

Surprised he talked about it, maybe Kraft lit a fire under him?

Weird Colts didn't have these issues.

If the Colts prepared their footballs differently, they should expect a different psi result. Not really weird at all.

I'd like to hear something from Luck and/or Pagano about how they prepare the footballs. Could be a drastically different process.

 

[biju]

Having watched that, honestly, I think I'm siding with the Patriots on this one.

Me too -- with the exception that I don't believe they weren't aware of what was happening to the PSI and am not ready to rule out that "the process" was more about temporarily increasing the PSI than it was about "getting the feel" right. And obviously we're taking BB's word that "the process" only added one temporary PSI.

But if there's nothing else to it, it'll be really hard to prove shenanigans and I'm not sure what the NFL can do except say cut it out.

I'll still say they should just simply require the teams to be held accountable for being compliant at all times during the game regardless of temperature.

 

[John Bender]

Having watched that, honestly, I think I'm siding with the Patriots on this one.

Me too -- with the exception that I don't believe they weren't aware of what was happening to the PSI and am not ready to rule out that "the process" was more about temporarily increasing the PSI than it was about "getting the feel" right. And obviously we're taking BB's word that "the process" only added one temporary PSI.

But if there's nothing else to it, it'll be really hard to prove shenanigans and I'm not sure what the NFL can do except say cut it out.

I'll still say they should just simply require the teams to be held accountable for being compliant at all times during the game regardless of temperature.

Yep.

This.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

I love that he stated multiple times that you can replicate the experiment and encouraged everyone to go do it.

I think General is the man for the job

Except it doesn't account for the control set of the Colts footballs showing no such changes.

Pretty simple explanation. The Colts inflate the ball to 13.5 pregame. It drops 1 psi due to atmospheric changes and they are still within range.

If that's the case then it makes a lot more sense. Should be very easy for the league to verify too. Frankly, I just can't wait for this BS to be over with and get on with the game already.

 

[biju]

I love that he stated multiple times that you can replicate the experiment and encouraged everyone to go do it.

I think General is the man for the job

Except it doesn't account for the control set of the Colts footballs showing no such changes.

Pretty simple explanation. The Colts inflate the ball to 13.5 pregame. It drops 1 psi due to atmospheric changes and they are still within range.

Actually, based on Bill's description and assuming all teams have a situation where the ball is worked and artificially inflated to some degree, you should expect the Colts' balls to not be in compliance either. Unless you're saying the Patriots way of working in the balls does something no other team's process does.

 

[ROCKET]

Having watched that, honestly, I think I'm siding with the Patriots on this one.

This tells me everything I need to know. I thought Bill came off very sincere and made a great argument. Thanks for your objectivity as I know you are not a Pats homer like myself.

 

[The General]

Having watched that, honestly, I think I'm siding with the Patriots on this one.

Caught a bunch of it on the radio. My you can see why he is so good at his job. Laid out a lot of info in an intelligent way point by point. In the middle of doing his real job put this all together in just a couple days.

NFL will take weeks probably get their statement out.

 

[Deamon]

Surprised he talked about it, maybe Kraft lit a fire under him?

Weird Colts didn't have these issues.

If the Colts prepared their footballs differently, they should expect a different psi result. Not really weird at all.

I'd like to hear something from Luck and/or Pagano about how they prepare the footballs. Could be a drastically different process.

They won't say anythign that would let the pats off the hook with fans.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

I love that he stated multiple times that you can replicate the experiment and encouraged everyone to go do it.

I think General is the man for the job

Except it doesn't account for the control set of the Colts footballs showing no such changes.

Sure it does. Maybe the Colts beat up their balls less? Maybe Luck likes his balls set at 13.5? Maybe the Colts (knowing there would be some testing done at halftime) adjusted to make sure theirs didn't look bad too? Maybe the colts beat up their balls outdoors? Or maybe they have a different process of breaking in theirs? Doesn't seem to be that much up for debate anymore. If you don't believe BB that breaking them in raises it 1psi, then do the experiment. He challenges anyone to do so, and I'm sure SOMEONE out there will do it. Don't think he'd make this challenge if he was purposely lying about this whole thing.

Mythbusters have to be all over this already. Can't wait for this episode, especially if one of those dorks tries to throw the ball on camera. -220 odds that it goes backwards.

 

[General Tso]

You kow how I know Bill is being 100% truthful and that this is all bull####? Because he stood in that podium and got hammered nationally for "spygate" and not once did he downplay the severity of the fines imposed or the process the NFL used. He went up there, owned up to it, got his integrity questioned and weathered the year long ####storm that came along with it. In his mind he obviously thought it was unfair that he was being punished this harshly for inconsequential bull#### that's rampant around the league, but he knew technically he was in the wrong, so he didn't fight it. The fact that he came on so strong today leaves no doubt in my mind the Pats had absolutely nothing to do with this.

 

[David Dodds]

so they basically roughed the balls up (likely using a dryer or other tumbling machine) and that heated the air inside. So how exactly is that different from inflating with hot air. From my perspective, they were playing with a 10.5 psi ball which is illegal. And this looks to be how they prep their footballs every week, so this indicated they have been way under the legal threshold for a long time now.

This does not change the narrative for me at all. The Patriots just as well could have been pumping them with hot air or helium. The knew their method would lower the PSI to well below the acceptable standard during game play.

 

[Niles Standish]

I love that he stated multiple times that you can replicate the experiment and encouraged everyone to go do it.

I think General is the man for the job

Except it doesn't account for the control set of the Colts footballs showing no such changes.

If the Pats balls registered 2 PSI lower than the Colts' (minimum) than wouldn't their unique prep have to account for that difference and not 1 PSI? Only way that wouldn't be the case is if the Indy balls were inflated more initially but he said the referees inflate them and don't have direction from the team on that, so wouldn't they inflate all the balls the same? They wouldn't arbitrarily put more air in one team's balls.

Colts might inflate in their prep. Luck may be like Rodgers in that he likes a more inflated ball say 13.5. He is a very big dude.

 

[zilladog]

I love that he stated multiple times that you can replicate the experiment and encouraged everyone to go do it.

I think General is the man for the job

Except it doesn't account for the control set of the Colts footballs showing no such changes.

Sure it does. Maybe the Colts beat up their balls less? Maybe Luck likes his balls set at 13.5? Maybe the Colts (knowing there would be some testing done at halftime) adjusted to make sure theirs didn't look bad too? Maybe the colts beat up their balls outdoors? Or maybe they have a different process of breaking in theirs?

Doesn't seem to be that much up for debate anymore. If you don't believe BB that breaking them in raises it 1psi, then do the experiment. He challenges anyone to do so, and I'm sure SOMEONE out there will do it. Don't think he'd make this challenge if he was purposely lying about this whole thing.

Being from the Boston area, I've already heard of countless DIY experiments on this issue. Most seem to support a large drop in psi. But you have to take a lot of it with a grain of salt, because virtually NONE of these people know how to run a proper experiment under controlled conditions. Even still, the DIY experiment evidence certainly seems to help the Pats case.

 

[ROCKET]

I don't think you can guarantee a ball will stay in compliance thru every weather/atmospheric condition. Could you imagine taking psi readings of balls in 10-20 degree weather?

 

[Steelers4Life]

He served the function as the defense lawyer trying to come up with an alternate theory to create reasonable doubt. Since the NFL was dragging their feet saying anything, it was a good play to slow to down the public lynching they're taking. And most of that lynching is because they've lost the benefit of the doubt with everyone outside of their fans.

So he's basically saying they bounce the balls around enough that the pressure is artificially inflated right before the officials do their thing, and then the pressure drops back down below, and then a little more because of a 20 degree drop in weather?

Pats fans will feel this should close the book on it I'm sure. Personally, I can't imagine what they do that'll raise the PSI by 1 just by rubbing them unless they're running through a cycle in a dryer.

It's the NFL's turn, and given the opportunity, I'm sure they'll want to make this go away if they have a way to do it. I also don't believe for a second that if this version is true, they don't know the impact that stuff has on the pressure of the ball.

 

[NE_REVIVAL]

so they basically roughed the balls up (likely using a dryer or other tumbling machine) and that heated the air inside. So how exactly is that different from inflating with hot air. From my perspective, they were playing with a 10.5 psi ball which is illegal. And this looks to be how they prep their footballs every week, so this indicated they have been way under the legal threshold for a long time now.

This does not change the narrative for me at all. The Patriots just as well could have been pumping them with hot air or helium. The knew their method would lower the PSI to well below the acceptable standard during game play.

I think he was pretty emphatic that they did not heat the balls, but nice try......

 

[Workhorse]

so they basically roughed the balls up (likely using a dryer or other tumbling machine) and that heated the air inside. So how exactly is that different from inflating with hot air. From my perspective, they were playing with a 10.5 psi ball which is illegal. And this looks to be how they prep their footballs every week, so this indicated they have been way under the legal threshold for a long time now.

This does not change the narrative for me at all. The Patriots just as well could have been pumping them with hot air or helium. The knew their method would lower the PSI to well below the acceptable standard during game play.

That's not against the rules. You don't like it? Change the rule.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

so they basically roughed the balls up (likely using a dryer or other tumbling machine) and that heated the air inside. So how exactly is that different from inflating with hot air. From my perspective, they were playing with a 10.5 psi ball which is illegal. And this looks to be how they prep their footballs every week, so this indicated they have been way under the legal threshold for a long time now.

This does not change the narrative for me at all. The Patriots just as well could have been pumping them with hot air or helium. The knew their method would lower the PSI to well below the acceptable standard during game play.

It would explain why Brady noticed no difference in the balls. I just can't believe they got away with it for so long before someone called them out on it.

 

[Old Smiley]

Q: Did NFL share...

A: talk to the NFL

Seriously laughed. Still laughing.

 

[JaxBill]

I love that he stated multiple times that you can replicate the experiment and encouraged everyone to go do it.

I think General is the man for the job

Except it doesn't account for the control set of the Colts footballs showing no such changes.

If the Pats balls registered 2 PSI lower than the Colts' (minimum) than wouldn't their unique prep have to account for that difference and not 1 PSI? Only way that wouldn't be the case is if the Indy balls were inflated more initially but he said the referees inflate them and don't have direction from the team on that, so wouldn't they inflate all the balls the same? They wouldn't arbitrarily put more air in one team's balls.

That's what I'm thinking. In which case BB's denial is really an indictment that the team does special prep to skirt the guidelines.

 

[biju]

I don't think you can guarantee a ball will stay in compliance thru every weather/atmospheric condition. Could you imagine taking psi readings of balls in 10-20 degree weather?

I agree it will change, but there are more than enough TV timeouts during a game to continually check the pressure. This is probably at most a 5 second process for each ball, right? Or am I missing something?

 

[John Bender]

so they basically roughed the balls up (likely using a dryer or other tumbling machine) and that heated the air inside. So how exactly is that different from inflating with hot air. From my perspective, they were playing with a 10.5 psi ball which is illegal. And this looks to be how they prep their footballs every week, so this indicated they have been way under the legal threshold for a long time now.

This does not change the narrative for me at all. The Patriots just as well could have been pumping them with hot air or helium. The knew their method would lower the PSI to well below the acceptable standard during game play.

I think every team does this though, no?

 

[Insomniac]

I want to watch My Cousin Vinny now. Hilarious press conference. Love it.

It's on Starz right now

 

[zilladog]

so they basically roughed the balls up (likely using a dryer or other tumbling machine) and that heated the air inside. So how exactly is that different from inflating with hot air. From my perspective, they were playing with a 10.5 psi ball which is illegal. And this looks to be how they prep their footballs every week, so this indicated they have been way under the legal threshold for a long time now.

This does not change the narrative for me at all. The Patriots just as well could have been pumping them with hot air or helium. The knew their method would lower the PSI to well below the acceptable standard during game play.

BB said in the presser that at no time were the balls exposed to any heating elements of any kind. I'm paraphrasing...But that was basically what he said. When Tom Curran asked if they'd been put in a dryer he reiterated the fact that the balls were never heated in any way.

 

[NE_REVIVAL]

so they basically roughed the balls up (likely using a dryer or other tumbling machine) and that heated the air inside. So how exactly is that different from inflating with hot air. From my perspective, they were playing with a 10.5 psi ball which is illegal. And this looks to be how they prep their footballs every week, so this indicated they have been way under the legal threshold for a long time now.

This does not change the narrative for me at all. The Patriots just as well could have been pumping them with hot air or helium. The knew their method would lower the PSI to well below the acceptable standard during game play.

I think every team does this though, no?

Probably, but every team isn't the much hated Patriots; you know, the "Narrative" so many want to propagate...

 

[rick6668]

so they basically roughed the balls up (likely using a dryer or other tumbling machine) and that heated the air inside. So how exactly is that different from inflating with hot air. From my perspective, they were playing with a 10.5 psi ball which is illegal. And this looks to be how they prep their footballs every week, so this indicated they have been way under the legal threshold for a long time now.

This does not change the narrative for me at all. The Patriots just as well could have been pumping them with hot air or helium. The knew their method would lower the PSI to well below the acceptable standard during game play.

I think he was pretty emphatic that they did not heat the balls, but nice try......

Impossible to increase the pressure inside the balls without heat (without adding additional air).

Heat was added whether it was directly or through friction.

 

[Morton Muffley]

He served the function as the defense lawyer trying to come up with an alternate theory to create reasonable doubt. Since the NFL was dragging their feet saying anything, it was a good play to slow to down the public lynching they're taking. And most of that lynching is because they've lost the benefit of the doubt with everyone outside of their fans.

So he's basically saying they bounce the balls around enough that the pressure is artificially inflated right before the officials do their thing, and then the pressure drops back down below, and then a little more because of a 20 degree drop in weather?

Pats fans will feel this should close the book on it I'm sure. Personally, I can't imagine what they do that'll raise the PSI by 1 just by rubbing them unless they're running through a cycle in a dryer.

It's the NFL's turn, and given the opportunity, I'm sure they'll want to make this go away if they have a way to do it. I also don't believe for a second that if this version is true, they don't know the impact that stuff has on the pressure of the ball.

So now the argument against the patriots moves from wrongdoing to intent? Is that what we are doing now?

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

so they basically roughed the balls up (likely using a dryer or other tumbling machine) and that heated the air inside. So how exactly is that different from inflating with hot air. From my perspective, they were playing with a 10.5 psi ball which is illegal. And this looks to be how they prep their footballs every week, so this indicated they have been way under the legal threshold for a long time now.

This does not change the narrative for me at all. The Patriots just as well could have been pumping them with hot air or helium. The knew their method would lower the PSI to well below the acceptable standard during game play.

I think he was pretty emphatic that they did not heat the balls, but nice try......

You know some other way for the PSI to go up? I mean if it's not heat... ?

 

[Bucky86]

so they basically roughed the balls up (likely using a dryer or other tumbling machine) and that heated the air inside. So how exactly is that different from inflating with hot air. From my perspective, they were playing with a 10.5 psi ball which is illegal. And this looks to be how they prep their footballs every week, so this indicated they have been way under the legal threshold for a long time now.

This does not change the narrative for me at all. The Patriots just as well could have been pumping them with hot air or helium. The knew their method would lower the PSI to well below the acceptable standard during game play.

I think he was pretty emphatic that they did not heat the balls, but nice try......

You know some other way for the PSI to go up? I mean if it's not heat... ?

Maybe general sits on them like a bird with eggs.

 

[Workhorse]

There is no way that Bob Kraft lets Belichick do that presser unless he was 100% convinced that the Pats did nothing wrong. Unless the NFL can find a smoking gun, they owe the Pats a pretty big apology for all of this.

 

[Touchdown Syndrome]

You kow how I know Bill is being 100% truthful and that this is all bull####? Because he stood in that podium and got hammered nationally for "spygate" and not once did he downplay the severity of the fines imposed or the process the NFL used. He went up there, owned up to it, got his integrity questioned and weathered the year long ####storm that came along with it. In his mind he obviously thought it was unfair that he was being punished this harshly for inconsequential bull#### that's rampant around the league, but he knew technically he was in the wrong, so he didn't fight it. The fact that he came on so strong today leaves no doubt in my mind the Pats had absolutely nothing to do with this.

Wait, so you offer to dissect the ### of a forum member, AND you are now blatantly fellating Belichick. Dude...get a room...you're getting way too excited.

We get it, you think BB is a swell guy. Relax.

 

[zilladog]

so they basically roughed the balls up (likely using a dryer or other tumbling machine) and that heated the air inside. So how exactly is that different from inflating with hot air. From my perspective, they were playing with a 10.5 psi ball which is illegal. And this looks to be how they prep their footballs every week, so this indicated they have been way under the legal threshold for a long time now.

This does not change the narrative for me at all. The Patriots just as well could have been pumping them with hot air or helium. The knew their method would lower the PSI to well below the acceptable standard during game play.

I think he was pretty emphatic that they did not heat the balls, but nice try......

You know some other way for the PSI to go up? I mean if it's not heat... ?

Friction. No heating element needed....apparently.

 

[Run It Up]

100% convinced at this point that even if the league comes out and issues an apology and finds no fault in the Pats organization people will still be harping about this garbage in 10 years.

 

[NE_REVIVAL]

so they basically roughed the balls up (likely using a dryer or other tumbling machine) and that heated the air inside. So how exactly is that different from inflating with hot air. From my perspective, they were playing with a 10.5 psi ball which is illegal. And this looks to be how they prep their footballs every week, so this indicated they have been way under the legal threshold for a long time now.

This does not change the narrative for me at all. The Patriots just as well could have been pumping them with hot air or helium. The knew their method would lower the PSI to well below the acceptable standard during game play.

I think he was pretty emphatic that they did not heat the balls, but nice try......

You know some other way for the PSI to go up? I mean if it's not heat... ?

I'm telling you what the man said, not the "narrative" some are promoting. Look, we are going to find out exactly what the process was and if what he said can be duplicated then this is much ado about nothing; if it can't then that is a different story.