Patriots being investigated after Colts game (3 Viewers)

[rockaction]

REPOST?

 

[moleculo]

it's pretty clear, IMO. per the rulebook, scuffing/roughing up/ etc is not forbidden. In fact, the rules seem to specifically allow it, otherwise they would exclusively require fresh-out-of-the-box footballs for all uses, just like the K balls.

However, the league rule book specifically states that the balls must fall within a particular pressure and weight window, 2:15 prior to kick-off.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

wow I think theres a growing chance he gets suspended for the game... I would be he gets to chose the game or all next season... I would imagine he chooses the game

for the record I don't agree with this but its weird how these media circles are marshaling

Deflating footballs clearly doesn't merit a huge sanction by itself. It's the fact that that cheating scandals follow this particular team/coach that make a more severe penalty warranted. The fact that we're talking about the same guy who got busted for spygate matters a lot.

I can't disagree on the basis... but after hearing so much about how other QBs manipulate balls, I don't know that this deserves the hammer. But I guess if the momentum is going the wrong way and if Goodell wants to finally show some backbone on a signficant manner, he will drop that hammer indeed

For the record, I don't think he'll be suspended for the SB, nor should he be. The Patriots are still entitled to due process and there's no reasonable way to do that between now and the SB. Obviously this SB appearance is tainted, so there's at least some informal punishment attached to it.

I imagine any fine, suspension, etc. would occur during the offseason.

 

[General Malaise]

And yet the line hasn't changed a lick. Holding strong at Pats -1.5.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

I'm hearing from some pepes with connections that BB is going to be suspended for the Super Bowl.

If true (and, well, you know) it would probably mean they tracked this idea back to him. Doubt he's the one who takes the fall unless he knew about it ahead of time. Otherwise they'd go after the organization?

 

[Devine Intervention]

This is funny. Other players have said they have done it. Some have wrote about in books, some have bribed people to do it. Was there this much back lash when they admitted it or where caught? Nope, why? Because haters going to hate. I hope that the Pats win the super bowl on a touchdown with no time left on the clock and then Belichick runs onto the field with a tire pump in his hand and deflates the ball and then spikes it in the endzone.

What QB, besides Bradshaw(so in the last 30 years) admitted to changing the ball so much that it was outside the legal limit?

I know they scuffed it up and wore it out, etc. but that is inside NFL regulations. Which QB admitted to changing the football to specifications that were made illegal by the league?

 

[Deamon]

I keep seeing Pats fans saying something about hot air being pumped into the balls. Is there proof or is this just them being silly?

If I had to believe one of the two, either they cheated and deflated balls or they pumped hot air into the balls pregame, well like most Im leaning to the cheating side.

And someone said I keep using the word cheating...yeah. That's kind of the idea. They cheated. That's what you are going to get called.

So where's your proof that they cheated? If you're so hell bent on saying they cheated then you surely must have proof. Innocent until proven guilty right? Please show me how you and the league came to the conclusion that they cheated.

That is why I said, if it had to believe one based off of the evidence found I would lean towards them cheating. Based off of what evidence that the NFL has found already and the opinion of people around the league its looking more like cheating. And those who are trying to say they filled the balls with hot air are more likely grasping at straws.

I don't think its grasping at straws. I think that actually seems like a logical, sneaky, smart thing to do. You get your balls that your qb likes to throw, you do it 'within the rules' of giving proper psi balls to the refs, and that's that.

What 'evidence" are you talking about though? I'll join you as soon as they prove that someone actually stuck a pin in and deflated them after the weigh in. Although, it seems many qbs manipulate the balls. Not trying to use the "if everyone does it it's okay" logic, because it's not. But in context here, there's always a lot of 'unwritten laws' of the game that are generally accepted until twitter gets a hold of it and message boards go nuts.

 

[msudaisy26]

Can you imagine what will happen if the NFL just fines them, or says the Patriots did nothing wrong? This place is going to be hilarious!!!

 

[thatguy]

Good job*.

* bostonfred is a Pats homer

and proud. It's a blast rooting for a team that wins all the time. I know I was supposed to be all sad about the patriots losing in 07 but it was like oh by the way, sorry your team didn't win four titles in seven years. Here's a second red Sox championship. And the Bruins and Celtics. I thought bostons run might finally be over and here we are watching another home town team playing for yet another title. It's silly. I'd hate us too if I were you.

yeah, it's pretty crazy what's been going on in boston --- how is this even possible?

did some guy bring a magic goat to a game or something?

every time you turn around somebody's playing for a championship

I moved to Boston in 2001 and left in early 2009. I think that pretty much sums it up.

 

[msudaisy26]

This is funny. Other players have said they have done it. Some have wrote about in books, some have bribed people to do it. Was there this much back lash when they admitted it or where caught? Nope, why? Because haters going to hate. I hope that the Pats win the super bowl on a touchdown with no time left on the clock and then Belichick runs onto the field with a tire pump in his hand and deflates the ball and then spikes it in the endzone.

What QB, besides Bradshaw(so in the last 30 years) admitted to changing the ball so much that it was outside the legal limit?

I know they scuffed it up and wore it out, etc. but that is inside NFL regulations. Which QB admitted to changing the football to specifications that were made illegal by the league?

Brad Johnson paid someone off in the super bowl to do it. Does it really matter, another person/team did it a very successful team and not a word.

 

[Devine Intervention]

This is funny. Other players have said they have done it. Some have wrote about in books, some have bribed people to do it. Was there this much back lash when they admitted it or where caught? Nope, why? Because haters going to hate. I hope that the Pats win the super bowl on a touchdown with no time left on the clock and then Belichick runs onto the field with a tire pump in his hand and deflates the ball and then spikes it in the endzone.

What QB, besides Bradshaw(so in the last 30 years) admitted to changing the ball so much that it was outside the legal limit?

I know they scuffed it up and wore it out, etc. but that is inside NFL regulations. Which QB admitted to changing the football to specifications that were made illegal by the league?

Brad Johnson paid someone off in the super bowl to do it. Does it really matter, another person/team did it a very successful team and not a word.

he said he changed the PSI in the ball below or above the legal limit?? Or did he just have them scuff it up, which is allowed in the rules.

 

[Deamon]

This is funny. Other players have said they have done it. Some have wrote about in books, some have bribed people to do it. Was there this much back lash when they admitted it or where caught? Nope, why? Because haters going to hate. I hope that the Pats win the super bowl on a touchdown with no time left on the clock and then Belichick runs onto the field with a tire pump in his hand and deflates the ball and then spikes it in the endzone.

What QB, besides Bradshaw(so in the last 30 years) admitted to changing the ball so much that it was outside the legal limit?

I know they scuffed it up and wore it out, etc. but that is inside NFL regulations. Which QB admitted to changing the football to specifications that were made illegal by the league?

Brad Johnson paid someone off in the super bowl to do it. Does it really matter, another person/team did it a very successful team and not a word.

Ya, the social media world sure has fuelled this one. WIthout twitter, without as much message board action, etc, a lot of these 'unwritten laws' of the game that just go on throughout the league (filming signals, offering bounties, manipulating game balls, etc) stay in the dark. Everything is magnified and being watched more closely now.

 

[General Tso]

wow I think theres a growing chance he gets suspended for the game... I would be he gets to chose the game or all next season... I would imagine he chooses the game

for the record I don't agree with this but its weird how these media circles are marshaling

Deflating footballs clearly doesn't merit a huge sanction by itself. It's the fact that that cheating scandals follow this particular team/coach that make a more severe penalty warranted. The fact that we're talking about the same guy who got busted for spygate matters a lot.

I can't disagree on the basis... but after hearing so much about how other QBs manipulate balls, I don't know that this deserves the hammer. But I guess if the momentum is going the wrong way and if Goodell wants to finally show some backbone on a signficant manner, he will drop that hammer indeed

For the record, I don't think he'll be suspended for the SB, nor should he be. The Patriots are still entitled to due process and there's no reasonable way to do that between now and the SB. Obviously this SB appearance is tainted, so there's at least some informal punishment attached to it.

I imagine any fine, suspension, etc. would occur during the offseason.

coaches can't appeal suspensions. Only players can.

 

[rockaction]

Nope.

CHEATERS!!!

 

[parrot]

This is funny. Other players have said they have done it. Some have wrote about in books, some have bribed people to do it. Was there this much back lash when they admitted it or where caught? Nope, why? Because haters going to hate. I hope that the Pats win the super bowl on a touchdown with no time left on the clock and then Belichick runs onto the field with a tire pump in his hand and deflates the ball and then spikes it in the endzone.

What QB, besides Bradshaw(so in the last 30 years) admitted to changing the ball so much that it was outside the legal limit?

I know they scuffed it up and wore it out, etc. but that is inside NFL regulations. Which QB admitted to changing the football to specifications that were made illegal by the league?

Rodgers.

 

[rick6668]

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/12202450/nfl-says-new-england-patriots-had-inflated-footballs-afc-championship-game

League sources have confirmed that the footballs were properly inspected and approved by referee Walt Anderson 2 hours and 15 minutes before kickoff, before they were returned to each team.

ESPN Sports Radio 810 in Kansas City reported that the Patriots' footballs were tested at the half, reinflated at that time when they were found to be low, then put back in play for the second half, and then tested again after the game. The report did not reveal the results of the test following the game. All of the balls the Colts used met standards, according to the report.

...

The balls are required to be inflated between 12.5 and 13.5 pounds per square inch and weigh between 14 and 15 ounces. Once approved by the referee, the balls are then put into ball bags and are set on the sideline for each team. The ball bags are not guarded or watched in any way. When an official calls for a new football, a team's designated ball boy will get a new football from the ball bag and give it to the official.

 

[Devine Intervention]

I keep seeing Pats fans saying something about hot air being pumped into the balls. Is there proof or is this just them being silly?

If I had to believe one of the two, either they cheated and deflated balls or they pumped hot air into the balls pregame, well like most Im leaning to the cheating side.

And someone said I keep using the word cheating...yeah. That's kind of the idea. They cheated. That's what you are going to get called.

So where's your proof that they cheated? If you're so hell bent on saying they cheated then you surely must have proof. Innocent until proven guilty right? Please show me how you and the league came to the conclusion that they cheated.

That is why I said, if it had to believe one based off of the evidence found I would lean towards them cheating. Based off of what evidence that the NFL has found already and the opinion of people around the league its looking more like cheating. And those who are trying to say they filled the balls with hot air are more likely grasping at straws.

I don't think its grasping at straws. I think that actually seems like a logical, sneaky, smart thing to do. You get your balls that your qb likes to throw, you do it 'within the rules' of giving proper psi balls to the refs, and that's that.

What 'evidence" are you talking about though? I'll join you as soon as they prove that someone actually stuck a pin in and deflated them after the weigh in. Although, it seems many qbs manipulate the balls. Not trying to use the "if everyone does it it's okay" logic, because it's not. But in context here, there's always a lot of 'unwritten laws' of the game that are generally accepted until twitter gets a hold of it and message boards go nuts.

the evidence that shows they were examined and passed and then examined again at half time and were over 2 PSI below the limit.

Now I know there is a bunch of crazy scenarios that could have happened but for now I will just assume. And yes, maybe that's not the case and I see your side. But they are known for crossing that line, so its not crazy to think.

 

[Flying Elvis]

Pretty much everyone agrees this isn't a big deal, right?

However, everyone would also agree that changing the balls to a condition outside the rules after they have been OK'd game ready by the refs is a bit shady, right?

That's different than Eli doing witchcraft to his ball, or Rodgers filling them up. Those are OK'd by the refs and not changed after.

Lord, the game can't get here quick enough.

That's the key question in my mind. Not trying to say "everyone does it" but the Aaron Rodgers quote about submitting balls that are over the limit, and see if the refs notice and let some air out is not a punishable offense.

If the patriots submitted balls that were under-inflated for inspection, and the refs let it slide, I don't think that's punishable. If they doctored the balls after they submitted them, roast 'em. Fine, suspension, and wouldn't be too surprised to see Kraft fire BB if he's behind it.

Agreed. If they passed inspection and (as has been suggested) the hot air used lead to more rapid pressure loss, they didn't actually break any rules. They found a brilliant way to circumvent the spirit of the rule. I still find that to be tremendously disappointing. Disappointment, however, isn't really grounds for suspensions, fines, docking of draft picks, or any other penalty.

I find it amusing how Patriots fans try to claim that every team does things like this and what happened during spygate, yet no other team gets accused or caught doing it. Just admit that Belichick does everything he can to gain an advantage, including cheating, and own it.

Why do these things need to be mutually exclusive? I think they are both true.

Spot on. Yes, it's very disappointing to see deceptive practices (at best) from the team you support. It's also quite naive to believe there is only one set of coaches/staff/players in a billion dollar industry that are pushing every rule in their chase for wins, job security, and money.

IF the Patriots get caught.....again. That's all that matters. If you get caught, you pay the piper. They need to lose their 1st and 2nd rd picks this year and lower their salary cap $$$$ significantly. Belichick and the Patriots needs to be a taught that if they cheat, they're going to get hammered...period!!

I agree with everything you say. Assuming, of course, the outrageously huge penalties noted were sarcasm fueled by your admitted (and understandable) hate.

 

[Gandalf the Grey]

I'm hearing from some pepes with connections that BB is going to be suspended for the Super Bowl.

If true (and, well, you know) it would probably mean they tracked this idea back to him. Doubt he's the one who takes the fall unless he knew about it ahead of time. Otherwise they'd go after the organization?

I don't know if this is true. Remember the rationale for suspending Payton for a season for Bounty-Gate, that if he didn't know, he should have (paraphrasing). Of course, this is relatively insignificant compared to bounties on players

Shannon Sharpe-FWIW-said a little bit ago on ESPN that if the balls were manipulated purposely he thinks BB should get a one year suspension. Yeah, I know it's Shannon Sharpe, and no way that happens.

The almost complete coverup and lack of transparency with Spygate though-who knows, the league took a lot of heat over that. Maybe that will impact what happens here (if it turns out to be typical Pats shenanigans).

 

[MG345]

This is funny. Other players have said they have done it. Some have wrote about in books, some have bribed people to do it. Was there this much back lash when they admitted it or where caught? Nope, why? Because haters going to hate. I hope that the Pats win the super bowl on a touchdown with no time left on the clock and then Belichick runs onto the field with a tire pump in his hand and deflates the ball and then spikes it in the endzone.

What QB, besides Bradshaw(so in the last 30 years) admitted to changing the ball so much that it was outside the legal limit?

I know they scuffed it up and wore it out, etc. but that is inside NFL regulations. Which QB admitted to changing the football to specifications that were made illegal by the league?

Rodgers.

He just said they try to over inflated them before they give them to the refs. He also said the refs let the air back out of them.

 

[devouredbychaos]

I keep seeing Pats fans saying something about hot air being pumped into the balls. Is there proof or is this just them being silly?

If I had to believe one of the two, either they cheated and deflated balls or they pumped hot air into the balls pregame, well like most Im leaning to the cheating side.

And someone said I keep using the word cheating...yeah. That's kind of the idea. They cheated. That's what you are going to get called.

So where's your proof that they cheated? If you're so hell bent on saying they cheated then you surely must have proof. Innocent until proven guilty right? Please show me how you and the league came to the conclusion that they cheated.

That is why I said, if it had to believe one based off of the evidence found I would lean towards them cheating. Based off of what evidence that the NFL has found already and the opinion of people around the league its looking more like cheating. And those who are trying to say they filled the balls with hot air are more likely grasping at straws.

Based on what evidence the NFL found..So because 11 out of 12 balls being under inflated I guess it's automatically assumed cheating? Lol. And what are people around the league saying? Because most of what I've seen is lots of former players/coaches saying it's not a big deal and happens everywhere. So again, you're basing these cheating allegations off of nothing. All I gotta say is.. You hate us cause you ain't us Have fun trying to prove they cheated with no real facts, I'll be over here watching my team compete in the Super Bowl yet again.

 

[JohnnyU]

I find it amusing how Patriots fans try to claim that every team does things like this and what happened during spygate, yet no other team gets accused or caught doing it. Just admit that Belichick does everything he can to gain an advantage, including cheating, and own it.

Why do these things need to be mutually exclusive? I think they are both true.

Spot on. Yes, it's very disappointing to see deceptive practices (at best) from the team you support. It's also quite naive to believe there is only one set of coaches/staff/players in a billion dollar industry that are pushing every rule in their chase for wins, job security, and money.

IF the Patriots get caught.....again. That's all that matters. If you get caught, you pay the piper. They need to lose their 1st and 2nd rd picks this year and lower their salary cap $$$$ significantly. Belichick and the Patriots needs to be a taught that if they cheat, they're going to get hammered...period!!

the funny thing is that even if this actually happened they still be beating the colts ### next year

I don't doubt that for a second, but that is not the point is it? Intent is.

 

[Deamon]

I keep seeing Pats fans saying something about hot air being pumped into the balls. Is there proof or is this just them being silly?

If I had to believe one of the two, either they cheated and deflated balls or they pumped hot air into the balls pregame, well like most Im leaning to the cheating side.

And someone said I keep using the word cheating...yeah. That's kind of the idea. They cheated. That's what you are going to get called.

So where's your proof that they cheated? If you're so hell bent on saying they cheated then you surely must have proof. Innocent until proven guilty right? Please show me how you and the league came to the conclusion that they cheated.

That is why I said, if it had to believe one based off of the evidence found I would lean towards them cheating. Based off of what evidence that the NFL has found already and the opinion of people around the league its looking more like cheating. And those who are trying to say they filled the balls with hot air are more likely grasping at straws.

I don't think its grasping at straws. I think that actually seems like a logical, sneaky, smart thing to do. You get your balls that your qb likes to throw, you do it 'within the rules' of giving proper psi balls to the refs, and that's that.

What 'evidence" are you talking about though? I'll join you as soon as they prove that someone actually stuck a pin in and deflated them after the weigh in. Although, it seems many qbs manipulate the balls. Not trying to use the "if everyone does it it's okay" logic, because it's not. But in context here, there's always a lot of 'unwritten laws' of the game that are generally accepted until twitter gets a hold of it and message boards go nuts.

the evidence that shows they were examined and passed and then examined again at half time and were over 2 PSI below the limit.

Now I know there is a bunch of crazy scenarios that could have happened but for now I will just assume. And yes, maybe that's not the case and I see your side. But they are known for crossing that line, so its not crazy to think.

I just hope that people can remain SOMEWHAT impartial until we do find out what really happened. And some are saying we may never know, but I really hope that isn't the case. If they say 'they don't know how they did it" then it is just going to be years of bickering of "you're cheaters" .... "no we're not there's no proof".

It just sucks that likely nothing will come out in the next 10 days, and anyone betting on/cheering for Seattle is going to discount the accomplishment of The Pats if they win and try to bring others down too.

 

[HellToupee]

if Ridley didnt keep fumbling the past few year Bill would never have lowered the psi

 

[JohnnyU]

I find it amusing how Patriots fans try to claim that every team does things like this and what happened during spygate, yet no other team gets accused or caught doing it. Just admit that Belichick does everything he can to gain an advantage, including cheating, and own it.

Why do these things need to be mutually exclusive? I think they are both true.

Spot on. Yes, it's very disappointing to see deceptive practices (at best) from the team you support. It's also quite naive to believe there is only one set of coaches/staff/players in a billion dollar industry that are pushing every rule in their chase for wins, job security, and money.

IF the Patriots get caught.....again. That's all that matters. If you get caught, you pay the piper. They need to lose their 1st and 2nd rd picks this year and lower their salary cap $$$$ significantly. Belichick and the Patriots needs to be a taught that if they cheat, they're going to get hammered...period!!

Dude....I hate the Pats as much as the next guy, but come on.

The integrity of the league is at stake here. At some point you have to do something to fix it.

 

[Jercules]

This is funny. Other players have said they have done it. Some have wrote about in books, some have bribed people to do it. Was there this much back lash when they admitted it or where caught? Nope, why? Because haters going to hate. I hope that the Pats win the super bowl on a touchdown with no time left on the clock and then Belichick runs onto the field with a tire pump in his hand and deflates the ball and then spikes it in the endzone.

What QB, besides Bradshaw(so in the last 30 years) admitted to changing the ball so much that it was outside the legal limit?

I know they scuffed it up and wore it out, etc. but that is inside NFL regulations. Which QB admitted to changing the football to specifications that were made illegal by the league?

Brad Johnson paid someone off in the super bowl to do it. Does it really matter, another person/team did it a very successful team and not a word.

he said he changed the PSI in the ball below or above the legal limit?? Or did he just have them scuff it up, which is allowed in the rules.

Aaron Rodgers likes over-inflated balls, and he admitted to giving a few to the refs before a game and hoping they wouldn't notice. On a radio show, he basically advocated the notion that it's up to the refs to find fault with any of the balls. In other words, if a beach ball ends up in the game, it's on the refs.

Does anyone else feel like we're all being trolled by the media with this? A non-issue is getting traction because of this phony 'cheater' label attached to the Patriots, and here we are killing time.

 

[Devine Intervention]

I keep seeing Pats fans saying something about hot air being pumped into the balls. Is there proof or is this just them being silly?

If I had to believe one of the two, either they cheated and deflated balls or they pumped hot air into the balls pregame, well like most Im leaning to the cheating side.

And someone said I keep using the word cheating...yeah. That's kind of the idea. They cheated. That's what you are going to get called.

So where's your proof that they cheated? If you're so hell bent on saying they cheated then you surely must have proof. Innocent until proven guilty right? Please show me how you and the league came to the conclusion that they cheated.

That is why I said, if it had to believe one based off of the evidence found I would lean towards them cheating. Based off of what evidence that the NFL has found already and the opinion of people around the league its looking more like cheating. And those who are trying to say they filled the balls with hot air are more likely grasping at straws.

Based on what evidence the NFL found..So because 11 out of 12 balls being under inflated I guess it's automatically assumed cheating? Lol. And what are people around the league saying? Because most of what I've seen is lots of former players/coaches saying it's not a big deal and happens everywhere. So again, you're basing these cheating allegations off of nothing. All I gotta say is.. You hate us cause you ain't us Have fun trying to prove they cheated with no real facts, I'll be over here watching my team compete in the Super Bowl yet again.

yeah all of this media craze of deflategate is just haters. Haha nothing to be seen. Just haters.

 

[MG345]

This is funny. Other players have said they have done it. Some have wrote about in books, some have bribed people to do it. Was there this much back lash when they admitted it or where caught? Nope, why? Because haters going to hate. I hope that the Pats win the super bowl on a touchdown with no time left on the clock and then Belichick runs onto the field with a tire pump in his hand and deflates the ball and then spikes it in the endzone.

What QB, besides Bradshaw(so in the last 30 years) admitted to changing the ball so much that it was outside the legal limit?

I know they scuffed it up and wore it out, etc. but that is inside NFL regulations. Which QB admitted to changing the football to specifications that were made illegal by the league?

Brad Johnson paid someone off in the super bowl to do it. Does it really matter, another person/team did it a very successful team and not a word.

he said he changed the PSI in the ball below or above the legal limit?? Or did he just have them scuff it up, which is allowed in the rules.

Aaron Rodgers likes over-inflated balls, and he admitted to giving a few to the refs before a game and hoping they wouldn't notice. On a radio show, he basically advocated the notion that it's up to the refs to find fault with any of the balls. In other words, if a beach ball ends up in the game, it's on the refs.

Does anyone else feel like we're all being trolled by the media with this? A non-issue is getting traction because of this phony 'cheater' label attached to the Patriots, and here we are killing time.

He also said they deflate them when they are over the limit. No one is arguing that other teams don't try to get stuff past the refs. If that is what happened, so be it. If they tampered with the balls post check is the question.

Why is this so hard for people to understand?

 

[parrot]

This is funny. Other players have said they have done it. Some have wrote about in books, some have bribed people to do it. Was there this much back lash when they admitted it or where caught? Nope, why? Because haters going to hate. I hope that the Pats win the super bowl on a touchdown with no time left on the clock and then Belichick runs onto the field with a tire pump in his hand and deflates the ball and then spikes it in the endzone.

What QB, besides Bradshaw(so in the last 30 years) admitted to changing the ball so much that it was outside the legal limit?

I know they scuffed it up and wore it out, etc. but that is inside NFL regulations. Which QB admitted to changing the football to specifications that were made illegal by the league?

Rodgers.

He just said they try to over inflated them before they give them to the refs. He also said the refs let the air back out of them.

The question was "Which QB admitted to changing the football to specifications that were made illegal by the league?" This is exactly what Rodgers admitted to doing. And he clearly did it at least hoping to get the out-of-spec balls into play. Whether it ever worked is anyone's guess.

 

[Devine Intervention]

This is funny. Other players have said they have done it. Some have wrote about in books, some have bribed people to do it. Was there this much back lash when they admitted it or where caught? Nope, why? Because haters going to hate. I hope that the Pats win the super bowl on a touchdown with no time left on the clock and then Belichick runs onto the field with a tire pump in his hand and deflates the ball and then spikes it in the endzone.

What QB, besides Bradshaw(so in the last 30 years) admitted to changing the ball so much that it was outside the legal limit?

I know they scuffed it up and wore it out, etc. but that is inside NFL regulations. Which QB admitted to changing the football to specifications that were made illegal by the league?

Brad Johnson paid someone off in the super bowl to do it. Does it really matter, another person/team did it a very successful team and not a word.

he said he changed the PSI in the ball below or above the legal limit?? Or did he just have them scuff it up, which is allowed in the rules.

Aaron Rodgers likes over-inflated balls, and he admitted to giving a few to the refs before a game and hoping they wouldn't notice. On a radio show, he basically advocated the notion that it's up to the refs to find fault with any of the balls. In other words, if a beach ball ends up in the game, it's on the refs.

Does anyone else feel like we're all being trolled by the media with this? A non-issue is getting traction because of this phony 'cheater' label attached to the Patriots, and here we are killing time.

too bad there has been reports that they did check the balls pregame and the refs said the balls fit regulation. So no, its not on the refs. Rodgers did not play with inflated balls, he just preferred it and didn't admit to illegally changing the PSI in the ball after the inspection

 

[MG345]

This is funny. Other players have said they have done it. Some have wrote about in books, some have bribed people to do it. Was there this much back lash when they admitted it or where caught? Nope, why? Because haters going to hate. I hope that the Pats win the super bowl on a touchdown with no time left on the clock and then Belichick runs onto the field with a tire pump in his hand and deflates the ball and then spikes it in the endzone.

What QB, besides Bradshaw(so in the last 30 years) admitted to changing the ball so much that it was outside the legal limit?

I know they scuffed it up and wore it out, etc. but that is inside NFL regulations. Which QB admitted to changing the football to specifications that were made illegal by the league?

Rodgers.

He just said they try to over inflated them before they give them to the refs. He also said the refs let the air back out of them.

The question was "Which QB admitted to changing the football to specifications that were made illegal by the league?" This is exactly what Rodgers admitted to doing. And he clearly did it hoping to get the balls into play. Whether it ever worked is anyone's guess.

The key component to that question, and one that assumes everyone is reasonably intelligent, is AFTER the ref check.

 

[GoodLloydHaveMercy]

I've never in my life seen a dumber "controversy" than this one. Anyone who believes that [somehow the Patriots stealing signals via videotaping gives them an advantage, or somehow the Patriots being able to keep booth to helmet communication to the QB past the time allowed within NFL guidelines giving them an advantage] Has lost their minds. But yet, many will believe that because they [JUSTIFIABLY] hate the Pats.

Ahhhhh... Much better

 

[Devine Intervention]

This is funny. Other players have said they have done it. Some have wrote about in books, some have bribed people to do it. Was there this much back lash when they admitted it or where caught? Nope, why? Because haters going to hate. I hope that the Pats win the super bowl on a touchdown with no time left on the clock and then Belichick runs onto the field with a tire pump in his hand and deflates the ball and then spikes it in the endzone.

What QB, besides Bradshaw(so in the last 30 years) admitted to changing the ball so much that it was outside the legal limit?

I know they scuffed it up and wore it out, etc. but that is inside NFL regulations. Which QB admitted to changing the football to specifications that were made illegal by the league?

Rodgers.

He just said they try to over inflated them before they give them to the refs. He also said the refs let the air back out of them.

The question was "Which QB admitted to changing the football to specifications that were made illegal by the league?" This is exactly what Rodgers admitted to doing. And he clearly did it hoping to get the balls into play. Whether it ever worked is anyone's guess.

The key component to that question, and one that assumes everyone is reasonably intelligent, is AFTER the ref check.

Same thing for Brad Johnson, he paid someone to scuff the ball to his likings but that doesn't mean he had them changed outside of what was legal.

Its like WR gloves. Maybe some guys like them tight, or loose or old. Maybe they like them right out of the box. Maybe a guy prefers to tape his fingers, or maybe tape his fingers AND wear gloves. But all of that is preference. Once you use an illegal substance on your gloves that does not pass regulation then you are cheating.

 

[parrot]

This is funny. Other players have said they have done it. Some have wrote about in books, some have bribed people to do it. Was there this much back lash when they admitted it or where caught? Nope, why? Because haters going to hate. I hope that the Pats win the super bowl on a touchdown with no time left on the clock and then Belichick runs onto the field with a tire pump in his hand and deflates the ball and then spikes it in the endzone.

What QB, besides Bradshaw(so in the last 30 years) admitted to changing the ball so much that it was outside the legal limit?

I know they scuffed it up and wore it out, etc. but that is inside NFL regulations. Which QB admitted to changing the football to specifications that were made illegal by the league?

Rodgers.

He just said they try to over inflated them before they give them to the refs. He also said the refs let the air back out of them.

The question was "Which QB admitted to changing the football to specifications that were made illegal by the league?" This is exactly what Rodgers admitted to doing. And he clearly did it hoping to get the balls into play. Whether it ever worked is anyone's guess.

The key component to that question, and one that assumes everyone is reasonably intelligent, is AFTER the ref check.

I'm intelligent enough to answer the question that was asked. If you don't like an accurate answer, ask a different question.

Or just keep being a ####.

 

[Green and Gold]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd3D2gsPUR0

 

[devouredbychaos]

This is funny. Other players have said they have done it. Some have wrote about in books, some have bribed people to do it. Was there this much back lash when they admitted it or where caught? Nope, why? Because haters going to hate. I hope that the Pats win the super bowl on a touchdown with no time left on the clock and then Belichick runs onto the field with a tire pump in his hand and deflates the ball and then spikes it in the endzone.

What QB, besides Bradshaw(so in the last 30 years) admitted to changing the ball so much that it was outside the legal limit?I know they scuffed it up and wore it out, etc. but that is inside NFL regulations. Which QB admitted to changing the football to specifications that were made illegal by the league?

Rodgers.

He just said they try to over inflated them before they give them to the refs. He also said the refs let the air back out of them.

The question was "Which QB admitted to changing the football to specifications that were made illegal by the league?" This is exactly what Rodgers admitted to doing. And he clearly did it hoping to get the balls into play. Whether it ever worked is anyone's guess.

The key component to that question, and one that assumes everyone is reasonably intelligent, is AFTER the ref check.

Same thing for Brad Johnson, he paid someone to scuff the ball to his likings but that doesn't mean he had them changed outside of what was legal. Its like WR gloves. Maybe some guys like them tight, or loose or old. Maybe they like them right out of the box. Maybe a guy prefers to tape his fingers, or maybe tape his fingers AND wear gloves. But all of that is preference. Once you use an illegal substance on your gloves that does not pass regulation then you are cheating.

But you're jumping to coconclusions simply because you're salty and hate the Pats.. You're accusing them of cheating based on media click bait. No one else besides Mortenson has said anything. And if you strictly believe what Mortenson says is true all the time, I sincerely hope you're only 12.

 

[SacramentoBob]

This is funny. Other players have said they have done it. Some have wrote about in books, some have bribed people to do it. Was there this much back lash when they admitted it or where caught? Nope, why? Because haters going to hate.

Probably has nothing to do with the fact that there's an NFL investigation. Also nothing to do with getting caught cheating and being punished before.

 

[Deamon]

I've never in my life seen a dumber "controversy" than this one. Anyone who believes that [somehow the Patriots stealing signals via videotaping gives them an advantage, or somehow the Patriots being able to keep booth to helmet communication to the QB past the time allowed within NFL guidelines giving them an advantage] Has lost their minds. But yet, many will believe that because they [JUSTIFIABLY] hate the Pats.

Ahhhhh... Much better

very confusing edit. work on that.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Bob Ryan seems to understand what all the fuss is about:

-”He deserves [suspension]. He’s so comfortable not being liked...but what he doesn’t seem to care about and what he should care about — as he continues his action — he embarrasses his owner, he embarrasses his team...he embarrasses his fans.”

-”He has put Patriot fans on the defensive for the rest of their lives.”

-”The rest of the world will hope they lose 70-0, and that’s what he’s done to the image of the New England Patriots.”

 

[MG345]

This is funny. Other players have said they have done it. Some have wrote about in books, some have bribed people to do it. Was there this much back lash when they admitted it or where caught? Nope, why? Because haters going to hate. I hope that the Pats win the super bowl on a touchdown with no time left on the clock and then Belichick runs onto the field with a tire pump in his hand and deflates the ball and then spikes it in the endzone.

What QB, besides Bradshaw(so in the last 30 years) admitted to changing the ball so much that it was outside the legal limit?

I know they scuffed it up and wore it out, etc. but that is inside NFL regulations. Which QB admitted to changing the football to specifications that were made illegal by the league?

Rodgers.

He just said they try to over inflated them before they give them to the refs. He also said the refs let the air back out of them.

The question was "Which QB admitted to changing the football to specifications that were made illegal by the league?" This is exactly what Rodgers admitted to doing. And he clearly did it hoping to get the balls into play. Whether it ever worked is anyone's guess.

The key component to that question, and one that assumes everyone is reasonably intelligent, is AFTER the ref check.

I'm intelligent enough to answer the question that was asked. If you don't like an accurate answer, ask a different question.

Or just keep being a ####.

I didn't ask the question. I am intelligent enough to know that things like scuffing the ball up or over deflating/inflating it BEFORE the ref check is routine. The refs check them and inflate/deflate, or throw out any balls that don't pass scrutiny. There is no anecdotal evidence from any source that is saying this stuff happens all the time AFTER the ref check.

I am not saying that happened in the IND/NE game. I am saying that if it DID happen, it is unlike that situation with Rodgers saying he tries to slip over inflated balls passed the refs, or that some QBs scuffed up the balls.

You do realize those situations are different? I am not calling the Patriots cheaters. I am saying that if the balls were tampered with against the rules, they should probably look into it and find out who was responsible. That is a reasonable thing to expect isn't it?

 

[Jercules]

I find it amusing how Patriots fans try to claim that every team does things like this and what happened during spygate, yet no other team gets accused or caught doing it. Just admit that Belichick does everything he can to gain an advantage, including cheating, and own it.

Why do these things need to be mutually exclusive? I think they are both true.

Spot on. Yes, it's very disappointing to see deceptive practices (at best) from the team you support. It's also quite naive to believe there is only one set of coaches/staff/players in a billion dollar industry that are pushing every rule in their chase for wins, job security, and money.

IF the Patriots get caught.....again. That's all that matters. If you get caught, you pay the piper. They need to lose their 1st and 2nd rd picks this year and lower their salary cap $$$$ significantly. Belichick and the Patriots needs to be a taught that if they cheat, they're going to get hammered...period!!

Dude....I hate the Pats as much as the next guy, but come on.

The integrity of the league is at stake here. At some point you have to do something to fix it.

Yeah, that's a bit much buddy. The most likely scenario here is the Pats gave the refs under-inflated balls for the game, and the refs simply missed it in their inspection.

In the meantime, did you know that when someone like Richard Sherman or Bruce Irvin (or Brandon Browner, admittedly) gets caught using 'Adderall', that's based only on the claim of the player? Neither the league nor the team can say what they tested positive for.

So they get caught using drugs, they look at the list of forbidden substances and find the most innocuous one, and they say that's what they were caught using. Adderall is what college kids use to pull all-nighters, but thanks to league policy and the lamb media, people think it's a bigger problem then, you know... steroids!

Forgive me if I'm being naive, but like you I'm a crusader for the 'integrity of the game' so I just thought perhaps this would be a more pertinent issue than the fact that seven years ago, the New England Patriots had a guy with a camera on their sideline when he should have had a pen and paper.

 

[Deamon]

This is funny. Other players have said they have done it. Some have wrote about in books, some have bribed people to do it. Was there this much back lash when they admitted it or where caught? Nope, why? Because haters going to hate.

Probably has nothing to do with the fact that there's an NFL investigation. Also nothing to do with getting caught cheating and being punished before.

There's much more pressure on the league to act on things like these nowadays. Twitter, Message Boards, Social Media, are all so prevalent that the league is terrified of backlash if so much of a whisper of something (true or not) gets out to some beat writer or reporter.

Things are different now, I think that is why all these things (videoing signals, bounties, ball manipulation) are only being brought up in recent years. This stuff likely was all done 20 years ago too but without the media spotlight and speed of 'information' being transferred, the league pretty much needs to have a formal investigation on this one.

 

[MG345]

I find it amusing how Patriots fans try to claim that every team does things like this and what happened during spygate, yet no other team gets accused or caught doing it. Just admit that Belichick does everything he can to gain an advantage, including cheating, and own it.

Why do these things need to be mutually exclusive? I think they are both true.

Spot on. Yes, it's very disappointing to see deceptive practices (at best) from the team you support. It's also quite naive to believe there is only one set of coaches/staff/players in a billion dollar industry that are pushing every rule in their chase for wins, job security, and money.

IF the Patriots get caught.....again. That's all that matters. If you get caught, you pay the piper. They need to lose their 1st and 2nd rd picks this year and lower their salary cap $$$$ significantly. Belichick and the Patriots needs to be a taught that if they cheat, they're going to get hammered...period!!

Dude....I hate the Pats as much as the next guy, but come on.

The integrity of the league is at stake here. At some point you have to do something to fix it.

Yeah, that's a bit much buddy. The most likely scenario here is the Pats gave the refs under-inflated balls for the game, and the refs simply missed it in their inspection.

In the meantime, did you know that when someone like Richard Sherman or Bruce Irvin (or Brandon Browner, admittedly) gets caught using 'Adderall', that's based only on the claim of the player? Neither the league nor the team can say what they tested positive for.

So they get caught using drugs, they look at the list of forbidden substances and find the most innocuous one, and they say that's what they were caught using. Adderall is what college kids use to pull all-nighters, but thanks to league policy and the lamb media, people think it's a bigger problem then, you know... steroids!

Forgive me if I'm being naive, but like you I'm a crusader for the 'integrity of the game' so I just thought perhaps this would be a more pertinent issue than the fact that seven years ago, the New England Patriots had a guy with a camera on their sideline when he should have had a pen and paper.

Not anymore, that rule has recently changed, for the betterment of the league.

 

[Bad_Mo]

Bob Ryan seems to understand what all the fuss is about:

-”He deserves [suspension]. He’s so comfortable not being liked...but what he doesn’t seem to care about and what he should care about — as he continues his action — he embarrasses his owner, he embarrasses his team...he embarrasses his fans.”

-”He has put Patriot fans on the defensive for the rest of their lives.”

-”The rest of the world will hope they lose 70-0, and that’s what he’s done to the image of the New England Patriots.”

Bob Ryan is bizarre looking

 

[Bad_Mo]

I'm hearing from some pepes with connections that BB is going to be suspended for the Super Bowl.

If true (and, well, you know) it would probably mean they tracked this idea back to him. Doubt he's the one who takes the fall unless he knew about it ahead of time. Otherwise they'd go after the organization?

I don't know if this is true. Remember the rationale for suspending Payton for a season for Bounty-Gate, that if he didn't know, he should have (paraphrasing). Of course, this is relatively insignificant compared to bounties on players

Shannon Sharpe-FWIW-said a little bit ago on ESPN that if the balls were manipulated purposely he thinks BB should get a one year suspension. Yeah, I know it's Shannon Sharpe, and no way that happens.

The almost complete coverup and lack of transparency with Spygate though-who knows, the league took a lot of heat over that. Maybe that will impact what happens here (if it turns out to be typical Pats shenanigans).

I wasn't sure what mumbles was mumbling....thanks for translating mush mouth to English for me.

 

[parrot]

This is funny. Other players have said they have done it. Some have wrote about in books, some have bribed people to do it. Was there this much back lash when they admitted it or where caught? Nope, why? Because haters going to hate. I hope that the Pats win the super bowl on a touchdown with no time left on the clock and then Belichick runs onto the field with a tire pump in his hand and deflates the ball and then spikes it in the endzone.

What QB, besides Bradshaw(so in the last 30 years) admitted to changing the ball so much that it was outside the legal limit?

I know they scuffed it up and wore it out, etc. but that is inside NFL regulations. Which QB admitted to changing the football to specifications that were made illegal by the league?

Rodgers.

He just said they try to over inflated them before they give them to the refs. He also said the refs let the air back out of them.

The question was "Which QB admitted to changing the football to specifications that were made illegal by the league?" This is exactly what Rodgers admitted to doing. And he clearly did it hoping to get the balls into play. Whether it ever worked is anyone's guess.

The key component to that question, and one that assumes everyone is reasonably intelligent, is AFTER the ref check.

I'm intelligent enough to answer the question that was asked. If you don't like an accurate answer, ask a different question.

Or just keep being a ####.

I didn't ask the question. I am intelligent enough to know that things like scuffing the ball up or over deflating/inflating it BEFORE the ref check is routine. The refs check them and inflate/deflate, or throw out any balls that don't pass scrutiny. There is no anecdotal evidence from any source that is saying this stuff happens all the time AFTER the ref check.

I am not saying that happened in the IND/NE game. I am saying that if it DID happen, it is unlike that situation with Rodgers saying he tries to slip over inflated balls passed the refs, or that some QBs scuffed up the balls.

You do realize those situations are different? I am not calling the Patriots cheaters. I am saying that if the balls were tampered with against the rules, they should probably look into it and find out who was responsible. That is a reasonable thing to expect isn't it?

I understand full well that they are different. I don't understand why you felt it necessary to insult my intelligence because I chose to answer the question that was asked rather than the one you personally inferred? And I agree with you, that if they were tampered with, post-inspection, there should be punishment.

 

[Jercules]

I find it amusing how Patriots fans try to claim that every team does things like this and what happened during spygate, yet no other team gets accused or caught doing it. Just admit that Belichick does everything he can to gain an advantage, including cheating, and own it.

Why do these things need to be mutually exclusive? I think they are both true.

Spot on. Yes, it's very disappointing to see deceptive practices (at best) from the team you support. It's also quite naive to believe there is only one set of coaches/staff/players in a billion dollar industry that are pushing every rule in their chase for wins, job security, and money.

IF the Patriots get caught.....again. That's all that matters. If you get caught, you pay the piper. They need to lose their 1st and 2nd rd picks this year and lower their salary cap $$$$ significantly. Belichick and the Patriots needs to be a taught that if they cheat, they're going to get hammered...period!!

Dude....I hate the Pats as much as the next guy, but come on.

The integrity of the league is at stake here. At some point you have to do something to fix it.

Yeah, that's a bit much buddy. The most likely scenario here is the Pats gave the refs under-inflated balls for the game, and the refs simply missed it in their inspection.

In the meantime, did you know that when someone like Richard Sherman or Bruce Irvin (or Brandon Browner, admittedly) gets caught using 'Adderall', that's based only on the claim of the player? Neither the league nor the team can say what they tested positive for.

So they get caught using drugs, they look at the list of forbidden substances and find the most innocuous one, and they say that's what they were caught using. Adderall is what college kids use to pull all-nighters, but thanks to league policy and the lamb media, people think it's a bigger problem then, you know... steroids!

Forgive me if I'm being naive, but like you I'm a crusader for the 'integrity of the game' so I just thought perhaps this would be a more pertinent issue than the fact that seven years ago, the New England Patriots had a guy with a camera on their sideline when he should have had a pen and paper.

Not anymore, that rule has recently changed, for the betterment of the league.

True, when they agreed to the new drug testing policy a provision was put in saying the league could dispute a player's claim. It's one of those nonsense 'concessions' that happens in collective bargaining: It isn't really a concession at all.

If you think for one second the league has any interest in advertising the fact that all these guys were actually on steroids and not Adderall (or some variation on cough medicine, or some other BS), then you are, what I like to call, wrong.

 

[Baloney Sandwich]

Nope.

CHEATERS!!!

So if the Giants meet the Jets in a future Super Bowl, which team are you rooting for?

 

[devouredbychaos]

So all you Patriots haters who are claiming "OMGZ THEY CHEATED SUSPEND BELICHICK" are basing your accusations off of what Mortenson said last night? Lol. I find that quite hilarious. You do realize he's the only one who has said anything, right? And you know that he's been wrong in the past, right?

 

[Bad_Mo]

So all you Patriots haters who are claiming "OMGZ THEY CHEATED SUSPEND BELICHICK" are basing your accusations off of what Mortenson said last night? Lol. I find that quite hilarious. You do realize he's the only one who has said anything, right? And you know that he's been wrong in the past, right?

Mort The Tort