Patriots being investigated after Colts game (2 Viewers)

[[icon]]

Multiple sources say Body Language experts claim Bellichik to be Lying.

I heard they were bringing in Miss Cleo to read Brady's aura at the next press conference.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

According to this article from a former ball boy, the pre-game inspection isn't very thorough:

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/super-bowl-xlix/deflate-gate-nfl-ball-boys-perspective-preparing-footballs-n290801

Two hours before kickoff, he would bring the balls to the referees' locker room for inspection.

"I recall them having a pressure gauge in the locker room, but most often they just squeezed the balls, turned them over in their hands a few times each, and inspected the laces. I don't recall them ever rejecting one of our balls," he said.

"My thought process was, 'Let's get the balls exactly the way our quarterback wants them, and if the refs reject one or two before the game, no big deal. But there's no harm giving them our ideal balls and hoping they make it through inspection.'"

This as well as what Austin said on Mike and Mike shed a lot more light on this. I'm sure the balls were inflated exactly where they wanted them with the expectation they wouldn't be checked throughly by the officials.The entire article should be posted or read as well.

 

[msudaisy26]

Multiple sources say Body Language experts claim Bellichik to be Lying.

I heard they were bringing in Miss Cleo to read Brady's aura at the next press conference.

I heard that David Blaine is a Pats fan and is at all their games. So odds are we will never know how the balls got deflated.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

LMFAO at he didnt know the rule

I don't find it all that surprising if a coach didn't know the rule or the process. He may have known that someone was letting air out of the ball, but until three days ago I would guess that the majority of coached couldn't tell you how much a ball had to weigh, the PSI range, how many minutes before the game the balls were given to the ref, etc.

I doubt that there is any coach that is more up on the nuances of the rules that Bill Belichick -- it is one of the things he is noted for. In this case the rule isn't even nuanced:

Seriously, he may be telling the truth about not knowing about the deflation in this game, but it would be very surprising if he didn't know the rule.

It is pretty crazy that he says "talk to Tom." can't he just say he didn't know? Unless that's part of the plan, and then they talk to Tom and he says, hey look at Aaron Rodgers, Brad Johnson, etc. We all do it. Non-story.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

" post="17711767" timestamp="1421943025"]

Multiple sources say Body Language experts claim Bellichik to be Lying.

I heard they were bringing in Miss Cleo to read Brady's aura at the next press conference.

I'm presuming it will read stone cold dreamy, at least if Ms.Cleo is a pseudonym for this Board's Rocket.

 

[Bad_Mo]

Carbanaro Effect, IMO.

 

[moleculo]

I could easily build a device that could deflate a football to precisely 10.5 PSI. It would cost lest than $20 to make, would be about the size of a pack of gum, and could knock out 2 psi in maybe 15 seconds.

In reality, you could probably use a 49 cent pump needle to do the same thing (without the exactly part). All it would take is practice. Start with a football inflated at 12.5 PSI and count off how many seconds it would take to get it down to 10.5. PSI. That would effectively be close enough.

The issue would be how on earth would someone be able to do that in a stadium with 68,000 people in attendance and cameras all over the place. The refs hold the balls until right before game time. Although not 100% sure, I believe the ball attendants are handed the ball bag on the field. Unless someone snuck into the equipment room inside the stadium and broke into where the balls are stored, one would think someone would notice someone tinkering with a dozen footballs on the sideline.

None of the 68k people or cameras are looking at the ball boy, and even if they were, no one would notice because no one would be looking for it. All you would see is someone bent over, fidgeting with a sack of balls.

 

[Anarchy99]

LMFAO at he didnt know the rule

I don't find it all that surprising if a coach didn't know the rule or the process. He may have known that someone was letting air out of the ball, but until three days ago I would guess that the majority of coached couldn't tell you how much a ball had to weigh, the PSI range, how many minutes before the game the balls were given to the ref, etc.

I doubt that there is any coach that is more up on the nuances of the rules that Bill Belichick -- it is one of the things he is noted for. In this case the rule isn't even nuanced:

The Ball must be a “Wilson,” hand selected, bearing the signature of the Commissioner of the League, Roger Goodell.

The ball shall be made up of an inflated (12 1/2 to 13 1/2 pounds) urethane bladder enclosed in a pebble grained, leather case (natural tan color) without corrugations of any kind. It shall have the form of a prolate spheroid and the size and weight shall be: long axis, 11 to 11 1/4 inches; long circumference, 28 to 28 1/2 inches; short circumference, 21 to 21 1/4 inches; weight, 14 to 15 ounces.

The Referee shall be the sole judge as to whether all balls offered for play comply with these specifications. A pump is to be furnished by the home club, and the balls shall remain under the supervision of the Referee until they are delivered to the ball attendant just prior to the start of the game.

I'm pretty sure a smart guy like Belichick would be able to understand that.

I am not saying he doesn't understand the rule, only that he doesn't know it verbatim. From some of the stuff I have been observing in following this, the players that were asked (current and former) didn't know the range for weight and pressure. I don't think it is that far off base that people would not know the exact range. Ask people how many laces are on the ball and most people wouldn't know. Or the words stamped on the ball. Not that unbelievable to me.

Still doesn't mean that BB knew or didn't know what was going on with the footballs last Sunday.

 

[msudaisy26]

Carbanaro Effect, IMO.

Lol

 

[LBH]

I think it's possible that the refs didnt use an air gauge to determine the psi before the game

 

[HellToupee]

anyone who thinks this wasnt planned for Brady to take the hit is a hayseed.

 

[[icon]]

I'm predicting it ends up that Brady gets fined and suspended next season for several games, maybe even the full year.

This thread is gold.

$500 that Brady is suspended for less than "several" games.

$500 extra bonus for you if he's suspended for a full year. $500 extra bonus for ME if he's suspended for 0 games?

You in?

 

[Niles Standish]

Koch's punts were longer than his season average. 3 Yards on average. 5 more than his career average. Plus special team balls are shared I believe so it seems sort of unlikely. This is with cold weather where I believe (and correct me if I'm wrong) kicks should travel less distance.

True about Koch, not true about Tucker.

In any event, if Jim Gray is correct and the Ravens were the ones who alerted/instructed the Colts to do this...then it came from somewhere on the Ravens side.

I'd guess Tucker, especially given Tucker's weird, Clintonian-styled denials on the whole issue.

But it doesn't really hold up to any kind of reasoning.

The Kicking balls are the same. Did they magically just deflate balls that Tucker used but not the ones Koch used? Did Koch magically kick 5 yards on average longer than he does in his career in cold weather with deflated balls? Did the Pats use deflated balls to kick with too? Why that doesn't seem like an advantage? How did they get to the balls that the refs control?

I mean rationally this is not what happened. Unless Bill Belichick or Stephen Gostkowski is a wizard. Especially when realistically the coach isn't going to be in on the deflation he has no reason to. The specialist would. But why would Gostkowski want a deflated football?

Yes, agreed...there's leaps in this line of thinking as there are in most of these scenarios; in this they're buoyed by three pieces of info:

(1) Most importantly, the report that the Ravens actually informed/encouraged the Colts.

(2) Less importantly, Tucker's kicks were short enough for regular Tucker watcher's to notice.

(3) Tucker's weird denials on Twitter. Very specific denials...he denies "talking to the media, NFL or NFL Security". And adds "anyone saying that I made any comments one way or the other regarding our experiences in NE is simply mistaken." Comments one way or the other To the NFL/NFL Security/Media? How about the Colts? How about your teammates? How about your coaching staff? How about anyone else?

What benefit though. The Pats are kicking with the same balls. Kicking balls are different. Why would they put Gostkowski at a big disadvantage? Don't forget this is a very cold day so filling a ball at room temperature is going to lose a few pounds of PSI just by going to the outside temp. What was it 10 degrees that day?

Under the assumption that there's no way around the kicking ball scenario (which is, apparently, what Harbaugh assumed when the game as being played); then your statement is correct. But is there some way for someone determined to do so; to get fishy when it comes to special teams balls? Dunno...

After reading and listening to Harbaugh's interview yesterday it's now a fact that Ravens' special teams is where this came from. Harbaugh says definitively it had nothing to do with the Pats offensive balls. And he confirms the league reached out to them on this specifically.

Given that it is a fact that it came from Ravens special teams and given the stat differential and the weird denials; clearly someone traced back to Tucker (perhaps Tucker himself, perhaps someone else that was involved in the conversation that Harbaugh admits to having) is where this came from originally and it has grown from there.

So your main reason you believe this (even though it really doesn't make any sense when you consider) is that Tucker had shorter kicks. While you're ignoring that Koch had longer kicks. And ignoring that cold weather means denser air which balls will not travel as far in.

Not to mention special teams balls are different. Every disadvantage the Ravens have the Pats have too in that situation.

 

[HellToupee]

I'm predicting it ends up that Brady gets fined and suspended next season for several games, maybe even the full year.

Lifetime ban

 

[Anarchy99]

I could easily build a device that could deflate a football to precisely 10.5 PSI. It would cost lest than $20 to make, would be about the size of a pack of gum, and could knock out 2 psi in maybe 15 seconds.

In reality, you could probably use a 49 cent pump needle to do the same thing (without the exactly part). All it would take is practice. Start with a football inflated at 12.5 PSI and count off how many seconds it would take to get it down to 10.5. PSI. That would effectively be close enough.

The issue would be how on earth would someone be able to do that in a stadium with 68,000 people in attendance and cameras all over the place. The refs hold the balls until right before game time. Although not 100% sure, I believe the ball attendants are handed the ball bag on the field. Unless someone snuck into the equipment room inside the stadium and broke into where the balls are stored, one would think someone would notice someone tinkering with a dozen footballs on the sideline.

None of the 68k people or cameras are looking at the ball boy, and even if they were, no one would notice because no one would be looking for it. All you would see is someone bent over, fidgeting with a sack of balls.

Well, people noticed when someone was seen standing on the sideline with a camera (among plenty of people on the field with cameras), so I think someone could have noticed (especially if people are going to say this was a customary practice for NE).

 

[GoodLloydHaveMercy]

Multiple sources say Body Language experts claim Bellichik to be Lying.

I heard they were bringing in Miss Cleo to read Brady's aura at the next press conference.

Lol but honest question... If Miss Cleo is so good how come she didn't see her career swirling the drain 5 yrs ahead of time?

 

[12punch]

When all is said and done, if Goodell doesn't drop the hammer, you are inviting more of this type of behavior.

My wife and I were watching the news last night and this topic came up. I told her my thoughts (dropping the hammer on them) and she said that was too harsh. I explained that it wasn't the first time they were caught cheating and if you go easy you invite more of this type of activity.

I continued by using this analogy: If the Bears somehow cheated to get into the Super Bowl, doesn't matter how they did it, as a fan I wouldn't care less if they were fined. Hell, I'd probably chip in to pay it if need be. Now, if they lost a first round pick, I'd be very bothered. If my coaching staff and star QB were suspended for the SB, I'd be livid. If you did all three (fine, draft pick, suspension) I would hit the roof. THAT'S what needs to happen. You need to set a precedent right now that this crap won't be tolerated now or in the future.

let's Not Be Ridiculous About This.

Bears Could Manually Enter Made Up Scores And They Still wouldn't Make The sb

 

[Baloney Sandwich]

Gisele going off on social media right now

 

[HobbesAB]

Ignorance isn't an excuse...

Which is exactly why the officials should be taking the brunt of this IMO. It's a tough talk when they have to sit in front of their boss and explain why they dont know these balls were underinflated but a LBer does as soon as he touches it.

Except that LBer says he never noticed a difference and that he didn't know where that story came from.

haven't seen that story. link?

Jim Gray reported on Fox News a few minutes ago that the Colts were alerted to the deflated balls by the Ravens.

It was the first I heard of that wrinkle; until now I had only heard that the accusation originated with the intercepting Colts defender.

Ravens are laughing. They went and read the rule book like Brady suggested and found something. Well played Ravens.

 

[[icon]]

I'm predicting it ends up that Brady gets fined and suspended next season for several games, maybe even the full year.

Lifetime ban

PLUS AIDS and EBOLA. We already covered this.

 

[The Flying Elvis]

Gisele going off on social media right now

? I don't see anything.

 

[GoodLloydHaveMercy]

Anybody else find it ironic that #flexball shows up behind Bill Belichick in his presser?

Maybe we should call him Bill Bella "checks for pressure" from now on... No good?

Ok I will see myself out...

 

[Bigboy10182000]

According to this article from a former ball boy, the pre-game inspection isn't very thorough:

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/super-bowl-xlix/deflate-gate-nfl-ball-boys-perspective-preparing-footballs-n290801

Two hours before kickoff, he would bring the balls to the referees' locker room for inspection.

"I recall them having a pressure gauge in the locker room, but most often they just squeezed the balls, turned them over in their hands a few times each, and inspected the laces. I don't recall them ever rejecting one of our balls," he said.

"My thought process was, 'Let's get the balls exactly the way our quarterback wants them, and if the refs reject one or two before the game, no big deal. But there's no harm giving them our ideal balls and hoping they make it through inspection.'"

 

[moleculo]

I could easily build a device that could deflate a football to precisely 10.5 PSI. It would cost lest than $20 to make, would be about the size of a pack of gum, and could knock out 2 psi in maybe 15 seconds.

In reality, you could probably use a 49 cent pump needle to do the same thing (without the exactly part). All it would take is practice. Start with a football inflated at 12.5 PSI and count off how many seconds it would take to get it down to 10.5. PSI. That would effectively be close enough.

The issue would be how on earth would someone be able to do that in a stadium with 68,000 people in attendance and cameras all over the place. The refs hold the balls until right before game time. Although not 100% sure, I believe the ball attendants are handed the ball bag on the field. Unless someone snuck into the equipment room inside the stadium and broke into where the balls are stored, one would think someone would notice someone tinkering with a dozen footballs on the sideline.

None of the 68k people or cameras are looking at the ball boy, and even if they were, no one would notice because no one would be looking for it. All you would see is someone bent over, fidgeting with a sack of balls.

Well, people noticed when someone was seen standing on the sideline with a camera (among plenty of people on the field with cameras), so I think someone could have noticed (especially if people are going to say this was a customary practice for NE).

they noticed the camera guy eventually. One wonders how long the Pats got away with the guy with a camera on the sidelines. I guarantee the Jets game wasn't the first time he was there.

Whenever I go to a NFL game, I'm amazed by the number of people on the sidelines, doing different things. Press, security, team assistants, TV crew, officiating crew, etc...lots of folks doing lots of different things. It would be pretty easy to be lost in the crowd.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Gisele going off on social media right now

? I don't see anything.

You went looking for it?

 

[Tango]

Under the assumption that there's no way around the kicking ball scenario (which is, apparently, what Harbaugh assumed when the game as being played); then your statement is correct. But is there some way for someone determined to do so; to get fishy when it comes to special teams balls? Dunno...

After reading and listening to Harbaugh's interview yesterday it's now a fact that Ravens' special teams is where this came from. Harbaugh says definitively it had nothing to do with the Pats offensive balls. And he confirms the league reached out to them on this specifically.

Given that it is a fact that it came from Ravens special teams and given the stat differential and the weird denials; clearly someone traced back to Tucker (perhaps Tucker himself, perhaps someone else that was involved in the conversation that Harbaugh admits to having) is where this came from originally and it has grown from there.

So your main reason you believe this (even though it really doesn't make any sense when you consider) is that Tucker had shorter kicks. While you're ignoring that Koch had longer kicks. And ignoring that cold weather means denser air which balls will not travel as far in.

Not to mention special teams balls are different. Every disadvantage the Ravens have the Pats have too in that situation.

No, I believe this is where it came from because Harbaugh pretty much stated that as fact. He said definitively that it did not come from the his team noticing anything w/Patriots offensive balls, it came from his special teams. I wouldnt put the word "believe" next to any other statement. I do "suspect", however, that it came from Tucker. Looking at it objectively and looking at Tucker's comments, that suspicion seems quite reasonable.

Do you honestly believe Harbaugh is lying through his teeth???

Face the facts: The main impetus for all of this came from Ravens special teams. Im sure there were other "tributaries" on this river; ie other reports from others from time-to-time, but Harbaugh pretty much laid it our for us re where this originated.

 

[netnalp]

What would be fan and NFL response if the Pats suspended Brady for the SB?

 

[msudaisy26]

Lets get sport science to do a investigation on what it would take to deflate a ball that much and how much an advantage it would give.

 

[The Flying Elvis]

Gisele going off on social media right now

? I don't see anything.

You went looking for it?

Why not? Sorry if I got taken by a joke. Not terribly hard to check twitter to see if she is going crazy, as she has done before in the past. If she was saying something about Tom it would be interesting to see.

 

[msudaisy26]

What would be fan and NFL response if the Pats suspended Brady for the SB?

Add 100 pages to this thread and then just think about that across the U.S.

 

[RUSF18]

I feel like it's okay to post this again since people will keep posting what Gerry Austin and random ballboys claim:

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.

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/12202450/nfl-says-new-england-patriots-had-inflated-footballs-afc-championship-game%C2'>

 

[stbugs]

I could easily build a device that could deflate a football to precisely 10.5 PSI. It would cost lest than $20 to make, would be about the size of a pack of gum, and could knock out 2 psi in maybe 15 seconds.

In reality, you could probably use a 49 cent pump needle to do the same thing (without the exactly part). All it would take is practice. Start with a football inflated at 12.5 PSI and count off how many seconds it would take to get it down to 10.5. PSI. That would effectively be close enough.

The issue would be how on earth would someone be able to do that in a stadium with 68,000 people in attendance and cameras all over the place. The refs hold the balls until right before game time. Although not 100% sure, I believe the ball attendants are handed the ball bag on the field. Unless someone snuck into the equipment room inside the stadium and broke into where the balls are stored, one would think someone would notice someone tinkering with a dozen footballs on the sideline.

None of the 68k people or cameras are looking at the ball boy, and even if they were, no one would notice because no one would be looking for it. All you would see is someone bent over, fidgeting with a sack of balls.

Well, if the balls were a big issue and there was a planned inspection at halftime doesn't that seem like there would be extra eyes to make sure nothing inappropriate was happening?

Also, look at the video of the refs checking the balls on the last page. The one ref says "12.5, close enough" and another discusses how kickers like to rub the balls down to the point of removing the nubs (he called them pellets?) to make them soft. We've had people state that the kicking balls are for both teams and aren't altered, so what the heck was that official talking about?

The more I read/see, it sure seems like this is a media concocted story that really wouldn't be a big deal, especially considering that they had an extra inspection in place and replaced the balls at half time.

Again, I am still pissed off at the pansy Colts for making the SB about deflation because they waited until getting emasculated in prime time to leak this story out. If they knew during the regular season, bring it up then. They hid it like little girls and unleashed it like a vindictive baby to tarnish a team that has run over them for over 200 yards per game the last 3 times they played them. The funny thing is that without deflated balls, maybe that interception to Gronk goes a bit further and they lose 52-7.

 

[devouredbychaos]

Schefter reporting the NFL is having a hard time finding any evidence..

"BUT OMGZ THEY CHEATED GUYS!"

And you honestly think BB would throw Brady under the bus without talking to him about it beforehand? Not a chance.

 

[Anarchy99]

Lets get sport science to do a investigation on what it would take to deflate a ball that much and how much an advantage it would give.

They have been doing the Pepsi Challenge so to speak on many radio/tv shows and web sites this week, having people handling properly inflated and under inflated footballs at the levels they were in NE.

 

[HobbesAB]

Lets get sport science to do a investigation on what it would take to deflate a ball that much and how much an advantage it would give.

They already did and no one is talking about it

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12207314

 

[Baloney Sandwich]

@GiseleBrady "What, now my husband is expected to throw the balls and cover up for the coach? #Tomsballsarentsoft

 

[12punch]

All I can do is laugh at the haters who are filled with rage and jealousy. It's comical to me that you actually think someone was on the sideline during the game deflating balls with cameras surrounding them as well as fans. How ######ed can you be? Just admit it already, you're jealous of the Patriots and how well they've done over the years. You'll go to any length to try and discredit them because you can't stand the arrogant fan base and the amount of success they've had over the past 15 years. I also find it quite hilarious that you're trying to say it's cheating, with no actual concrete evidence whatsoever. You're basing all your allegations off what Mortenson said. The Patriots had 24 balls altogether, and 11 were underinflated. Why wouldn't all 24 be underinflated? If they were going to do it, why would only 11 be underinflated and not all 24.

Carry on with the accusations though, because you guys obviously know more than the NFL!

I'm hardly a NE hater, in fact I like Brady (from his Michigan days) and love watching Gronk play. That being said, Belichek continually flaunts the rules and unless you hit them hard, he'll continue to do it.

He Flaunts Them?

 

[Niles Standish]

Under the assumption that there's no way around the kicking ball scenario (which is, apparently, what Harbaugh assumed when the game as being played); then your statement is correct. But is there some way for someone determined to do so; to get fishy when it comes to special teams balls? Dunno...

After reading and listening to Harbaugh's interview yesterday it's now a fact that Ravens' special teams is where this came from. Harbaugh says definitively it had nothing to do with the Pats offensive balls. And he confirms the league reached out to them on this specifically.

Given that it is a fact that it came from Ravens special teams and given the stat differential and the weird denials; clearly someone traced back to Tucker (perhaps Tucker himself, perhaps someone else that was involved in the conversation that Harbaugh admits to having) is where this came from originally and it has grown from there.

So your main reason you believe this (even though it really doesn't make any sense when you consider) is that Tucker had shorter kicks. While you're ignoring that Koch had longer kicks. And ignoring that cold weather means denser air which balls will not travel as far in.

Not to mention special teams balls are different. Every disadvantage the Ravens have the Pats have too in that situation.

No, I believe this is where it came from because Harbaugh pretty much stated that as fact. He said definitively that it did not come from the Patriots offensive balls, it came from his special teams. I wouldnt put the word "believe" next to any other statement. I do "suspect", however, that it came from Tucker. Looking at it objectively and looking at Tucker's comments, that suspicion seems quite reasonable.

Do you honestly believe Harbaugh is lying through his teeth???

Face the facts: The main impetus for all of this came from Ravens special teams. Im sure there were other "tributaries" on this river; ie other reports from others from time-to-time, but Harbaugh pretty much laid it our for us re where this originated.

That's not what Harbaugh said. Harbaugh implied he did not file the complaint. He said the offensive balls did not cause suspicion. He also said the special teams balls did not cause suspicion to him. I can't read your article it just goes to the Baltimore Sun front page.

http://espn.go.com/blog/baltimore-ravens/post/_/id/17692/john-harbaugh-ravens-didnt-notice-anything-with-patriots-footballs

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

I want to see Goodell question Gisele about Tom's balls.

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

@GiseleBrady "What, now my husband is expected to throw the balls and cover up for the coach? #Tomsballsarentsoft

ott:

 

[Anarchy99]

Schefter reporting the NFL is having a hard time finding any evidence..

"BUT OMGZ THEY CHEATED GUYS!"

And you honestly think BB would throw Brady under the bus without talking to him about it beforehand? Not a chance.

My reason for saying he through Brady under the bus is that there was no need for him to even mention that. He could just of easily left that part out of his press conference altogether. As things stand, he is drawing a preconceived line in the sand to point blame on Brady and not on himself.

It may not matter, but having listened and watched BB A TON over the years, this is totally off his usual playbook. He does not single out players or bring people up by name very often.

 

[GrandpaRox]

Way to throw Brady under the bus, Bill.

you dont think that was completely calculated by the team?

As is Brady is watching that screaming "what the #### Bill!!??"

Or maybe he didn't know about it? I guess we could assume he's lying. But what if he was telling the truth?

I buy it. On Hasselbeck's podcast he was talking about how he was on 8 teams, and on none of them would a head coach or even offensive coach be involved in the balls or what they need to be at, etc.. it was the QB and the equipment staff to get it how they liked it. Do we expect every head coach to know every little detail about what it going on? They delegate and focus on the big things.

I agree, and now I have a sick feeling in my stomach that Tommyboy had some knowledge of it.........

I don't think so. He laughed and said he doesn't want to talk about ridiculous things like that when he was asked about it. Brady wouldn't lie.

This is fair. You can't take Brady's sarcastic dismissals in press conferences lightly. For example, remember when Brady laughed off Plaxico Burress' suggestion that the Pats would score 17 points in Super Bowl 42, and then they went out and only scored 14 even though 17 would have sent the game to OT? Now that's integrity. Guy would rather lose a Super Bowl than lie to the media.

Guy's practically a Saint.

And he wakes up to a 10 every morning.

 

[dickey moe]

I could easily build a device that could deflate a football to precisely 10.5 PSI. It would cost lest than $20 to make, would be about the size of a pack of gum, and could knock out 2 psi in maybe 15 seconds.

In reality, you could probably use a 49 cent pump needle to do the same thing (without the exactly part). All it would take is practice. Start with a football inflated at 12.5 PSI and count off how many seconds it would take to get it down to 10.5. PSI. That would effectively be close enough.The issue would be how on earth would someone be able to do that in a stadium with 68,000 people in attendance and cameras all over the place. The refs hold the balls until right before game time. Although not 100% sure, I believe the ball attendants are handed the ball bag on the field. Unless someone snuck into the equipment room inside the stadium and broke into where the balls are stored, one would think someone would notice someone tinkering with a dozen footballs on the sideline.

None of the 68k people or cameras are looking at the ball boy

This is begging for a WetDream post.

 

[Old Smiley]

I feel like it's okay to post this again since people will keep posting what Gerry Austin and random ballboys claim:

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.

Who says it's improper if they don't meter them? As is usual for the post facto NFL, from now on it will be...

 

[Road Warriors]

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/01/22/win-lose-patriots-have-sacrificed-their-legacy/XIYx6wws1NpEn1h82kMtwO/story.html

Shaughnessy is a hack. People in Boston have been trying to figure out for years who hates the Patriots more, him or Borges.

IDK, Felger's got to be in the mix somewhere in this battle royale.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Way to throw Brady under the bus, Bill.

you dont think that was completely calculated by the team?

As is Brady is watching that screaming "what the #### Bill!!??"

Or maybe he didn't know about it? I guess we could assume he's lying. But what if he was telling the truth?

I buy it. On Hasselbeck's podcast he was talking about how he was on 8 teams, and on none of them would a head coach or even offensive coach be involved in the balls or what they need to be at, etc.. it was the QB and the equipment staff to get it how they liked it. Do we expect every head coach to know every little detail about what it going on? They delegate and focus on the big things.

I agree, and now I have a sick feeling in my stomach that Tommyboy had some knowledge of it.........

I don't think so. He laughed and said he doesn't want to talk about ridiculous things like that when he was asked about it. Brady wouldn't lie.

This is fair. You can't take Brady's sarcastic dismissals in press conferences lightly. For example, remember when Brady laughed off Plaxico Burress' suggestion that the Pats would score 17 points in Super Bowl 42, and then they went out and only scored 14 even though 17 would have sent the game to OT? Now that's integrity. Guy would rather lose a Super Bowl than lie to the media.

Guy's practically a Saint.

And he wakes up to a 10 every morning.

He's certainly has a good life.

(you should have went with "angel" though)

 

[Tango]

Under the assumption that there's no way around the kicking ball scenario (which is, apparently, what Harbaugh assumed when the game as being played); then your statement is correct. But is there some way for someone determined to do so; to get fishy when it comes to special teams balls? Dunno...

After reading and listening to Harbaugh's interview yesterday it's now a fact that Ravens' special teams is where this came from. Harbaugh says definitively it had nothing to do with the Pats offensive balls. And he confirms the league reached out to them on this specifically.

Given that it is a fact that it came from Ravens special teams and given the stat differential and the weird denials; clearly someone traced back to Tucker (perhaps Tucker himself, perhaps someone else that was involved in the conversation that Harbaugh admits to having) is where this came from originally and it has grown from there.

So your main reason you believe this (even though it really doesn't make any sense when you consider) is that Tucker had shorter kicks. While you're ignoring that Koch had longer kicks. And ignoring that cold weather means denser air which balls will not travel as far in.

Not to mention special teams balls are different. Every disadvantage the Ravens have the Pats have too in that situation.

No, I believe this is where it came from because Harbaugh pretty much stated that as fact. He said definitively that it did not come from the Patriots offensive balls, it came from his special teams. I wouldnt put the word "believe" next to any other statement. I do "suspect", however, that it came from Tucker. Looking at it objectively and looking at Tucker's comments, that suspicion seems quite reasonable.

Do you honestly believe Harbaugh is lying through his teeth???

Face the facts: The main impetus for all of this came from Ravens special teams. Im sure there were other "tributaries" on this river; ie other reports from others from time-to-time, but Harbaugh pretty much laid it our for us re where this originated.

That's not what Harbaugh said. Harbaugh implied he did not file the complaint. He said the offensive balls did not cause suspicion. He also said the special teams balls did not cause suspicion to him. I can't read your article it just goes to the Baltimore Sun front page.

http://espn.go.com/blog/baltimore-ravens/post/_/id/17692/john-harbaugh-ravens-didnt-notice-anything-with-patriots-footballs

No, listen to the interview!



Clearly Harbaugh's objective was (1) not to lie, and (2) not to draw the ire of the Patriots in the future.

When it comes to #1 he states definitively that the Ravens special teams complained to him and that the league contacted them about it. You fill in the blank about how the league heard about a private conversation between him and his special teams.

When it comes to #2, he states clearly he thinks there was no wrongdoing. That is a total CYA statement; fine, I'd do the same thing. But it does not take away from #1 at all.

 

[stbugs]

Lets get sport science to do a investigation on what it would take to deflate a ball that much and how much an advantage it would give.

They already did and no one is talking about it

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12207314

That was great. Basically said it didn't matter at all and that balls actually went slower, but again by minuscule amounts.

The best part was that he said that the rain clinging to the ball had a 10x more weight change to the ball than the weight reduction due to the PSI reduction. The weight reduction due to the PSI change was the weight of a dollar bill.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

I feel like it's okay to post this again since people will keep posting what Gerry Austin and random ballboys claim:

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.

I'd expect the ones from the ball boys article to say the same if they got called to task for that as well. That sounds a lot better than "I just looked at them and squeezed them a couple times. Sorry "

 

[Niles Standish]

Under the assumption that there's no way around the kicking ball scenario (which is, apparently, what Harbaugh assumed when the game as being played); then your statement is correct. But is there some way for someone determined to do so; to get fishy when it comes to special teams balls? Dunno...

After reading and listening to Harbaugh's interview yesterday it's now a fact that Ravens' special teams is where this came from. Harbaugh says definitively it had nothing to do with the Pats offensive balls. And he confirms the league reached out to them on this specifically.

Given that it is a fact that it came from Ravens special teams and given the stat differential and the weird denials; clearly someone traced back to Tucker (perhaps Tucker himself, perhaps someone else that was involved in the conversation that Harbaugh admits to having) is where this came from originally and it has grown from there.

So your main reason you believe this (even though it really doesn't make any sense when you consider) is that Tucker had shorter kicks. While you're ignoring that Koch had longer kicks. And ignoring that cold weather means denser air which balls will not travel as far in.

Not to mention special teams balls are different. Every disadvantage the Ravens have the Pats have too in that situation.

No, I believe this is where it came from because Harbaugh pretty much stated that as fact. He said definitively that it did not come from the Patriots offensive balls, it came from his special teams. I wouldnt put the word "believe" next to any other statement. I do "suspect", however, that it came from Tucker. Looking at it objectively and looking at Tucker's comments, that suspicion seems quite reasonable.

Do you honestly believe Harbaugh is lying through his teeth???

Face the facts: The main impetus for all of this came from Ravens special teams. Im sure there were other "tributaries" on this river; ie other reports from others from time-to-time, but Harbaugh pretty much laid it our for us re where this originated.

That's not what Harbaugh said. Harbaugh implied he did not file the complaint. He said the offensive balls did not cause suspicion. He also said the special teams balls did not cause suspicion to him. I can't read your article it just goes to the Baltimore Sun front page.

http://espn.go.com/blog/baltimore-ravens/post/_/id/17692/john-harbaugh-ravens-didnt-notice-anything-with-patriots-footballs

No, listen to the interview! The link is above.

Clearly Harbaugh's objective was (1) not to lie, and (2) not to draw the ire of the Patriots in the future.

When it comes to #1 he states definitively that the Ravens special teams complained to him and that the league contacted them about it. You fill in the blank about how the league heard about a private conversation between him and his special teams.

When it comes to #2, he states clearly he thinks there was no wrongdoing. That is a total CYA statement; fine, I'd do the same thing. But it does not take away from #1 at all.

Your link doesn't take me there. Give me a good link and I will. The best I have is the ESPN article where he says he found nothing suspicious. To me that means either he didn't raise the complaint or he's lying as you assume.