Patriots being investigated after Colts game (6 Viewers)

[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! 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.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baltimore-sports-blog/bal-ravens-did-not-notice-anything-about-patriots-footballs-being-deflated-john-harbaugh-said-20150121-story.html

 

[12punch]

There's cheating and there's cheating. It's not like the Pats are all roided up. They blew Indy out. It's not like they got a slight edge to beat a superior team. I'm not condoning the behaviour, but it's also not like they paid off the refs. They deserve to be consequenced for violating the rules, but the reactions are also way overblown imo. Wouldn't surprise me if some of the haters are holding onto Hernandez for $1 in a dynasty.

what if they were doing the exact same thing the previous week, where they won by 4? A game where a single incompletion could have derailed a scoring drive?

The optics around that would obviously be a lot worse, but it's also not what's on the table currently being debated. Like I said, I'm not condoning it, but they blew Indy out and saying they cheated their way to the Superbowl is hyperbole at its finest.

Why don't u understand that beating Indy by a thousand pts doesnt excuse cheating. It's all about intent. Their arrogance and paranoid belief they need to cheat is the issue, not whether it actually makes a difference in the game.

It doesn't excuse it. It's a "punishment fits the crime" thing. On the one hand, people are calling for them to be banned from the SB or suspended for an entire year, yet on the other, you have demonstrable proof that it didn't give them an edge. Those don't square.

It's not whether the punishment fits the crime, but the fact that a repeat felon got caught again and the punishment should fit the multiple felon. BB is making a mockery out of the NFL, the rules, the refs, etc, and he needs to be put in his place by Goodell.

So then you admit this crime is not that big a deal. It's the fact that they taped practices they were allowed to observe, but not record, in the past. And these things, in your mind, make a travishammockery of everything.

wut

 

[[icon]]

This thread is going to be extra entertaining once the NFL finds no evidence implicating the Pats in wrongdoing and hands down a minimal, if any punishment.

Over/Under on CAPS-LADEN rants where people yell about how they're DONE with the NFL and it's all a CROOKED CONSPIRACY: 3

 

[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.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baltimore-sports-blog/bal-ravens-did-not-notice-anything-about-patriots-footballs-being-deflated-john-harbaugh-said-20150121-story.html

I give up. Giving me a link that takes me to the same place is not helpful. If you're not a baltimore sun member that link does not work.

 

[randall146]

My view is that all investigation is complete, all punishments have been agreed to, and everything said by Brady, Bellichick, Goodell, and anyone else (other owners, other QBs,etc) has been pre-approved by the league.

This is a rule the NFL did not want to be strictly enforced. Keeping the QBs happy is essential to fan interest and league income. The NFL certainly doesn't want this spotlight on ball pressure. Now the league has to pretend get care about enforcing this rule that everyone in the league knew was ignored.

Predicted penalties:

Brady - large fine

Bellichick - small fine

Patriots - draft pick

Irsay - ostracism for getting this publicized and ruining a good thing

 

[Flying Elvis]

This thread is going to be extra entertaining once the NFL finds no evidence implicating the Pats in wrongdoing and hands down a minimal, if any punishment.

Over/Under on CAPS-LADEN rants where people yell about how they're DONE with the NFL and it's all a CROOKED CONSPIRACY: 3

Life savings on the over, please.

 

[shader]

I don't believe the footballs were properly inspected. Don't buy it. I've learned not to trust a single thing that the NFL says. It's likely one referee that claims "yeah I inspected them", and who is going to disagree with him?

The bad part about this is that I don't think you're going to ever get any proof.

Brady is going to say that he likes his balls a bit under-deflated, the refs probably always allow it to pass inspection, because the refs probably view it as a formality without much meaning.

The ref is going to say he inspected it. Brady is going to say that they did NOT deflate the balls after inspection. No proof will be found of anything and Brady will probably get fined for doing something that most qb's do.

If he admits or if proof comes out that he had the balls deflated AFTER the inspection, than I would guess the NFL will do something more significant, but it won't be benching Brady in the super bowl, dream on Pats haters. This is a very little thing that has blown up into something that it doesn't deserve. Quintessential definition of making a mountain out of a molehill.

 

[moleculo]

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.

that's some bad science, and completely missing the point. A fractional of amount of improved grip would help a QB gain better control and accuracy - they made no mention of that.

More importantly, a slightly underinflated ball will bounce less - off of a receivers hands, for instance. A fractionally softer ball would also be easier for a back to carry without fumbling.

 

[Flying Elvis]

My view is that all investigation is complete, all punishments have been agreed to, and everything said by Brady, Bellichick, Goodell, and anyone else (other owners, other QBs,etc) has been pre-approved by the league.

This is a rule the NFL did not to be strictly enforced. Keeping the QBs happy is essential to fan interest and league income. The NFP certainly doesn't want this spotlight on ball pressure. Now the league has to pretend get care about enforcing this rule that everyone in the league knew was ignored.

Predicted penalties:

Brady - large fine

Bellichick - small fine

Patriots - draft pick

Irsay - ostracism for getting this publicized and ruining a good thing

The bolded part is my take on everything I've seen and read, as well. There was a "wink and nod" unwritten rule whereby the NFL didn't really enforce this because ratings (and, therefore, profits) would be negatively affected were they to enforce it.

(EDIT: added 's' to rating to make it ratings.

 

[shader]

This thread is going to be extra entertaining once the NFL finds no evidence implicating the Pats in wrongdoing and hands down a minimal, if any punishment.

Over/Under on CAPS-LADEN rants where people yell about how they're DONE with the NFL and it's all a CROOKED CONSPIRACY: 3

Of course. What are they going to find? They'd need a confession or video-tape. I seriously doubt there are logs that record the PSI of the balls. It's likely a formality.

The bottom line is that the NFL can't come down hard on this, because it's obvious that they don't really care that much. If they cared, they wouldn't allow the teams to have their own balls. The end result of all this is that the NFL will probably provide the balls from now on, and all those Pats/Brady haters will continue to yell that they cheat. But the truth is that it had little to no impact on the end result on the field, and the whole thing is a big media-fest by a bored media who has to wait 2 weeks until the super bowl.

 

[parrot]

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.

Here's what the rulebook says:

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.

So what exactly does "properly inspected" imply? Does it necessarily mean that they were pressure tested, or merely visually and manually inspected? There is a mandated weight as well as a pressure, but according to Austin, the balls are never weighed. It's also interesting that the rules mandate a pump be provided, but not a gauge. These are footballs, not nuclear reactors. There's a decent chance the inspection even though done "properly" per league guidelines was not as all encompassing as some would like to imagine.

 

[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! 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.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baltimore-sports-blog/bal-ravens-did-not-notice-anything-about-patriots-footballs-being-deflated-john-harbaugh-said-20150121-story.html

I give up. Giving me a link that takes me to the same place is not helpful. If you're not a baltimore sun member that link does not work.

Huh, weird...sorry about that.

But you can get it from other stories too.

Fact 1: the Ravens never handled Patriots offensive balls; so that's a non-issue as far as the Ravens go

Fact 2: the Ravens special teams complained to/around Harbaugh about the balls

Fact 3: Harbaugh, exhibiting expert media skills, says 100% that he believes the Patriots are innocent of messing with the special teams balls. ie, Harbaugh wants nothing to do with any semblance of accusing the Patriots of anything. It can only come back to bite him in the a*s. The Colts did the work for him apparently.

Fact 4: Despite #3, Harbaugh confirmed the NFL contacted the Ravens about #2 and interviewed various Ravens. A 6-year old can connect the dots here; how the heck does the NFL contact the Ravens specifically about special teams balls when that was a private conversation among the Ravens? Because someone within earshot or on-orders inside the Ravens, despite Harbaugh's crafty denial in #3, complained to someone else about it.

What's fascinating is that the media only cares about fact #3. Harbaugh is a genius re PR, but I suspect Belichek sees right through the BS. If I can, so can Belichek.

 

[ragnarok628]

"Stop trying to make 'ballghazi' happen. IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN" - Patriots fans (Monday)

"If 11 footballs get deflated, it's not optimal. We're going to fix it." - Roger Goodell

"At this point, what difference does it make?" - Bill Belichick

"Ballghazi, ballghazi, ballghazi -- why aren't we talking about something else?" - FBGuys forumers who can't stand it when people talk about something for longer than five minutes

"Dude, this was like 4 days ago..." - Tom Brady

"Did Belichick know he was approving a woefully underinflated football? If not, then at the very least he is guilty of dereliction of duty and the coaching equivalent of criminal negligence." - Chuck Pagano

"Let's be clear. Ballghazi happened a long time ago." - Patriots fans (tomorrow, probably)

 

[msudaisy26]

This thread is going to be extra entertaining once the NFL finds no evidence implicating the Pats in wrongdoing and hands down a minimal, if any punishment.

Over/Under on CAPS-LADEN rants where people yell about how they're DONE with the NFL and it's all a CROOKED CONSPIRACY: 3

Life savings on the over, please.

The over is infinity. I would still bet the over.

 

[shader]

My view is that all investigation is complete, all punishments have been agreed to, and everything said by Brady, Bellichick, Goodell, and anyone else (other owners, other QBs,etc) has been pre-approved by the league.

This is a rule the NFL did not to be strictly enforced. Keeping the QBs happy is essential to fan interest and league income. The NFP certainly doesn't want this spotlight on ball pressure. Now the league has to pretend get care about enforcing this rule that everyone in the league knew was ignored.

Predicted penalties:

Brady - large fine

Bellichick - small fine

Patriots - draft pick

Irsay - ostracism for getting this publicized and ruining a good thing

The bolded part is my take on everything I've seen and read, as well. There was a "wink and nod" unwritten rule whereby the NFL didn't really enforce this because rating (and, therefore, profits) would be negatively affected were they to enforce it.

Exactly. Which is why they can't punish the Pats too harshly, because they enabled this to happen everywhere.

If the NFL knew what they were doing, they would have already squashed this controversy, but they already don't. They never admit when they are wrong, so they'll let a controversy simmer for FOUR DAYS, and do nothing to stifle it.

All they had to do to kill this controversy is release a simple statement saying that they allow teams to provide their own balls, and that their inspection process isn't as stringent as it should be. Then if they really care, they would then say that in the future they will provide balls for the teams. But instead, they will hang a super bowl team out to dry, while not providing any concrete information and allowing the media run wild with speculation.

 

[shader]

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.

Here's what the rulebook says:

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.

So what exactly does "properly inspected" imply? Does it necessarily mean that they were pressure tested, or merely visually and manually inspected? There is a mandated weight as well as a pressure, but according to Austin, the balls are never weighed. It's also interesting that the rules mandate a pump be provided, but not a gauge. These are footballs, not nuclear reactors. There's a decent chance the inspection even though done "properly" per league guidelines was not as all encompassing as some would like to imagine.

I'd bet 1,000 dollars that most refs don't test the psi of 24 balls before every game.

 

[ShamrockPride]

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.

This may be true. Unfortunately for Ole Billy, his track record doesn't lend itself to being given the benefit of the doubt.

 

[the moops]

Wasn't there a quote from an ex official stating that he never once tested the PSI of the footballs?

 

[devouredbychaos]

This thread is going to be extra entertaining once the NFL finds no evidence implicating the Pats in wrongdoing and hands down a minimal, if any punishment.

Over/Under on CAPS-LADEN rants where people yell about how they're DONE with the NFL and it's all a CROOKED CONSPIRACY: 3

 

[parrot]

Wasn't there a quote from an ex official stating that he never once tested the PSI of the footballs?

Austin said he didn't recall ever testing AFTER the initial inspection. He does say its SOP to check the PSI prior to the game. Not sure if that's the quote you're referring to or not.

 

[devouredbychaos]

"The NFL is having a difficult time coming up with any direct evidence that these balls were even tampered with." - Adam Schefter

 

[cstu]

The Referee shall be the sole judge as to whether all balls offered for play comply with these specifications.

/thread

 

[ragnarok628]

the S.O.P for testing the PSI of the footballs is irrelevant, the only thing that matters is if the PSI was actually measured in all the footballs for this particular game.There is a semantic argument to be made that the footballs being "properly inspected" does not necessarily mean the PSI was measured, but if the reports are true that the refs were planning all along to re-check at halftime, this implies that they must have gotten actual measurements beforehand; otherwise the numbers at halftime would be meaningless. Going from there, the only way the balls could be underinflated at halftime is if Patriots got the air taken out somehow post-inspection. Unless you buy the hot-air theory, which seems a little out there to me.

 

[Thorn]

Let’s say there are ten kids who race every week. One kid (Bill) always wins. No matter how long the race is or what the weather is, Bill always ends up winning in the end. The runners aren’t allowed to drink water before the race. However, everybody does and nobody says anything. 7 years ago, one of the runners named Jet tattled on Bill for drinking some water. Even though everyone was doing it, Bill was punished and labeled a cheater.

Now, at the beginning of every race, there is a referee who counts down 3…2…1…Go! The rule is that the kids must leave on Go! But nobody ever does. Everybody leaves on 1 trying to gain an advantage. Everybody knows they aren’t following the official rule, but nobody cares because it’s still on the level.

Now, one day, after losing races to Bill for 15 years, one of the runners, let’s call him Colt, decides that he’s had enough humiliation. You see, Bill not only wins every time, but he also ####s all the other kid’s girlfriends and stuffs all the other runners in lockers. So after losing yet another race, Colt tells the referee and everybody in the crowd that Bill left on 1 and not on Go like the rule states. All the people in the crowd who have supported these loser runners for years are full of jealousy and envy. They bring up the watergate from 7 years ago. They start demanding that Bill never be allowed to run again. Those who are there supporting Bill calmly point out that is ridiculous. Bill wasn’t cheating because he didn’t gain any advantage! Everybody was doing it! Bill won because he was simply Too Big, Too Strong, and Too Fast. To make matters worse, supporters of Colt (KFC and BigCat) start #####ing about how Bill’s fans are the only ones making a big deal of this. Of course all they are doing is pointing out how this wasn’t cheating and it’s absurd that people want Bill to never run again.

http://boston.barstoolsports.com/around-barstool/reader-email-pass-this-analogy-along-to-those-simpletons-kfc-and-big-cat/

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

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

Wonder if they've looked in Goodell's shredder bin?

 

[The General]

The Referee shall be the sole judge as to whether all balls offered for play comply with these specifications.

/thread

Kind of skipped over the part where we find out if the Pats willingly adjusted the balls after the refs deemed them ready for the game.

 

[Anarchy99]

Here is the problem for the NFL. I would guess most NFL teams have a bunch dirt on other teams. So if a team that was not even in the playoffs had more to offer that the Pats deflated footballs in the past, that would open up a can of worms. I would bet a lot of money that BB has a filing cabinet that he can dip into with infractions by teams, owners, players, etc. The last thing the league needs is a bunch of teams poking each other in the eye with sticks right before the Super Bowl.

 

[Road Warriors]

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.

Though, if any of the reports that the Colts tipped the officials, or the Ravens tipped off the Colts, or they had already planned to test the balls at the half were true, you might have a league official keeping an eye on the balls on the sideline, no?

 

[The Flying Elvis]

"The NFL is having a difficult time coming up with any direct evidence that these balls were even tampered with." - Adam Schefter

It won't matter. By now the damage has been done. For discussion's sake say for whatever reason the refs didn't properly test them or even if they did and the balls deflated during the natural course of the game. We say they lost 2lbs but that hasn't been officially reported by the NFL yet. If it somehow is closer to say 1 lb or less, it still won't matter. The Patriots could be cleared of all wrong doing and it won't really affect people's reactions. If you were predisposed to not liking the Patriots, you further get to think they are cheaters.

 

[The General]

I would like to hear if the ref team actually did the entire test.

Don't know if this was posted but this video shows the whole process from a year or so back: LINK

 

[Freelove]

Let’s say there are ten kids who race every week. One kid (Bill) always wins. No matter how long the race is or what the weather is, Bill always ends up winning in the end. The runners aren’t allowed to drink water before the race. However, everybody does and nobody says anything. 7 years ago, one of the runners named Jet tattled on Bill for drinking some water. Even though everyone was doing it, Bill was punished and labeled a cheater.

Now, at the beginning of every race, there is a referee who counts down 3…2…1…Go! The rule is that the kids must leave on Go! But nobody ever does. Everybody leaves on 1 trying to gain an advantage. Everybody knows they aren’t following the official rule, but nobody cares because it’s still on the level.

Now, one day, after losing races to Bill for 15 years, one of the runners, let’s call him Colt, decides that he’s had enough humiliation. You see, Bill not only wins every time, but he also ####s all the other kid’s girlfriends and stuffs all the other runners in lockers. So after losing yet another race, Colt tells the referee and everybody in the crowd that Bill left on 1 and not on Go like the rule states. All the people in the crowd who have supported these loser runners for years are full of jealousy and envy. They bring up the watergate from 7 years ago. They start demanding that Bill never be allowed to run again. Those who are there supporting Bill calmly point out that is ridiculous. Bill wasn’t cheating because he didn’t gain any advantage! Everybody was doing it! Bill won because he was simply Too Big, Too Strong, and Too Fast. To make matters worse, supporters of Colt (KFC and BigCat) start #####ing about how Bill’s fans are the only ones making a big deal of this. Of course all they are doing is pointing out how this wasn’t cheating and it’s absurd that people want Bill to never run again.

http://boston.barstoolsports.com/around-barstool/reader-email-pass-this-analogy-along-to-those-simpletons-kfc-and-big-cat/

What if all the other runners weren't drinking water way back when, and Bill hadn't won a race since getting caught doing so?

 

[Vike Me]

How each ball will be delivered to the field for each play.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I did chuckle that Bill had to stop mid sentence so he didnt say to the press they would have to ask Tom how he liked his balls.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I'm more concerned with your denial of the English language.

lol

 

[KarmaPolice]

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.

He would not have said Tom's name if this wasnt the plan all along.

 

[Road Warriors]

This thread is going to be extra entertaining once the NFL finds no evidence implicating the Pats in wrongdoing and hands down a minimal, if any punishment.

Over/Under on CAPS-LADEN rants where people yell about how they're DONE with the NFL and it's all a CROOKED CONSPIRACY: 3

I'll take the over

 

[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.

Though, if any of the reports that the Colts tipped the officials, or the Ravens tipped off the Colts, or they had already planned to test the balls at the half were true, you might have a league official keeping an eye on the balls on the sideline, no?

I would think so.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

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.

Unless they can prove the Pats tampered with balls that were supposed to "remain under the supervision of the Referee until they are delivered to the ball attendant just prior to the start of the game." they league can't touch NE for this

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

*cough*

- Bluto Blutarsky

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

*cough*

- Bluto Blutarsky

Was it over when the germans bombed pearl harbor?

 

[KellysHeroes]

the mob must be feed, give us belichick

 

[TobiasFunke]

Let’s say there are ten kids who race every week. One kid (Bill) always wins. No matter how long the race is or what the weather is, Bill always ends up winning in the end. The runners aren’t allowed to drink water before the race. However, everybody does and nobody says anything. 7 years ago, one of the runners named Jet tattled on Bill for drinking some water. Even though everyone was doing it, Bill was punished and labeled a cheater.

Now, at the beginning of every race, there is a referee who counts down 3…2…1…Go! The rule is that the kids must leave on Go! But nobody ever does. Everybody leaves on 1 trying to gain an advantage. Everybody knows they aren’t following the official rule, but nobody cares because it’s still on the level.

Now, one day, after losing races to Bill for 15 years, one of the runners, let’s call him Colt, decides that he’s had enough humiliation. You see, Bill not only wins every time, but he also ####s all the other kid’s girlfriends and stuffs all the other runners in lockers. So after losing yet another race, Colt tells the referee and everybody in the crowd that Bill left on 1 and not on Go like the rule states. All the people in the crowd who have supported these loser runners for years are full of jealousy and envy. They bring up the watergate from 7 years ago. They start demanding that Bill never be allowed to run again. Those who are there supporting Bill calmly point out that is ridiculous. Bill wasn’t cheating because he didn’t gain any advantage! Everybody was doing it! Bill won because he was simply Too Big, Too Strong, and Too Fast. To make matters worse, supporters of Colt (KFC and BigCat) start #####ing about how Bill’s fans are the only ones making a big deal of this. Of course all they are doing is pointing out how this wasn’t cheating and it’s absurd that people want Bill to never run again.

http://boston.barstoolsports.com/around-barstool/reader-email-pass-this-analogy-along-to-those-simpletons-kfc-and-big-cat/

I'm not sure what they're analogizing here. Who is Bill? It's supposed to be someone who's won a lot recently, right? So in football I guess that would be the Giants or the Steelers?

 

[Witz]

Let’s say there are ten kids who race every week. One kid (Bill) always wins. No matter how long the race is or what the weather is, Bill always ends up winning in the end. The runners aren’t allowed to drink water before the race. However, everybody does and nobody says anything. 7 years ago, one of the runners named Jet tattled on Bill for drinking some water. Even though everyone was doing it, Bill was punished and labeled a cheater.

Now, at the beginning of every race, there is a referee who counts down 3…2…1…Go! The rule is that the kids must leave on Go! But nobody ever does. Everybody leaves on 1 trying to gain an advantage. Everybody knows they aren’t following the official rule, but nobody cares because it’s still on the level.

Now, one day, after losing races to Bill for 15 years, one of the runners, let’s call him Colt, decides that he’s had enough humiliation. You see, Bill not only wins every time, but he also ####s all the other kid’s girlfriends and stuffs all the other runners in lockers. So after losing yet another race, Colt tells the referee and everybody in the crowd that Bill left on 1 and not on Go like the rule states. All the people in the crowd who have supported these loser runners for years are full of jealousy and envy. They bring up the watergate from 7 years ago. They start demanding that Bill never be allowed to run again. Those who are there supporting Bill calmly point out that is ridiculous. Bill wasn’t cheating because he didn’t gain any advantage! Everybody was doing it! Bill won because he was simply Too Big, Too Strong, and Too Fast. To make matters worse, supporters of Colt (KFC and BigCat) start #####ing about how Bill’s fans are the only ones making a big deal of this. Of course all they are doing is pointing out how this wasn’t cheating and it’s absurd that people want Bill to never run again.

http://boston.barstoolsports.com/around-barstool/reader-email-pass-this-analogy-along-to-those-simpletons-kfc-and-big-cat/

They skipped the beginning of the story where that kid (Bill) never won. One could argue he was actually a below average runner. When looking at his race history, it just wasn't impressive at all until one week, Bill ended up getting a new pair of shoes (shoes that he called Tommy). Once he got his new pair of shoes, things changed for him. It was from that point on that Bill started to win his races.

 

[Banger]

this is all going to be much ado about nothing because there's no way they can prove anything...there's no evidence, no video tape, no finger prints....so even though it's being written about and discussed ad nausuem nothing will come of it because there is no proof of what happened, who did it, etc..

 

[bostonfred]

Lets say there are ten kids who race every week. One kid (Bill) always wins. No matter how long the race is or what the weather is, Bill always ends up winning in the end. The runners arent allowed to drink water before the race. However, everybody does and nobody says anything. 7 years ago, one of the runners named Jet tattled on Bill for drinking some water. Even though everyone was doing it, Bill was punished and labeled a cheater.

Now, at the beginning of every race, there is a referee who counts down 321Go! The rule is that the kids must leave on Go! But nobody ever does. Everybody leaves on 1 trying to gain an advantage. Everybody knows they arent following the official rule, but nobody cares because its still on the level.



Now, one day, after losing races to Bill for 15 years, one of the runners, lets call him Colt, decides that hes had enough humiliation. You see, Bill not only wins every time, but he also ####s all the other kids girlfriends and stuffs all the other runners in lockers. So after losing yet another race, Colt tells the referee and everybody in the crowd that Bill left on 1 and not on Go like the rule states. All the people in the crowd who have supported these loser runners for years are full of jealousy and envy. They bring up the watergate from 7 years ago. They start demanding that Bill never be allowed to run again. Those who are there supporting Bill calmly point out that is ridiculous. Bill wasnt cheating because he didnt gain any advantage! Everybody was doing it! Bill won because he was simply Too Big, Too Strong, and Too Fast. To make matters worse, supporters of Colt (KFC and BigCat) start #####ing about how Bills fans are the only ones making a big deal of this. Of course all they are doing is pointing out how this wasnt cheating and its absurd that people want Bill to never run again.



http://boston.barstoolsports.com/around-barstool/reader-email-pass-this-analogy-along-to-those-simpletons-kfc-and-big-cat/

I'm not sure what they're analogizing here. Who is Bill? It's supposed to be someone who's won a lot recently, right? So in football I guess that would be the Giants or the Steelers?

out of control

 

[devouredbychaos]

ESPN's Adam Schefter is on television reporting some important information regarding DeflateGate.

Per Schefter, the league might be able to release their findings at some point today. He also says that the NFL is sturggling to collect any evidence that the Patriots knowingly affected the football, and that the burden of proof lies with the league to determine guilt. If the league cannot find evidence that the Patriots tampered with the football, then there's nothing that should happen to New England.

It's likely that any league information will wait until after Tom Brady's 4 PM press conference, but early leaks are entirely possible.

This would absolutely be the best case scenario for the Patriots and it would allow everyone to move on and start discussing the Super Bowl that's expected to happen the first week of February.

 

[12punch]

Here's my question: After the teams select their dozen balls and submit them. How rigorous is the inspection? Do the officials stick a meter in every ball every game? I can't find that info in any reporting. Do they put a meter on them or do they just look them over and give them a squeeze?

Surely that's really important.

What We Really Need Is A Thread Where Peple Could Post Links ToThis Kind Of Info And Other Stuff Relevant To The subject

 

[PhD]

In before Tommy Boy says that he adjusts the ball to his liking like all QBs do, and although he knew they was probably a limit to how far you could go, he didn't know what the limit was or that he went too far. No one ever told him this before.

... in the category of making excuses for doing something wrong this probably puts him at about the 4th or 5th grade level.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

Here's my question: After the teams select their dozen balls and submit them. How rigorous is the inspection? Do the officials stick a meter in every ball every game? I can't find that info in any reporting. Do they put a meter on them or do they just look them over and give them a squeeze?

Surely that's really important.

What We Really Need Is A Thread Where Peple Could Post Links ToThis Kind Of Info And Other Stuff Relevant To The subject

Why stop there?

 

[parrot]

ESPN's Adam Schefter is on television reporting some important information regarding DeflateGate.

Per Schefter, the league might be able to release their findings at some point today. He also says that the NFL is sturggling to collect any evidence that the Patriots knowingly affected the football, and that the burden of proof lies with the league to determine guilt. If the league cannot find evidence that the Patriots tampered with the football, then there's nothing that should happen to New England.

It's likely that any league information will wait until after Tom Brady's 4 PM press conference, but early leaks are entirely possible.

This would absolutely be the best case scenario for the Patriots and it would allow everyone to move on and start discussing the Super Bowl that's expected to happen the first week of February.

Yeah, THAT'S gonna happen.