If EVERYBODY DOES IT, then why don't the Patriots just Own It and say "we did it, our bad"? Take the fine and move on.

I think the former NFL ball boy, didn't work for the Patriots FWIW, is pretty close to the truth of what happened. He claimed that during his years as a ball boy the officials never once actually weighed the footballs before declaring them good to go. He said they'd give them a squeeze, toss a couple here or there out, and declare them acceptable. If they didn't actually weigh them beforehand, regardless of what PSI level the balls were at, it's on the league.

Saw that article as well. Said he would prepare the balls exactly how the QB liked them. If the refs disallowed a few so what. But he said he never had one thrown out.

If EVERYBODY DOES IT, then why don't the Patriots just Own It and say "we did it, our bad"? Take the fine and move on.

 

So if they prepared the balls with 11psi and the refs didn't check them what are they suppose to admit to?

NFL says they have no log of the PSI in the footballs? If they were so severely under-inflated to the point that this investigation was necessary, don't you think they would've recorded the PSI levels?

 

This is beginning to look and sound more and more like a witch-hunt. The league screwed up, didn't weigh the balls prior to the game, and is now trying to cover its tracks. JMO.

There is a weight and PSI requirement. I don't see that they are related to each other.

 

I would think weight would be regulated by the manufacturer as part of the manufacturing process. The amount of air in the ball shouldn't change the weight in a significant way.

 

PSI would change the ability to grip, hold and throw the ball and would be affected by the amount of air put in or taken out of the ball.

 

Even if the pressure wasn't recorded pre-game but was checked at half-time and only the balls from one sideline were under inflated, there is something screwy...not a witch hunt IMO.

NFL says they have no log of the PSI in the footballs? If they were so severely under-inflated to the point that this investigation was necessary, don't you think they would've recorded the PSI levels?

 

This is beginning to look and sound more and more like a witch-hunt. The league screwed up, didn't weigh the balls prior to the game, and is now trying to cover its tracks. JMO.

I contend the league is in a no win situation. They didn't seek out deflate gate, they were asked to investigate it. Maybe it is a loophole in the system, but that is a separate argument. If they don't respond, what kind of backlash would they be getting? Much worse I think. "Oh, the Commissioner and Kraft are just buddy-buddy", "The league is covering up", etc.

There is a weight and PSI requirement. I don't see that they are related to each other.

 

I would think weight would be regulated by the manufacturer as part of the manufacturing process. The amount of air in the ball shouldn't change the weight in a significant way.

 

PSI would change the ability to grip, hold and throw the ball and would be affected by the amount of air put in or taken out of the ball.

 

Even if the pressure wasn't recorded pre-game but was checked at half-time and only the balls from one sideline were under inflated, there is something screwy...not a witch hunt IMO.

 

If they didn't check it at the beginning of the game, it's absolutely a witch-hunt. That's on the league. Not the Patriots fault they didn't do their job.

There is a weight and PSI requirement. I don't see that they are related to each other.

 

I would think weight would be regulated by the manufacturer as part of the manufacturing process. The amount of air in the ball shouldn't change the weight in a significant way.

 

PSI would change the ability to grip, hold and throw the ball and would be affected by the amount of air put in or taken out of the ball.

 

Even if the pressure wasn't recorded pre-game but was checked at half-time and only the balls from one sideline were under inflated, there is something screwy...not a witch hunt IMO.

Agreed on the first part. In this case it is the PSI requirement that is the issue. A ball inflated to 12.5 PSI probably weighs the the same as one inflated to 11.5 PSI.

 

As far as what happened, nothing is screwy if the Patriots prepared the balls to say 11.5 prior to inspection and the refs just failed to check. That's on the refs.

I contend the league is in a no win situation. They didn't seek out deflate gate, they were asked to investigate it. Maybe it is a loophole in the system, but that is a separate argument. If they don't respond, what kind of backlash would they be getting? Much worse I think. "Oh, the Commissioner and Kraft are just buddy-buddy", "The league is covering up", etc.

 

Ehh, lots of chatter today that they're going to exonerated by science. Supposedly they've had a lot of universities and groups do scientific studies that are proving the drop can be caused by natural elements.

If they didn't check it at the beginning of the game, it's absolutely a witch-hunt. That's on the league. Not the Patriots fault they didn't do their job.

 

I agree that if they didn't get caught pregame that's on the refs. But by the same token if the Pats did it knowing that the refs don't check it then again they were intentionally cheating.

 

It was reported that the balls were 2lbs (not 1lb) under the low limit so that should have been noticeable.

 

 

Here is what I think happened, the balls were prepped by both teams.

Indy to the rule specs for the balls, the Pats for 2lbs under (Knowing from past history that refs don't check them closely).

Refs probably didn't closely look at them pre-game.

Indy complains.

Refs check at halftime and pull balls out of the game.

NFL realizes Refs should have caught this pre-game and crap on themselves.

NFL delays release of findings until after the SuperBowl.

Refs (or possibly an equipment manager) are thrown under a bus and that is the end of it.

 

Even though the Pats attempted to gain a competitive advantage by circumventing the rules.

Ehh, lots of chatter today that they're going to exonerated by science. Supposedly they've had a lot of universities and groups do scientific studies that are proving the drop can be caused by natural elements.

 

Why didn't the Colts ball drop?

If they didn't check it at the beginning of the game, it's absolutely a witch-hunt. That's on the league. Not the Patriots fault they didn't do their job.

 

If you rob a bank and don't get caught, does that make it OK?

I agree that if they didn't get caught pregame that's on the refs. But by the same token if the Pats did it knowing that the refs don't check it then again they were intentionally cheating.

 

It was reported that the balls were 2lbs (not 1lb) under the low limit so that should have been noticeable.

 

 

Here is what I think happened, the balls were prepped by both teams.

Indy to the rule specs for the balls, the Pats for 2lbs under (Knowing from past history that refs don't check them closely).

Refs probably didn't closely look at them pre-game.

Indy complains.

Refs check at halftime and pull balls out of the game.

NFL realizes Refs should have caught this pre-game and crap on themselves.

NFL delays release of findings until after the SuperBowl.

Refs (or possibly an equipment manager) are thrown under a bus and that is the end of it.

 

Even though the Pats attempted to gain a competitive advantage by circumventing the rules.

 

I pretty much agree that I think that's what happened. I don't agree that it's cheating.

Ehh, lots of chatter today that they're going to exonerated by science. Supposedly they've had a lot of universities and groups do scientific studies that are proving the drop can be caused by natural elements.

 

Exonerated by science. This is great.

Why didn't the Colts ball drop?

 

I don't know. I'm not a scientist. Just posting what's being said.