Sports: Deflate-Gate

[FlightlessDuck]

Can you link the source that proved they deflated after inspection (so I can read it)? Not saying it was or wasn't, just the articles I've seen didn't show that.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/201...bay-packers-upset-referees-take-air-footballs

And: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/aaron-rodgers-fully-inflate-footballs/story?id=28358826

 

[TAX GUY]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/201...bay-packers-upset-referees-take-air-footballs

And: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/aaron-rodgers-fully-inflate-footballs/story?id=28358826

Thanks, but it didn't show that the balls were deflated after inspection.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

A cheater is a cheater is a cheater.

 

[luvflorida]

Here's what I don't understand, and maybe someone here can explain it.

What is the point of having refs inspect footballs before a game if somehow, somewhere, someone can then handle the footballs and be able to inflate or deflate them, possibly putting too much air or not enough air in them causing the balls to no longer meet the rules of the game?

 

[Patch'sD]

Me wonders why the Pats only ran the ball once in the Second Half of the Ravens Game, was it that the deflated balls were used for that game too.

Anyhow if the Pats win the Superbowl there will be a big old "*" next to the Super Bowl 49 Winner.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Thanks, but it didn't show that the balls were deflated after inspection.

Oh... you're talking about the Patriots? I thought you were talking about refs deflating Packers balls.

No, I'm speculating that someone tampered with the balls in the two hours between inspection and kickoff based on the assumption that the refs did, in fact, check the Patriots' footballs.

What is another explanation? While change in weather affects pressure, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't do so by 2 whole psi. At least now with a 20 degree drop between indoor and outdoor.

 

[TAX GUY]

Oh... you're talking about the Patriots? I thought you were talking about refs deflating Packers balls.

No, I'm speculating that someone tampered with the balls in the two hours between inspection and kickoff based on the assumption that the refs did, in fact, check the Patriots' footballs.

What is another explanation? While change in weather affects pressure, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't do so by 2 whole psi. At least now with a 20 degree drop between indoor and outdoor.

Sorry for the confusion.

While that might be an argument, it was a balmy 51 degrees that day so...

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Sorry for the confusion.

While that might be an argument, it was a balmy 51 degrees that day so...

According to "People on the Internet", weather could have called a decrease in pressure between .4 and .7psi. Which is still less than the 2psi reported.

The numbers look right, but I'm not a math or physics major:

http://www.sportsgrid.com/nfl/scien...h-we-can-explain-deflate-gate-with-our-magic/

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Me wonders why the Pats only ran the ball once in the Second Half of the Ravens Game, was it that the deflated balls were used for that game too.

Anyhow if the Pats win the Superbowl there will be a big old "*" next to the Super Bowl 49 Winner.

Should be one next to more than just this year

 

[Geoff_M]

Thanks, but it didn't show that the balls were deflated after inspection.

And the alternative theories would be, what, exactly? That 11 of the 12 balls had faulty values that developed slow leaks during the games? That Pats players decided to use them as seat cushions during the game? That a cold front moved into Foxborough during the game and the colder ambient temperature caused the air inside the 11 of the balls to contract (but the 12th was kept warm inside someone's jacket)? The ref's gauge malfunctions 11 of 12 times? What?

 

[wvjules]

The Patriots are a good team. They don't need to cheat so I don't know why they continue to do so. It doesn't matter if the Colts would have lost the game anyway. (Which sadly I believe they would have lost regardless of the deflated balls). What matters is that the Patriots cheated. Period!

 

[jdb in AZ]

'Twould appear the Patriots weren't the only cheaters.

http://www.sbnation.com/2015/1/21/7865605/brad-johnson-tampa-bay-buccaneers-super-bowl-deflategate

 

[Missy1961]

The Patriots are a good team. They don't need to cheat so I don't know why they continue to do so. It doesn't matter if the Colts would have lost the game anyway. (Which sadly I believe they would have lost regardless of the deflated balls). What matters is that the Patriots cheated. Period!

 

[topolino]

'Twould appear the Patriots weren't the only cheaters.

http://www.sbnation.com/2015/1/21/7865605/brad-johnson-tampa-bay-buccaneers-super-bowl-deflategate

They are the only confirmed cheaters this year. And the fact that Johnson paid $7,500 to have balls deflated only strenghthens the argument that less inflated balls offer a great advantage.

 

[Geoff_M]

'Twould appear the Patriots weren't the only cheaters.

http://www.sbnation.com/2015/1/21/7865605/brad-johnson-tampa-bay-buccaneers-super-bowl-deflategate

However, from that article it's unclear if what Johnson says he did was "illegal", or whether it was a Belichick-like example of finding a "gray area" in the rules (seeing as Johnson didn't personally alter the balls himself) and exploiting it.

 

[okeydokey]

Is there video or something of somebody deflating balls? How would this be done without anybody seeing?

Did they test all the Colt's footballs too?

 

[Missy1961]

I give up...


Edit: Hate all you want or love all you want. My opinion of the team and your opinion of the team will still remain the same. That's a general you and a general team...

Ah yes, the "haters gonna hate" stuff. I have no problem with you rooting for your team, no matter what. But they cheated. I hate to say it, but they did.

 

[gwynne]

Ah yes, the "haters going hate" stuff. I have no problem with you rooting for your team, no matter what. But they cheated.

I agree.
My take on the Patriot's perspective-- Might as well try. Even if we're caught nothing is going to happen. What is the big deal?
The NFL is the blame in this too. When given the opportunity to over complicate something, they nearly always do.
The NFL could hire a few folks to be in charge of the balls, period. Leave the individual teams out of it.

And of course, it would be nice if the NFL gave actual, meaningful consequences for things like this.

 

[TAX GUY]

And the alternative theories would be, what, exactly? That 11 of the 12 balls had faulty values that developed slow leaks during the games? That Pats players decided to use them as seat cushions during the game? That a cold front moved into Foxborough during the game and the colder ambient temperature caused the air inside the 11 of the balls to contract (but the 12th was kept warm inside someone's jacket)? The ref's gauge malfunctions 11 of 12 times? What?

No theory, just a matter of doing it (not denying it wasn't done) before or after inspection. If their game balls were presented as "proper" for inspection then deflated after the fact, then shame on them. If they were presented that way and approved for play, then shame on the ref's and the league. No different than any other team/player that alter their game balls to their preference (like Aaron Rogers).

 

[TAX GUY]

I agree.
My take on the Patriot's perspective-- Might as well try. Even if we're caught nothing is going to happen. What is the big deal?
The NFL is the blame in this too. When given the opportunity to over complicate something, they nearly always do.
The NFL could hire a few folks to be in charge of the balls, period. Leave the individual teams out of it.

And of course, it would be nice if the NFL gave actual, meaningful consequences for things like this.

I agree. Remove all doubt (not to say a ball handler couldn't be bought though, like in the case of the Buc's QB in the previously posted article). Sadly, it seems the NFL rules, or I should say consequences of "bending" or flat out breaking seem to very minimal. What the Patriots face is a possible $25k fine (peanuts compared to what fines COULD be, and the $25k is a MINIMUM imposed fine) and loss of draft picks. For them, and most other teams, no big deal. Make the punishment fit the crime...or maybe most already do (perhaps this isn't as a big deal as its made out to be?).