Sports: Deflate-Gate

[Patch'sD]

If a guy knows how to make Balls as bad as they can be and then makes them even worse, Wouldn't he know how to make them the best for his players. What did Belichik know and when did he know it.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I think it's safe to say that most people that tune in the Super Bowl will be rooting against a given team instead of for one this year!!!

Dunno how to root against both, though.

But, at least it't not the Steelers and Cowboys.

 

[jdb in AZ]

If a guy knows how to make Balls as bad as they can be and then makes them even worse, Wouldn't he know how to make them the best for his players. What did Belichik know and when did he know it.

Or Brady? When asked about the balls he just burst out laughing and said he had more important things to worry about. How could he have not noticed the difference in the balls?

Does anyone know the exact bonus the Pats got for winning Sunday's game? No doubt it was a lot more than they paid the ball boy (or whoever.)

Dunno how to root against both, though. :

But, at least it't not the Steelers and Cowboys.

Or the Broncos.

Sure hope they have some fun commercials to make the game worth watching.

Or steal Pete Carroll's gum and see if he can function without it.

 

[wdwcoltsfan]

Not only do most people think this is a case of sore loser, heck even at least one Indy player is admitting it didn't matter .

Excerpt from MSN post:



http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl...ed-with-soap-for-balls-and-beat-us/ar-AA8rrZ6

I'm not sure how this proves sore loser. The underweight balls were brought to the attention of the league by Ryan Grigson before halftime. The score at the time was 14-0 and the Colts had just picked off Brady and went on to score a TD. It's not like the score was out of reach when it was noticed. And as you noted, the footballs were removed and weighed at halftime.

I think sore loser would apply if nothing was said during the game and only came to light after the game was over. I also haven't heard too much from any of Indy's coaches or players saying they think the game would have gone differently if the rules had been followed. Which players/coaches have said they think there would have been a different outcome if the footballs had been inflated to the correct weight?

 

[goofy4prez]

I've noticed in this thread how those who are in the New England area (and fans) have their opinion on Belichek and the Patriots and this inflate-gate story than from those who are not. It is about as divided in opinion as republicans and democrats debating in Washington.

 

[pat fan]

It is definitely more plausible that the Refs did not do their job during an AFC Championship game and allowed 11 severely under inflated balls go unnoticed. But made sure the Colts balls were within standards. And the other teams are completely ok with this and they only report the Patriots for it. Definitely a more plausible statement.

Now I have coffee all over my monitor. Love that you have such a great sense of humor over your team cheating. It is just a game afterall.

Yeah, that's exactly what I said.

 

[sunshinehighway]

It is definitely more plausible that the Refs did not do their job during an AFC Championship game and allowed 11 severely under inflated balls go unnoticed. But made sure the Colts balls were within standards. And the other teams are completely ok with this and they only report the Patriots for it. Definitely a more plausible statement.


Now I have coffee all over my monitor. Love that you have such a great sense of humor over your team cheating. It is just a game afterall.

That's not what I said.
If the balls aren't really checked thoroughly but given more of a quick look over it's entirely possible they were low all along.
I'm not saying they checked the Colts balls thoroughly and not the Pats balls.
The league can have a standard and procedure in the books for inspection the balls but that doesn't mean it's actually put into practice.
You can laugh all you want but it really makes more sense that the balls were always low than there was somebody on the sideline sneaking air out of them.

 

[okeydokey]

That's not what I said.
If the balls aren't really checked thoroughly but given more of a quick look over it's entirely possible they were low all along.
I'm not saying they checked the Colts balls thoroughly and not the Pats balls.
The league can have a standard and procedure in the books for inspection the balls but that doesn't mean it's actually put into practice.
You can laugh all you want but it really makes more sense that the balls were always low than there was somebody on the sideline sneaking air out of them.

This is what I think too. Way too many cameras around to deflate them during the game. I think they started off too low.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

Afte hearing Belicheck answer like he is taking the fifth, I hope they go after him. Did you notice how he tried to bring up fill to max. I am wondering if they are going to try to claim they have some lower to what they thought was within legal limit, only Bobby(equipment guy a) did it and so did Paul(equipment guy b) also did and Tom (qb1) never noticced.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

This is what I think too. Way too many cameras around to deflate them during the game. I think they started off too low.

But the Patriots filled all the balls, and then they rechecked Pats balls at halftime and made them put in the 12 reserve bal, which were fine. There are two hours were the ball are with equipment people before the game starts after ref has checked.

 

[sunshinehighway]

This is what I think too. Way too many cameras around to deflate them during the game. I think they started off too low.

Also, the refs handled the balls throughout the first half and didn't notice.

 

[declansdad]

Possible scenarios

1. Balls were properly inflated, checked with a pressure gauge by the ref and then tampered with by someone on the sideline.
2. Balls were inflated but only checked by feel and approved by the ref. Were never at the proper level and was discovered when they were actually checked with a gauge.
3. Balls were inflated and checked properly but 11 of the balls had a defective valve.

Are there any others?

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

Also, the refs handled the balls throughout the first half and didn't notice.

If you were going to cheat I think you would do it so that it give you advantage but is unoticable. Keep in mind even the Defencive player did not notice while handling it for a short time. It was the equipment guy who noticed who the player gave the ball to so he could mark as interception ball. I think he actually gets the ball after game. So it might be unless you are throwing or catching a lot that it would be unnoticed.

 

[pat fan]

Possible scenarios


Balls were properly inflated, checked with a pressure gauge by the ref and then tampered with by someone on the sideline.
Balls were inflated but only checked by feel and approved by the ref. Were never at the proper level and was discovered when they were actually checked with a gauge.
Balls were inflated and checked properly but 11 of the balls had a defective valve.

I go with #2. Until and unless I see actual PROOF of someone letting air out, I just don't see that happening. WHY would they do it? They were already punished for skirting the rules previously, Bill had to apologize in front of owners/coaches. He's not doing that again. I'm guessing it's the same as Rogers. Make 'em how you like 'em, if they say change 'em, you change 'em, but the ref's really don't check too much. Just because the rule book says they are to be checked with a guage, are they?? Let's face it, they are not the most accurate of fellows.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I go with #2. Until and unless I see actual PROOF of someone letting air out, I just don't see that happening. WHY would they do it? They were already punished for skirting the rules previously, Bill had to apologize in front of owners/coaches. He's not doing that again. I'm guessing it's the same as Rogers. Make 'em how you like 'em, if they say change 'em, you change 'em, but the ref's really don't check too much. Just because the rule book says they are to be checked with a guage, are they?? Let's face it, they are not the most accurate of fellows.

Bingo.

 

[sam_gordon]

If you were going to cheat I think you would do it so that it give you advantage but is unoticable. Keep in mind even the Defencive player did not notice. It was the equipment guy who noticed. So it might be unless you are throwing or catching that it would be unnoticed.

Where did you get that? I thought I read a Colt's defensive player noticed, notified the Colt's staff, who notified the owner, who notified the NFL, who notified the officials.

I would think catching, throwing, and holding on to the ball with a "death grip" (so it doesn't get knocked out) would be different than what the officials are doing.

 

[aprincessatlast]

I like the Patriots and usually root for them. However this story is just sad.

I have many a moment watching a game with any team wondering if I was really watching WWE. You know where the winner is predetermined ahead of time and they just act it out for our entertainment.

There are so many horrible calls that are made every Sunday that cause many deserving teams to lose a game time after time. Who knows how many countless ways a team cheats without getting caught or even caught and nothing is done. I know I have heard of hopes of the NFL pulling them from the Superbowl. Fat chance the NFL does anything. They never do and only if there is a storm with the media and even then they wait for it all to cool off. IMHO the NFL is the one who disappoints everyone time and time again. (that is not an excuse for Pats)

 

[sam_gordon]

I go with #2. Until and unless I see actual PROOF of someone letting air out, I just don't see that happening. WHY would they do it? They were already punished for skirting the rules previously, Bill had to apologize in front of owners/coaches. He's not doing that again. I'm guessing it's the same as Rogers. Make 'em how you like 'em, if they say change 'em, you change 'em, but the ref's really don't check too much. Just because the rule book says they are to be checked with a guage, are they?? Let's face it, they are not the most accurate of fellows.

Oh please. When you get to the level these guys are, they're pretty darn accurate.

 

[SamRoc]

I'm not taking away the fact that Tom Brady is a terrific quarterback (coming from a Giants fan) but after Belichick was found to be a cheater and fined $500,000 back in 2007 he lost all credibility to me. The Patriots might win, but i'm sure after this last scandal came out about them deflating footballs, alot of people will be rooting for the Seahawks.

 

[sunshinehighway]

Oh please. When you get to the level these guys are, they're pretty darn accurate.

But one of the refs should have noticed then. You can't have it both ways.
It can't be both, the refs go by the book and would have noticed if the balls were low before the game and also. they handled these low balls throughout the first half and didn't notice.