Sports: Deflate-Gate

[leebee]

I saw Hines Ward (former wide receiver for the Steelers) on Morning Joe today. He was saying that after the balls are inspected by the refs, virtually ALL quarterbacks in the NFL go over the balls with the equipment guys before the game starts. Footballs are routinely scuffed, squeezed, slightly deflated, slightly inflated, rubbed, etc., depending on how the QB likes the football. This afternoon at the press conference, Brady said that he reviewed the footballs that were going to be used in the game to make sure they were to his liking. Is it possible that the equipment guys somehow over-softened the balls unintentionally? Or- have the Pats been playing with under-inflated balls all season and someone finally noticed it? I even heard the suggestion that a Colts fan (player? owner?) could have paid off the ball boy to under-inflate, so that a Colts player could then draw it to the attention of the refs, etc.

It's ALL speculation at this point. LOTS of speculation, but absolutely NO evidence of how the balls became under-inflated, who did it, etc. All we know for sure is that 11 of the footballs were 2psi under the specified pressure.

 

[goofy4tink]

Occam's Razor? Do you think that 11 balls deflated spontaneously without any tampering? Perhaps it was by magic?

So they under inflated 11, but not 12?
I'm not saying the Pats are not guilty...they are just as capable of less than above board behavior as any other team. As a Pats fan, I hope they are blameless. As of right now....we have no real idea as to what happened. If it were as easy to figure out as some here would have us believe, then the officials would have come to a decision.

The thing I find interesting is that there are very few other players/coaches saying anything. It's almost as if they don't want attention turned on them. What do I believe? I 'want' to believe that those balls were ver close to the lower inflation numbers, possibly lower than the legal 12.5 psi, but not by much. And hopefully, the weather played a part, and perhaps an issue with the testing equipment. But that just seems like an awful lot of coincidences. I can't imagine (at least I don't want to) that Tom Brady felt the need to do such a thing....he doesn't need to. That's what I don't get. Even other teams have said that.

Those that say it didn't make a difference in game result? Probably not. But....if someone on the Patriots payroll did mess with the balls, then it's wrong...plain and simple. The whole 'everyone does it' mentality just doesn't work...although that's why I think so many other teams are so quiet.

I hope it's resolved soon. It's getting boring. The same old same old is going on...the big bad Patriots, the big ole cheaters...only way they can win. Yeah, we've heard it all before...it's getting tiring. They're really no better, no worse than the vast majority of other teams. Too many shenanigans going on everywhere. Just play football, the way it's supposed to be played. And let the commission do its job and come to some conclusions.

Sorry this got so long....

 

[undertheradar]

No idea how it happened, no one has presented any proof yet.

Wait, 11/12 game balls were underinflated but we need proof? I'm sure that the responsible party will present him/her self to the NFL. After all, the Patriots have a history of telling the truth before inquiry. That $500k fine for illegal taping was obviously an NFL error.

 

[declansdad]

Wait, 11/12 game balls were underinflated but we need proof? I'm sure that the responsible party will present him/her self to the NFL. After all, the Patriots have a history of telling the truth before inquiry. That $500k fine for illegal taping was obviously an NFL error.

You need proof of who and how it was done to prove it. Would you convict someone without proof?

The taping incident has nothing to do with this one.

 

[missbrooke06]

I find the airtime this is getting funny. All professional and college teams cheat. Most of the intramural teams I've competed against and on cheat even now that I'm in my 40s. When I was young and naive, I would be very self righteous about it. Now I realize it's part of the game.

Unfortunately for the Patriots, they are really bad at it because they keep getting caught.

Also, why are the Seahawks getting all this support? Paragon of virtue Pete Carroll only left USC once it became obvious that the NCAA had caught up with all of the rule breaking that was going on there.

 

[chisnpeke]

I don't know if they filled the ball with hot air, but it sure looks to me that the two press conferees today were loaded with hot air.

Whatever anyone says about this controversy, I do think Tom Brady is a man of integrity and was being honest.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Occam's Razor? Do you think that 11 balls deflated spontaneously without any tampering? Perhaps it was by magic?

Again, where's the proof? Where's there any hard evidence that eleven footballs were intentionally and purposely deflated the same amount? Where are the witnesses to the actual action?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Wait, 11/12 game balls were underinflated but we need proof? I'm sure that the responsible party will present him/her self to the NFL. After all, the Patriots have a history of telling the truth before inquiry. That $500k fine for illegal taping was obviously an NFL error.

While i never intend to commit a crime, I'll be grateful that many of the posters on this thread wouldn't be on my jury.

 

[missbrooke06]

Whatever anyone says about this controversy, I do think Tom Brady is a man of integrity and was being honest.

Yeah, no way. He actually lobbied the NFL for offenses to provide their own balls because the feel of them is so important (ironically, he did this with at that time Colt QB Peyton Manning).

But what do people expect, that he'll just admit to it? Of course not. Look at Golden Tate and the Fail Mary. Immediately after the game, he swore that he caught that call clean. In interviews later on, he's had the much less forceful reply that the ref called it a touchdown and he was just doing his job. And he was - his job was to score a touchdown and in that situation, it took a little more theatrics and showmanship than football skill.

Tom Brady's job is to put his team in the best place to win. He's not going to admit to something that will cost the team draft picks. His job is to win, not be your shining example.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I find the airtime this is getting funny. All professional and college teams cheat. Most of the intramural teams I've competed against and on cheat even now that I'm in my 40s. When I was young and naive, I would be very self righteous about it. Now I realize it's part of the game.

Unfortunately for the Patriots, they are really bad at it because they keep getting caught.

Also, why are the Seahawks getting all this support? Paragon of virtue Pete Carroll only left USC once it became obvious that the NCAA had caught up with all of the rule breaking that was going on there.

Yes, he was a rat deserting a sinking ship.

Three Seahawks were fined today for shenanigans during their championship game, but it's the Patriots getting all the publicity.

Chris Matthews was fined $11,025 for making an obscene gesture.

Marshawn Lynch was fined $20,000 for making an obscene gesture.

J. R. Sweezy was fined $8,268 for unnecessary roughness.

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/seaha...thews-fined-11025-for-making-obscene-gesture/

 

[EPCOTatNight]

Actually it was proven but overturned because of the way it was handled.

From Tagliabue's decision:

That's the most vague statement ever. Lol! They proved NOTHING. How does one of the least penalized teams try to hurt people? Nothing dirty went on. Only proof they had is that someone may have SAID that they offer money. No proof that money exchanged hands and none that any player actually tried to hurt anyone. This is actually worse because someone deflated the balls on at least 2 occasions. Also, the Patriots are repeat offenders. They've tried to get a competitive advantage by breaking rules. The Saints did not. He convicted Sean Payton without proof and said that ignorance was to an excuse. So, according to Roger Goodell's own words, "not knowing" anything is irrelevant.

 

[BlovesC]

Yes, he was a rat deserting a sinking ship.

Three Seahawks were fined today for shenanigans during their championship game, but it's the Patriots getting all the publicity.

I'm guessing 'shenanigans' are somehow supposed to be more offensive than cheating. Seahawks DE Michael Bennett 'stole' a bicycle from Seattle PD to take a celebratory lap around the field after the GB game. We should point to this as evidence of him being a common criminal and a thug. But that Tom Brady, he is just pure class!

 

[mom2my3kids]

The problem with your example is that there is no proof the Patriots cheated.[/QU

Mark my word, someone on that team is going to take the fall, and I feel its going to be the little guy..

 

[MickeySP]

This is absolutely ridiculous Half of what was reported 2 days ago is now being correctd, too many stupid rumors.

Ok then take away the points the scored in the first 1/2 with the the bad balls - they still won the game. They scored more points after the 1/2 than before so what did they tamper with then

Also D'Quell Jackson has now refuted reports he was the one who brought it to a ref's attention. It is now "reported" that the Pats were actually using an Indy ball in the latter 1/2 of the 2nd quarter.

There is just so much bad "reporting" on this that who really knows what is true/rumor/innuendo or fact. It is now just the most laughable, ridiculous. non-story.


I am more upset at the sexist reporters in Australia, asking the young female tennis player to twirl. then asking Serena Williams to do the same. REALLY!!!

 

[MickeySP]

So whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? Right now it is just pure speculation but America's opinion has been decided. Just another rumor to start hysteria. I wonder if it was started by the Seahawks

You do realize this is the DIS and at no time will reality/facts affect the opinions posted.

 

[sunshinehighway]

This is absolutely ridiculous Half of what was reported 2 days ago is now being correctd, too many stupid rumors.

Ok then take away the points the scored in the first 1/2 with the the bad balls - they still won the game. They scored more points after the 1/2 than before so what did they tamper with then

Also D'Quell Jackson has now refuted reports he was the one who brought it to a ref's attention. It is now "reported" that the Pats were actually using an Indy ball in the latter 1/2 of the 2nd quarter.

There is just so much bad "reporting" on this that who really knows what is true/rumor/innuendo or fact. It is now just the most laughable, ridiculous. non-story.


I am more upset at the sexist reporters in Australia, asking the young female tennis player to twirl. then asking Serena Williams to do the same. REALLY!!!

That's true and I think everyone is forgetting it. All the information out there is from rumors and mostly all coming from ESPN. The NFL hasn't said anything.
The NFL hasn't even talked to Brady.

 

[declansdad]

That's the most vague statement ever. Lol! They proved NOTHING. How does one of the least penalized teams try to hurt people? Nothing dirty went on. Only proof they had is that someone may have SAID that they offer money. No proof that money exchanged hands and none that any player actually tried to hurt anyone. This is actually worse because someone deflated the balls on at least 2 occasions. Also, the Patriots are repeat offenders. They've tried to get a competitive advantage by breaking rules. The Saints did not. He convicted Sean Payton without proof and said that ignorance was to an excuse. So, according to Roger Goodell's own words, "not knowing" anything is irrelevant.

I think you are living in a dream world if you think the bounties didn't happen. The coaches admitted it and the Saints released a statement apologizing for it and saying it would never happen again.

 

[Jellybass]

Here is what we do know, D'Qwell Jackson stated he never found a problem with the ball and the NFL has not interviewed Brady or made a statement about it other than saying "we are investigating" on Monday. This whole thing is really odd.

 

[TAX GUY]

Some of the comments are laughable while others are great for discussion. We can all speculate all we want, either for or against. Doesn't matter in the end. Once the NFL determines what their findings are and what the punishment(s) will be, if any, that'll be it. Those in support will still support and those against will still be against.

Just like any controversy before, for any team, those that support them have their version of what happened, and those that are against them will always refer back to that and have their opinions of what happened.

In the mean time, we're onto the Superbowl. Do your job.

 

[Jellybass]

Even though I'm a Pats fan, I am in the middle of the whole thing, If something happened then the Pats should be held accountable, my issue is this thing keeps unraveling and each day is something contradictory to what was thought at the beginning of the week.

I think it may be NFL driven to draw interest in a game that was lacking interest across the country. One thing I know for sure, the Pats will come out like a pack of angry hornets next Sunday, if there is one team that uses negative press to their advantage its the Pats. I think if they have the chance to win 100-3 they will.