NFL Investigating Patriots

Submitted by sierragold on

si.com reports NFL Investigation for Patriots cheating with football deflation in AFC Championship game. Report comes from Indianapolis, GO FIGURE.

http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/01/19/nfl-investigate-patriots-deflating-footballs-afc-championship-game

I call Bullshit on Indianapolis for being whiny! Brady is Awsome!

What do you think?

Edit: The entire point of this is that Brady has been hot this season. Patriots kicked ass in the game and now Indianapolis is calling foul play and that the Patriots used a deflated ball? It is an investigation and came from Indianapolis.

Does Tom Brady really need to use a deflated football to win the game? He is a Michigan QB and I will defend his play on the field just as I am rooting for the Patriots to win the SB.

Maize-N-Blue Rules. Michigans former QB is great!

Down vote me for the thread, it's not like it is not everywhere to be read. Since the excitement of Harbaugh it has been getting a little boring on the blog other then the recruit information. Fall can't get here soon enough.

GO BLUE!!!!!!

 

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Bob The Wonder Dog

January 19th, 2015 at 8:17 AM ^

for the game with deflated balls, it might have given them an advantage. I imagine the ball travels differently through the air when deflated. Might have been a reason for Luck's low completion percentage.

Joined: 10/20/2012

MGoPoints: 988

RJMAC

January 19th, 2015 at 11:08 PM ^

I'm not sure why it would be doubtful. NE has been caught cheating previously. The Hoodie will look for any advantage he can. Having a football that can be gripped better is an advantage. The refs took a few balls that had 'issues'. How did they get that way?

Joined: 09/23/2014

MGoPoints: 777

BlueCube

January 19th, 2015 at 8:20 AM ^

would control this so it wouldn't be an issue after the game is done? What am I thinking? That would require intelligence like having full time referees.

Joined: 12/12/2013

MGoPoints: 45965

Icehole Woody

January 19th, 2015 at 8:25 AM ^

Sith Lord Belichick had micro wireless air pumps installed inside all NFL footballs so that he could control the air pressure in real time as the play dictates no matter who's ball is in play.

Joined: 07/03/2008

MGoPoints: 4448

Der Alte

January 19th, 2015 at 8:53 AM ^

Just because the BradyPats took the wind out of the Colts' sails and deflated their collective egos, they're crying that Belichick deflated the game ball. Sounds like a lot of hot air to me.

Joined: 07/30/2010

MGoPoints: 1925

Pickle Rick

January 19th, 2015 at 9:35 AM ^

If this is true, wouldn't Indianapolis receive the same benefit as the Patriots? It's not like New England was the only one using these game balls, if I'm comprehending this correctly.

Joined: 06/28/2013

MGoPoints: 1451

Yeoman

January 20th, 2015 at 1:32 PM ^

Yes, that's correct.

But those balls go into a single pool, used by both teams. The only way the two teams would be using different balls would be if the ball attendants were feeding particular balls into play depending on which team was on offense.

That would be possible, and it's the crux of the issue here.

Joined: 06/08/2011

MGoPoints: 21390

LSAClassOf2000

January 19th, 2015 at 11:26 AM ^

They did do this, and I believe the verdict was "busted", which makes sense really because the lighter helium-filled ball would not generate as much force pushing through the air in flight despite reduced drag. Helium-filled balls would fall close to or even a bit short of where normally inflated balls would land on a kick / throw initiated under the same conditions (launched with the same force and in the same atmospheric conditions). 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130669

Mr. Yost

January 19th, 2015 at 9:37 AM ^

It's likely true...Belichick will do anything for an advantage.

But it's still up to the refs to check the footballs. Period. Just like it's up to the refs to announce the eligible WR. Just like it's up to the refs to control the pace of the game.

So yes, the Pats deflated the ball. Yes, they make OL eligible and slot WRs ineligible. Yes, they will try to play as fast as possible.

All of those are on the refs to monitor and control. That's not their problem if the refs don't catch it.

Call it what you want, but it is what it is. The NFL has enough money...add another official who just stands at the 50 yardline and monitors these things.

People are always going to test the rules - if the enforcers aren't up to snuff, well..."the game is out there, and it's either play or get played."

Joined: 07/25/2011

MGoPoints: -9898220

CompleteLunacy

January 19th, 2015 at 11:34 AM ^

I mean, did Dallas go under investigation because the refs blatantly screwed up a pass interference call? Hell no.

It's even more ludicrous in the case of something so benign as this. I mean, the refs touch the ball after literally every play. It's not a secret that the ball is deflated if it is. If they didn't notice, then I guess I don't see what the big deal is. Teams always do everything they can to gain a competitive advantage. Stretch the rules constantly. As long as it's something the refs can reasonably monitor (and it definitely is in this case), then it's no different from a missed penalty in my eyes.

Joined: 11/13/2010

MGoPoints: 12910

ak47

January 19th, 2015 at 9:45 AM ^

The Partriots defenders on this board are absurd.  Bellichik and the pats have a history of breaking the rules for a competitive advantage and yet everyone gives them the benefit of the doubt.  The issue isn't whether or not deflating the balls was the reason for the colts losing, they could have been playing with a beach ball and they would have lost.  The issue is that the Patriots once again looked for a way to break the rules to gain a competitive advantage, just because they didn't need it in the end doesn't make it wrong that they went for it. They did the same thing last week.  They didn't technically break the rules but when a player declares themselves as eligible the defense is supposed to be notified but instead they quick snapped the ball.  It was mostly on the refs for not standing over the ball and preventing it but the Patriots also knew exactly what they were doing.  There is a reason they didn't run a play with again after Harbaugh's freak out because after that the refs said they would stand over the ball to allow the defense to be notified.  Once the rules were actually enforced the Patriots play would be much less effective.

The Patriots were the better team last night and deserved to win but holy crap why is everyone giving the benefit of the doubt to a coach who has been caught cheating before?

Joined: 05/05/2011

MGoPoints: 33614

ak47

January 19th, 2015 at 10:33 AM ^

Of course the people who whine about the technicalities are the ones who lost, brilliant observation there buddy.  I don't care about peyton manning and I actually hate the colts and was rooting for the Patriots.  The point is that the Patriots under bellichik have a history of looking for ways to gain a competitive balance outside of the rules.  It isn't whether that competitive edge was the difference in the game it is the pattern of actions and suggests they are probably doing other things they aren't getting caught for.

And lol at people who are saying that because the refs failed in their jobs it makes what they did ok.  I bet you are the same people who argue that illegally downloading shows and movies isn't wrong or is different than shoplifitng because you are not going to get caught.

Joined: 05/05/2011

MGoPoints: 33614

ak47

January 19th, 2015 at 11:40 AM ^

Thanks.  This was a really informative response that totally countered every point I made and has left me thinking that clearly this is all just sour grapes from the Colts and Brady is a god who would never have allowed something wrong to happen under his watch.  Your powers of persuasion and debate style are really something that should be lauded and taught to future generations.

Joined: 05/05/2011

MGoPoints: 33614