N.F.L. Ignores Deflategate Science at Patriots’ Expense

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WestCoastJoe
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http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2334 ... =editorial
Patriots Investigated by NFL for Using Deflated Footballs vs. Colts

By Tim Keeney , Featured Columnist
Jan 19, 2015

Patriots Investigated by NFL for Using Deflated Footballs vs. Colts

The NFL is investigating whether the New England Patriots used deflated footballs during their AFC Championship Game win over the Indianapolis Colts.

NFL Hopes to Conclude Investigation Within Next Few Days

Tuesday, Jan. 20

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio revealed the NFL plans on finishing the investigation this week:


We’re hoping to wrap that up in the next two or three days,” Vincent said. “The team is in place in New England now interviewing staff members.

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Aaron Rodgers Says He Pushes the Limit on Adding Air to Footballs

Tuesday, Jan. 20

Amidst the league's investigation into whether the Patriots used deflated footballs in the AFC Championship Game, Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com (h/t Tom E. Curran of CSN New England) reported what Phil Simms said regarding Aaron Rodgers' preference to use over-inflated footballs. Simms shared Rodgers' comment and added his perspective:


'I like to push the limit to how much air we can put in the football, even go over what they allow you to do and see if the officials take air out of it.' Because he thinks it’s easier for him to grip. He likes them tight. Of course, he’s got very big hands and you can tell that by watching him play.

With so much attention centered on this issue, it remains to be seen what action, if any, the league will take moving forward.

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Brady Admitted in 2011 He Prefers Deflated Footballs

Tuesday, Jan. 20

CBS Connecticut passed along a report on Tuesday that highlighted a previous interview Brady did with WEEI in November 2011 (via Chris Forsberg of ESPN.com). During that interview, Brady commented on how he likes deflated footballs:


But when Gronk scores – it was like his eighth touchdown of the year – he spikes the ball and he deflates the ball. I love that, because I like the deflated ball. But I feel bad for that football, because he puts everything he can into those spikes.

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Colts Reportedly Initiated NFL Investigation After Interception

Tuesday, Jan. 20

Bob Glauber of Newsday reported on how the league's investigation into the Patriots' footballs was initiated:


According to a person familiar with the background of the matter, the Colts first noticed something unusual after an interception by Colts linebacker D’Qwell Jackson in the second quarter. Jackson gave the ball to a member of the Colts' equipment staff, who noticed the ball seemed underinflated and then notified coach Chuck Pagano.

General manager Ryan Grigson was notified in the press box, and he contacted Mike Kensil, NFL director of football operations. Kensil then told the on-field officials at halftime, when the Patriots led 17-7. The Patriots erupted for 21 points in the third quarter, although it is not known if any of the balls were improperly inflated after halftime.



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Patriots Face NFL Investigation for Improperly Inflated Footballs

Monday, Jan. 19

Shortly after their 45-7 win over the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, the New England Patriots are reportedly set to be investigated by the NFL for the use of deflated footballs.

WTHR TV's Bob Kravitz first reported the details, which NFL spokesman Michael Signora later confirmed, per Newsday's Bob Glauber. Kravitz also noted the Patriots are at risk of losing draft picks if they are found guilty of the accusations, while Football Zebras revealed potential monetary punishment:





Tom E. Curran of CSN New England provided a comment from NFL spokesperson Greg Aiello regarding the time frame of the league's investigation:



NBC Sports' Mike Florio reported multiple balls were removed, but that it's not abnormal for it to happen:


Per a league source, several balls were removed from play for being underinflated.

The inflation (or lack thereof) of footballs is checked before each game, and the balls are periodically tested during each game.

According to the source, it’s 'not unheard of' for a ball to be removed from play for an abnormality noticed during the game.

Brady reacted to the allegations during an appearance on WEEI's Dennis and Callahan Show, courtesy of Art Martone of CSNNE.com, saying, "I think I've heard it all [now]. Oh, God. It's ridiculous...that's the last of my worries. I don't even respond to stuff like this."

Chris Simms of Bleacher Report weighed in on the reports surrounding the Patriots:

Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman also chimed in with his reaction:


Deflated footballs or not, the Patriots were the better team Sunday, outgaining the Colts by 188 yards and dominating both sides of the ball for the majority of the game. It would be a huge stretch to suggest the final score was a product of a football that may have weighed slightly less than usual.

Kravitz put it simply:


However, Alvaro Martin shared why deflated balls would be an advantage for a team:


Still, this is an interesting story. The Patriots, of course, were at the center of the 2007 videotaping controversy—also known as Spygate—in which they were found to be videotaping New York Jets coaches' signals from the sideline. Bill Belichick was fined $500,000 for that incident, while the team lost its first-round draft pick.

More than anything, with two weeks until the Super Bowl and media attention significantly increased, the Patriots will be hoping this doesn't serve as a distraction before the most important game of the season.
John Madden's Team Policies: Be on time. Pay attention. Play like hell on game day.

Jimmy Johnson's Game Keys: Protect the ball. Make plays.

Walter Payton's Advice to Kids: Play hard. Play fair. Have fun.
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WestCoastJoe
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Ha ha ...

This is weird. When you can build a team, and coach a team as Belichick can, why cheat? LOL If they did cheat.

Does it matter?

Well it would certainly matter on a long field goal. Even on some passes.

Not the first time Belichick's team has been accused of subterfuge.

... Spygate. LOL Videotaping the New York Jets' signals from the sidelines. Belichick was apparently fined $50,000 in that case.

I suspect Belichick loves this stuff. Us against the world. LOL

New official needed on the field. Guy with equipment to test the footballs. LOL

Would an athlete or a team cheat? Ummmmm ... Yeah. In this case? Dunno ...

Ah well ... quiet day.
John Madden's Team Policies: Be on time. Pay attention. Play like hell on game day.

Jimmy Johnson's Game Keys: Protect the ball. Make plays.

Walter Payton's Advice to Kids: Play hard. Play fair. Have fun.
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WestCoastJoe
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The evil mastermind ...
John Madden's Team Policies: Be on time. Pay attention. Play like hell on game day.

Jimmy Johnson's Game Keys: Protect the ball. Make plays.

Walter Payton's Advice to Kids: Play hard. Play fair. Have fun.
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The one thing I don't get about this story is the advantage of under-inflated footballs. Why would the Patriots do that? If there's an advantage to an under-inflated football, wouldn't it benefit both teams? If there's a disadvantage, wouldn't it work against both teams? Can someone help me out here?
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WestCoastJoe
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South Pender wrote:The one thing I don't get about this story is the advantage of under-inflated footballs. Why would the Patriots do that? If there's an advantage to an under-inflated football, wouldn't it benefit both teams? If there's a disadvantage, wouldn't it work against both teams? Can someone help me out here?
If it makes a difference ...

Brady says he likes an under inflated-football. Maybe ...

If a team saw a difference, as in air time, travel distance, quarterback preference, different feel, it could matter.

If it made a difference, some footballs could be sent in with prescribed pressure. Others, with different pressure, could be sent in at key times.

I see an issue here. Not sure if I have cleared anything up.

In baseball, a groundskeeper watered the basepaths to slow down a team with superior speed. Many examples of cheating (or bending the rules, finding a loophole) by organizations.

My understanding is the home team in football provides the game balls.

Fun issue before the Super Bowl. A distraction. Could affect a team. Could get in the brain of a field goal kicker, for example. Little things can matter. My understanding is FG kickers do not want to kick through the laces, thus the rotation by the holder. Does it matter? Some QBs will wear a glove on their throwing hand on a freezing day. Others won't.

It is kind of a pro trick to make an opponent think, doubt or worry. Like in golf, ask a guy where the club is at the top of the backswing. Messes some people up.
John Madden's Team Policies: Be on time. Pay attention. Play like hell on game day.

Jimmy Johnson's Game Keys: Protect the ball. Make plays.

Walter Payton's Advice to Kids: Play hard. Play fair. Have fun.
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Does each team use their own footballs ? Wouldn't Baltimore would have noticed the difference ?
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cromartie
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There are some misconceptions here worth clearing up:

1) Teams supply their own footballs for use by their offense. Each team supplies a dozen, and they are subject to examination by the referees prior to the game. PSI measurements are taken by the Umpire indoors two hours prior to the start of the game.

2) Special Teams units use a unique set of balls supplied by the league. They are labelled as K balls and are overseen by the ballboy at the game site on game day. Those of us old enough to remember why the Lions lost the Western Final to Edmonton in 1977 might remember the disparity between how Edmonton's balls were treated and how the Lions balls were treated in that game. The NFL tries to avoid just that situation on Special Teams by maintaining possession and oversight of balls used by kickers to prevent that type of situation from recurring.

Under inflated balls can be easier to grip and throw in inclement weather, hence the reason the Patriots might choose to go this route.

Over inflated balls, something the Packers like to try to do, according to Aaron Rogers (and Teddy Bridgewater, the Vikings were fined for this earlier this season also), result in a better grip and release for quarterbacks with particularly large hands.

No of which explains why Andrew Luck went 12-33 passing, and the Patriots ran 40 times averaging 4.4 yards per carry in a game they won by 38.

3)
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Good points raised. However, if an under-inflated football is easier to throw for Tom Brady, it might have also been easier for Andrew Luck...but no such...um...luck. If it makes for more difficulty for field goals, that too should work both ways. Anyway, it seems ridiculous, but who knows? Here's the latest on this from Pro Football Talk:

Report: NFL found 11 of 12 Patriots footballs under-inflated
Posted by Curtis Crabtree on January 20, 2015, 11:22 PM EST

The New England Patriots may have some explaining to do.

According to Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com, the NFL has found that 11 of the 12 football used by the New England Patriots in Sunday’s AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts were under-inflated by two pounds each.

The Colts noticed one of the Patriots footballs was abnormal after linebacker D’Qwell Jackson intercepted Tom Brady. The issue was then relayed up through the organization and ultimately to the league, who began an investigation into the situation.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick declined to comment on the investigation. Per Mortensen, the league has no further comment on the investigation at this time.

Mortensen said on ESPN’s Sportscenter that the investigation is still not complete and the league is still looking to determine how the footballs became under-inflated. NFL executive V.P. of football operations Troy Vincent said on PFT Live on Tuesday the investigation should be concluded within 2-3 days.

Per NFL rules, the footballs must be inflated between 12.5-13.5 pounds per square inch of air pressure.

It seems pretty improbable that mere happenstance would result in 11 of the 12 footballs being under-inflated without outside factors. While the blame for the deflated footballs has yet to be assigned, the Patriots won’t get much in the way of benefit of the doubt due to previous issues.
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From the article provided by South Pender ...
According to Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com, the NFL has found that 11 of the 12 football used by the New England Patriots in Sunday’s AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts were under-inflated by two pounds each.

The Colts noticed one of the Patriots footballs was abnormal after linebacker D’Qwell Jackson intercepted Tom Brady. The issue was then relayed up through the organization and ultimately to the league, who began an investigation into the situation.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick declined to comment on the investigation. Per Mortensen, the league has no further comment on the investigation at this time.

Mortensen said on ESPN’s Sportscenter that the investigation is still not complete and the league is still looking to determine how the footballs became under-inflated. NFL executive V.P. of football operations Troy Vincent said on PFT Live on Tuesday the investigation should be concluded within 2-3 days.

Per NFL rules, the footballs must be inflated between 12.5-13.5 pounds per square inch of air pressure.

It seems pretty improbable that mere happenstance would result in 11 of the 12 footballs being under-inflated without outside factors. While the blame for the deflated footballs has yet to be assigned, the Patriots won’t get much in the way of benefit of the doubt due to previous issues.
Hilarious. LOL

Under-inflated by two pounds each. Whoooo Hoooooo

Belichick ... no comment of course. NFL ... no comment yet of course. :dizzy: Too freaking funny.

How did they become under-inflated? Hmmmmm ... Act of God? No. I think.

11 of 12 balls? Oooohhh

Stop it, Bill. Just stop it. Is it not enough that you do better work evaluating personnel? Better work thinking outside the box? (Oh yeah, this was thinking outside the box, gotta give you that.) Not enough that you can find and utilize fantastic running backs by the dozen? Interchangeable.

Is it not enough that you can rebuild an O Line overnight, or so it would seem?

Re-discover the value of tight ends?

Find a Hall of Fame quarterback in the discount bin?

Gheezus, Bill, just stop cheating. Or is it worth it for the fun of it? Mess with people's heads? I guess that is enough for some people. Get an edge.

Could the Patriots and Belichick be innocent in all this? Ummmmm ... ummmm ... Maybe ...

Re the O Line, have not read all of this article yet, but it looks interesting.

Incredible job by Belichick and his staff. Also seem to recall concerns about where the Patriots' offence would come from this year. Amazing.

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2014/07/23/p ... ded-boost/

And a bit more on the O Line. I have not been following the NFL much this year, if at all, but this stuff is fascinating, especially in regard to how Belichick builds and rebuilds his team.

http://www.csnne.com/blog/patriots-talk ... s-vs-colts
John Madden's Team Policies: Be on time. Pay attention. Play like hell on game day.

Jimmy Johnson's Game Keys: Protect the ball. Make plays.

Walter Payton's Advice to Kids: Play hard. Play fair. Have fun.
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http://www.csnne.com/new-england-patrio ... -dont-care

Deflategate ... LOL
McCourty on 'Deflategate': Patriots players 'don't care'

January 19, 2015, 10:15 pm

The New England Patriots made a serious statement to the NFL during their 45-7 thrashing of the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday night.

Unfortunately they didn't have much of a chance to enjoy it as 'Deflategate' quickly came to light.

On Quick Slants, Devin McCourty gave Tom E. Curran his reaction to hearing about complaints that air had been taken out of balls against the Colts.

"We don't care about it," said McCourty. "We put so much work in to going out there and giving ourselves a chance to win and to go out there and win big games that we won Sunday. Whatever they want to create, that's for everyone else. We don't care."
John Madden's Team Policies: Be on time. Pay attention. Play like hell on game day.

Jimmy Johnson's Game Keys: Protect the ball. Make plays.

Walter Payton's Advice to Kids: Play hard. Play fair. Have fun.
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Referee Jim Daopoulos and retired quarterback Tim Hasselbeck answer questions on NFL football protocols.



1. Each team provides 12 footballs. Checked by officials for pressure.

2. Each team uses its own footballs on offence.

3. Footballs can deflate a bit in cold weather.

4. Quarterbacks see the equipment man to choose ones they like, well before the game, usually Friday. Dirt can be used to prep or break in the football. Or a sticky towel. Put them in an oven, if that is what you want, says Hasselbeck. Et cetera.

5. Officials mark the footballs they have approved.

6. Ball boys have custody after that. Uh oh ... LOL
.............

Is this going to blow over? Dunno ...

Each team on offence using its own footballs? No problem there, it seems to me.

Colt intercepts a Brady pass. Thinks the football is under-inflated. LOL ... Who cares?

Messing with the other team's footballs? Ouch.

Messing with the ST footballs? Use your own for kicks and punts.

Kind of bizarre. But it is the Super Bowl coming up. Everything gets hyped. And it is ... BELICHICK. LOL
John Madden's Team Policies: Be on time. Pay attention. Play like hell on game day.

Jimmy Johnson's Game Keys: Protect the ball. Make plays.

Walter Payton's Advice to Kids: Play hard. Play fair. Have fun.
TheLionKing
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This controversy is not new with New England. There was Spy Gate and stealing the opponents' signals.
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OK. That makes more sense now. I hadn't realized that each team supplied their own balls on offense. Brady prefers an under-inflated ball--so I guess that explains it. Wonder what the punishment will be, if any....
_________________________________________________________________

This from Pro Football Talk:

Source: Footballs were properly checked before Colts-Patriots game
Posted by Mike Florio on January 21, 2015, 11:29 AM EST

With 11 of 12 footballs used by the Patriots in Sunday’s AFC title game reportedly underinflated by two pounds per square inch, several questions remain. And here are answers to a couple of them.

First, per a league source, the NFL has reviewed the entire process and determined that the balls were properly checked by the officials before the game. Which means that, when the balls left the possession of the referee, the pressure was at least 12.5 PSI and no more than 13.5 PSI.

Second, as to the fact that the officials didn’t notice anything wrong with the balls while handling them after every play, the source explains that a pressure difference of one or two pounds would not be obvious, if the official is not specifically looking for it.

In this specific case, the NFL indeed became aware of the issue in the first half — as previously pointed out by Bob Glauber of Newsday. Per the source, the league opted not to stop the game during the first half but to test the balls at halftime, which they did.

Which is when the NFL determined that 11 of the 12 balls were below two pounds below the mandatory minimum PSI of 12.5.

Plenty of other questions remains, but it appears that the NFL has determined that: (1) the balls were properly inspected before the game; and (2) there’s no reason to believe the officials should have noticed anything unusual.
_________________________________________________________________

And a little more on tampering with the balls in a Super Bowl (from PFT again):

Brad Johnson paid a bribe to tamper with footballs at the Super Bowl
Posted by Michael David Smith on January 21, 2015, 9:15 AM EST

Former Buccaneers quarterback Brad Johnson has admitted to paying a bribe to have the footballs tampered with before the 2003 Super Bowl.

Johnson, whose Buccaneers beat the Raiders at Super Bowl XXXVII, said he paid $7,500 to some people he did not identify so that they would scuff the balls set to be used in the Super Bowl, making them easier to grip. According to Johnson, there were 100 footballs set aside for the game, and the people he bribed tampered with all 100, to Johnson’s specifications.

“I paid some guys off to get the balls right,” Johnson told the Tampa Bay Times. “I went and got all 100 footballs, and they took care of all of them.”

That’s a shocking admission — Johnson is confessing that he cheated to help his team win the Super Bowl, and that people who work for the NFL accepted a bribe to help one team cheat in the Super Bowl.

Jon Gruden, who coached the Buccaneers in that Super Bowl, said today on ESPN Radio that he was aware that Johnson was concerned about being able to grip the balls in that game, but Gruden did not say whether he was aware of Johnson breaking the rules to get an advantage.

Johnson’s comments will be big news this week, as the NFL investigates whether the Patriots violated NFL rules by tampering with the footballs in their AFC Championship Game win over the Colts. There is, however, one key difference: Johnson says he had all of the footballs tampered with, meaning that if the balls were easier for the Buccaneers to throw and catch, they were also easier for the Raiders to throw and catch. The Patriots are accused of deflating only the balls that they used on offense, giving them an edge over the Colts.

The NFL is already investigating whether the Patriots cheated. Now the NFL should broaden its investigation, find out who Johnson bribed, and make sure nothing like that ever happens again.
__________________________________________________________________

And this:

Many questions linger regarding “Deflategate”
Posted by Mike Florio on January 21, 2015, 8:48 AM EST

Last night’s bombshell from Chris Mortensen of ESPN — that 11 of 12 Patriots footballs from Sunday’s AFC title game were underinflated by two pounds per square inch of pressure — has pushed #Deflategate to new heights, causing many to presume that these measurements mean that the Patriots deliberately deflated the balls.

But plenty of questions remain. Here’s an effort to address as many of them as possible. If I’ve missed any, let me know in the comments. (As if you need an engraved invitation to do so.)

First, why didn’t the officials notice that the balls were underinflated? The issue reportedly arose after Colts linebacker D’Qwell Jackson intercepted a pass from Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and the Indianapolis equipment manager noticed that something was amiss. Multiple officials touch the balls the Patriots are using on every play. The umpire was repeatedly wiping the ball off with a towel before putting it down for the center. Simplest explanation: The officials either didn’t notice that the balls were underinflated or the balls felt no different than they do in other games.

Second, what does a ball that is underinflated by two pounds per square inch feel like? It’s only a matter of time before ESPN or someone else has a ball inflated at the proper PSI and a ball inflated at the lower PSI for former NFL players to dig their fingers into on the air. Which may not be compelling TV, but could be instructive.

Third, were the balls properly tested before the game? With the NFL using mashed-up officiating crews during the postseason, it’s possible that certain procedures fell through the cracks. Before assuming foul play by the Patriots, it’s important to rule out error by the officials.

Fourth, how big of a factor was the weather? As noted in a prior post, the ideal gas law controls the operation of the gases that were inside the football. When the temperature drops, pressure drops. That’s why, in the winter months, we inevitably have to put air in our tires. The air isn’t leaking out; when the car is kept in the cold, the pressure inside the tire reduces. (It’s also why modern cars with automatic in-tire pressure sensors show the pressure increase as the car and its tires heat up with use.) Although it was a relatively balmy 51 degrees at kickoff on Sunday, a ball inflated to 12.5 PSI in a 72-degree locker room will necessarily experience a decrease in pressure with a 21-degree temperature drop.

Fifth, what was the in-game pressure of the Colts footballs? If the temperature caused the pressure in the New England balls to drop, it would have happened with the Indianapolis balls, too. At a minimum, it’s an important comparison that, if it wasn’t done, should have been.

Sixth, how was the chain of custody maintained? If the NFL plans to conclude that the Patriots did something to the balls absent a confession from someone who deliberately deflated them, it becomes critical to show that no one other than Patriots employees had possession of or access to the balls from the time they were given to the ball attendant until the moment they were taken out of the game. It also will be important to show that, once the balls were taken out of the game, no one other than game officials or other league employees had access to the balls.

Seventh, how widespread is the practice? Even if the NFL determines the Patriots deliberately removed air from the footballs, it’s impossible to properly assess the level and degree of “cheating” without considering whether and to what extent others do it. Maybe most teams do it, which would help explain why the officials didn’t notice it.

Eighth, should the NFL want pristine, fully-inflated footballs? The NFL wants teams to score points. With not enough competent quarterbacks to fill up the depth charts of 32 NFL teams, maybe the officials and, in turn, the league routinely look the other way on strategies aimed at allowing the quarterbacks to better grip and throw the footballs. Why else would the league have changed the procedures in 1999 for kicking balls only?

These issues, and probably others, need to be considered before taking Mortensen’s report and concluding that it means Don Shula was right. Hopefully, the NFL’s investigation will account for these potential variables both in the investigation and in the eventual public explanation of it.
__________________________________________________________________

The mention above of Don Shula, by the way, is his recent referring to the Patriots' coach as "Bill Belicheat."

And this:

Ball inflation controversy creates a real mess for Patriots, NFL

Posted by Mike Florio on January 21, 2015, 6:15 AM EST

Seven years ago, an eventually-retracted report from the Boston Herald that the Patriots videotaped the Rams’ walk-through practice prior to Super Bowl XXXVI surfaced two days before the Patriots faced the Giants in Super Bowl XLII. Though the team has never publicly claimed that the intense distraction that emerged was a factor in the eventual loss that prevented a 19-0 season, there’s no way the NFL’s immediate launching of an investigation on the Friday before the title game didn’t have at least some impact on the franchise.

This time around, the latest controversy involving a team that for whatever reason keeping tripping into these issues arose two weeks before the Super Bowl. And it quickly has become a major distraction, both for the team and for the league.

At some point (the sooner the better), the Patriots need to forget about it and focus on the task at hand. No one will be taking away their AFC title, which would have been easily secured regardless of whether the balls were filled with fluid, flubber, or flatus. But the situation has created a vague sense of gloom regarding what could happen at some point after the Super Bowl.

During Tuesday’s PFT Live on NBC Sports Radio, NFL executive V.P. of football operations Troy Vincent said that the league hopes to complete the investigation into this game-integrity issue within the next two-to-three days. However, that doesn’t mean findings will be announced or punishment issued before the Super Bowl. So the Patriots possibly will enter final preparations for the game uncertain as to what eventually will come.

For the league office, the fumes of the Ray Rice investigation make it clear to everyone involved that anything other than a thorough, fair, and transparent process will jeopardize jobs. Commissioner Roger Goodell, who received multiple public statements of support from Patriots owner Robert Kraft during the Rice fiasco, may feel conflicted about the actions that need to be taken to protect the integrity of the game — and regarding the natural sense of loyalty to an extremely influential owner who stuck his neck out for Goodell at a time when the torches-and-pitchfork crowd was banging on the castle gates.

Goodell may feel compelled to take strong action simply because Kraft supported the Commissioner so fervently. In October 2006, only a couple of months after Steelers owner Dan Rooney helped spearhead Goodell’s election as Commissioner (and personally delivered the news to the new boss of the sport), Goodell fined Rooney $25,000 for saying that the officials in a Steelers-Falcons game “should be ashamed of themselves.”

It’s a no-win situation for Goodell, given the Rice controversy. Slam the Patriots, and he’ll be criticized for trying to insulate himself from criticism by going too soft on a team whose owner did him a favor during the biggest threat to Goodell’s employment. Excuse the Patriots, and he’ll be criticized for looking the other way as a favor to a friend.

Another problem for Goodell arises from the question of whether other teams are doing the same thing. In 2012, the NFL ignored that issue and other obvious practical questions arising from the Saints bounty scandal. The Saints had been caught red-handed, and Goodell became determined to make an example out of them, even if the system that distributed relatively small amounts of cash for legal hits that knocked opponents out of games meshed with the pre-existing incentive in football to disable the best players on the other team. Eventually, former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue subtly chastised Goodell for trying to change the culture of the sport by throwing the book at one team.

With the Saints, the NFL opted not to explore the rabbit hole but to fill it with cement. It would be unfair to do the same thing to the Patriots, if (as it appears) other teams have taken liberties with the ball in order to make it conform to the preferences of their quarterbacks.

The investigation and its aftermath needs to consider these issues and any other questions that reasonably flow from the relevant facts. Given the Rice case, it’s critical that the league demonstrate the ability to conduct a good investigation and to adequately and fairly dispense justice. Even then, many will question the legitimacy and credibility of the league’s efforts.

That’s one of the clear byproducts of simply acknowledging a massive mistake and moving on with significant changes to the organization. In other matters of significance, folks will assume that further mistakes are inevitable.

Ultimately, it’s no surprise, as reported by Chris Mortensen of ESPN, that the league is “disappointed … angry … distraught” by the discovery that 11 of 12 Patriot balls were two pounds underinflated on Sunday. Coming on the heels of the clumsiest series of off-field blunders in its history, the NFL now must find a way to adequately address an on-field issue in a way that will be fair to everyone involved and that will promote public confidence in the league at a time when many members of the public have little faith that the league office can handle such issues properly.
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Tighthead
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Doesn't matter if it had no effect on the game, in my opinion. Cheating on something like this can't be tolerated.

Fines mean nothing, draft picks can hurt. I think a one year suspension like with Sean Payton is appropriate, starting as soon as possible (assuming this all proves true).

Does anyone have faith in Goodell to do the right thing? No owner is tighter with him then Kraft, except perhaps O'Mara.
TheLionKing
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This story is beginning to develop legs.
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