Patriots investigation (merge)

[Bad Morty]

When the radio station told Schefter:"OK Adam, here’s the latest. The Colts deflated the one ball that D’Qwell Jackson intercepted, and all the other balls were just a tick under."

Schefter said four Times..."There are people who believe that."

The first part is just a conspiracy theory, but the second part is a lie. All other balls were not reported to just be a tick under. The media who's pushing that narrative are linking to Rapaport. Rapaport didn't say that. You don't see Schefter correcting them. Even Rapaport's not correcting any of this.

As far as the full 2 psi drop, I linked a video that's trying to show that exact thing.

How is that a lie? What if "the people" who believe that are Kraft, Belichick, and Brady?

[ColtsBlueFL]

Except that it was a ref, not s Patriots employee, that tried to introduce an illegal ball.

 

What about the ball that was put in play right after kickoff after halftime, then they stopped the game while they took it away and then tried to find another.  The home team is responsible to have playable game balls readily available at all times during the game.  It's in the rules. They certainly did not there, and potentially another time or two. The one was caught by a alternate official before it got into the game, so that isn't what I'm referring to.  Supposedly some sort of 'league employee' snuck and illegal ball in there too, but it was found out before it was used.  Home team... not refs... home team is responsible to have a supply of legal balls at the ready.  Pats failed there.  If y'all didn't have illegal balls easily accessible on the sideline, how does one even get put into rotation?

[Yehoodi]

You can bet for certain the 'ball prep ' methods by both teams are being investigated and tested for accuracy and pressure drops..  Myth Busters style.  The setup the prep, delivery to officials, pressure check, hold for 2 hours and 15 minutes, then deliver to outside conditions such as was at the game.  Then take measurements again.  If they don't do this and take Bill (Nye the science guy) Belichick's word for it, then the investigation is a sham.

 

At minimum, Pat's were guilty of this-

 

"In the event a home team ball does not conform to specifications, or its supply is exhausted, the Referee shall secure a proper ball from the visitors...  (there's at least 12 Pats balls and 12 Colts balls at game time, and 8 K balls.  Possibly twice an illegal ball was introduced into play, only to be spotted at some point and taken back out.  See below-)

 

Note: It is the responsibility of the home team to furnish playable  ( approved )  balls at all times by attendants from either side of the playing

field

 

Wells report should be interesting to say the least.

 

 

Guilty of what? . . . you are just citing the rule regarding the balls.  Which is not the rule regarding tampering with the balls. 

 

There are three things that you need to look regarding this situation, but not all three are the sole responsibility of the team.

 

1) Present balls that are within spec.  (responsibility of the teams, a violation if not complied with but no stated penalty)

 

2) Do not tamper with the balls once the balls leave the locker room (a rule violation and a penalty can be imposed, team responsibility)

 

3) A home team ball is found (at any time) to be not within spec it shall be taken out of circulation and replaced with an appropriate ball from the visitor side.   

 

Item 3 is the rule you cite, but on its face does not deal with any team responsibility.  The fact that a ball goes out of spec. due to no fault of the team is not their responsibility or liability.  It must however be taken out of the play per item 3, but it is not fault of the team. 

 

If the team however, in item 1 (pregame presentations) or item 2 (tampered with after they are checked in item 1), take an intentionally act of take the balls out of spec then they are liability for those actions and those actions alone.  The fact that certain balls are out of spec. through not fault of the team does not imposed a liability on that team.  This is not a strict liability standard. 

 

Bottom line, if you present or tamper with balls to make/take them out of spec you are liability but if the balls fall out of spec for some other reason (weather, damage, faulty ball) it is not the liability of the team.

 

So it still comes down to if the pats tampered with the balls. 

[Yehoodi]

What about the ball that was put in play right after kickoff after halftime, then they stopped the game while they took it away and then tried to find another.  The home team is responsible to have playable game balls readily available at all times during the game.  It's in the rules. They certainly did not there, and potentially another time or two. The one was caught by a alternate official before it got into the game, so that isn't what I'm referring to.  Supposedly some sort of 'league employee' snuck and illegal ball in there too, but it was found out before it was used.  Home team... not refs... home team is responsible to have a supply of legal balls at the ready.  Pats failed there.  If y'all didn't have illegal balls easily accessible on the sideline, how does one even get put into rotation?

 

Again, you are not understanding the rules correctly.  The note that you are citing can only refer to having ball boys are on either sideline to keep the flow of the respective balls of both teams coming in and out of the game.  That is, your job is to ferry balls to and fro from the respective team balls bags to the refs on the field, to keep the game going.  Not an independent responsibility to have correct balls in the respective bags. 

 

Again here are the responsibilities.

 

1) Each team provides a given numbers of in spec balls for presentation for inspection and subsequent use in the game

2) Teams can not tamper with the balls once inspected and approved

3) Some one has to ferry the balls from the ball bag to the field of play.

 

It appears from the note in the ball rule, that it is addressing item 3.  That is the home team provides the manpower to perform task three.  Not an independent obligation to have in spec balls, but an obligation so that the in spec balls locating in the teams ball bags (or given to him by an official like the McNally case for kicking) are escorted to the refs on the field of play.

 

Now if one of the balls in the ball bag is out of spec, its not the ball boys fault, but either natural occurrences or tampering by the team, which is outlined in my last post.

[ColtsBlueFL]

Guilty of what? . . . you are just citing the rule regarding the balls.  Which is not the rule regarding tampering with the balls. 

 

There are three things that you need to look regarding this situation, but not all three are the sole responsibility of the team.

 

1) Present balls that are within spec.  (responsibility of the teams, a violation if not complied with but no stated penalty)

 

2) Do not tamper with the balls once the balls leave the locker room (a rule violation and a penalty can be imposed, team responsibility)

 

3) A home team ball is found (at any time) to be not within spec it shall be taken out of circulation and replaced with an appropriate ball from the visitor side.   

 

Item 3 is the rule you cite, but on its face does not deal with any team responsibility.  The fact that a ball goes out of spec. due to no fault of the team is not their responsibility or liability.  It must however be taken out of the play per item 3, but it is not fault of the team. 

 

If the team however, in item 1 (pregame presentations) or item 2 (tampered with after they are checked in item 1), take an intentionally act of take the balls out of spec then they are liability for those actions and those actions alone.  The fact that certain balls are out of spec. through not fault of the team does not imposed a liability on that team.  This is not a strict liability standard. 

 

Bottom line, if you present or tamper with balls to make/take them out of spec you are liability but if the balls fall out of spec for some other reason (weather, damage, faulty ball) it is not the liability of the team.

 

 

 

So it still comes down to if the pats tampered with the balls. 

 

NFL rule- each team will make 12 primary balls available for testing by the Referee two hours and 15 minutes prior to the starting time of

the game to meet League requirements. The home team will also make 12 backup balls available for testing in all

stadiums.

 

Saw this on Snopes... a different spin-

 

"After the officials found that the majority of the balls used in the first half were below the acceptable PSI as mandated by the NFL, the backup balls were brought in. According to the source, the backup balls were tested and found to be at the correct levels, and subsequently put into play — just barely in time, as the second half already had started by the time the testing was completed. This is why the officials stopped play and swapped out the kicking ball on the first play from scrimmage of the second half."

 

So, according to this, the Pats 12 primary balls were approved along with the 12 backup balls before the game, yet at halftime, only the Pats 12 backup balls remained within spec.  Interesting take.

[southwest1]

Except no cheating had been proven.

Just as much evidence of the Colts tanking in 2011.

It's a good comparison on VL's part actually. No one in the League office ever accused INDY of intentionally losing games to eventually draft QB Andrew Luck & before Ted Wells releases his report NE is innocent until otherwise fined or proven guilty. 

 

They didn't. That's my point . People believe it; doesn't make it true.

Another valid point. Conspiracy theories & concrete evidence are not the same thing. I will wait for the final report. I need to say this: VL has just as much right to post on the Colts Forum as I do or any other NFL fan does. Just because you may disagree with his point of view, he has every right to defend his team & articulate his perspective on things. I for one value different perspectives & I don't want this site entirely composed of like minded fans. You have every right to state that you disagree or agree with VL's take on an issue, but telling him to get lost from here entirely is not a wise move. I'd like to think that I would be welcome on a Patriots site, a Chargers site, or dare I say even a Dallas Cowboys site if I decided to comment on their team. 

[ViriLudant]

When the radio station told Schefter:"OK Adam, here’s the latest. The Colts deflated the one ball that D’Qwell Jackson intercepted, and all the other balls were just a tick under."

Schefter said four Times..."There are people who believe that."

The first part is just a conspiracy theory, but the second part is a lie. All other balls were not reported to just be a tick under. The media who's pushing that narrative are linking to Rapaport. Rapaport didn't say that. You don't see Schefter correcting them. Even Rapaport's not correcting any of this.

As far as the full 2 psi drop, I linked a video that's trying to show that exact thing.

Huh?

How is the second part a lie? If Schefter's knew people who believed that, how is it a lie? Doesn't mean that's it's true ; some people believe that aliens built the pyramids , does not make it so.

[Bad Morty]

 

 

So, according to this, the Pats 12 primary balls were approved along with the 12 backup balls before the game, yet at halftime, only the Pats 12 backup balls remained within spec.  Interesting take.

The backup balls didn't sit outside for the half...they stay inside.

[ColtsBlueFL]

The backup balls didn't sit outside for the half...they stay inside.

 

Apologies if I don't take your word alone on that. Do you have a story link or proof of that?  Where are they kept?  Who was watching over them to prevent tampering? Since they were all already approved, marked, and guarded by Walt Anderson, and all of the officials then went out on the field after delivering the game balls to the teams equipment managers?

[Bad Morty]

Former ref Jim Daopoulis described the process in this article http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/01/24/expert-explains-protocol-with-nfl-game-balls/fCtQ38pBjBFXId0WJC2wpL/story.html

 

Q: Who from the team brings the balls to the officials, and does the testing take place in the officials’ locker room?

JD: “The equipment manager will bring a bag of 12 or 24 footballs — it depends on the weather. The backup balls they’ll keep in the locker room or the replay room during the game. But those footballs come directly from each equipment manager in a bag, and once they go into the officials’ locker room, nobody has access to them except for the officials. So nobody can sneak in there and let the air out or put air in or do anything. There’s usually a security guard in there, so the footballs sit in the officials’ locker room for two hours until they go out onto the field

[AndreRison]

Huh?

How is the second part a lie? If Schefter's knew people who believed that, how is it a lie? Doesn't mean that's it's true ; some people believe that aliens built the pyramids , does not make it so.

"...and all the other balls were just a tick under."<--- That quote is the lie. Adam didn't call it out. He just repeated 4 different times, "There are people who believe that." First off he may have been just talking about the Colts conspiracy, which is exactly what I think he was talking about. My question is, Why isn't anybody correcting this disinfo? Why are so many people claiming this to be true, and not even Rapaport is correcting it. It's an obvious fabrication.

Rapaport said multiple sources have said 3-4 balls were a tick under. That leaves 3-4 that were around 1 psi under, 2-4 that he doesn't mention, and 1 that was 2 psi under.

[ColtsBlueFL]

Former ref Jim Daopoulis described the process in this article http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/01/24/expert-explains-protocol-with-nfl-game-balls/fCtQ38pBjBFXId0WJC2wpL/story.html

 

Q: Who from the team brings the balls to the officials, and does the testing take place in the officials’ locker room?

JD: “The equipment manager will bring a bag of 12 or 24 footballs — it depends on the weather. The backup balls they’ll keep in the locker room or the replay room during the game. But those footballs come directly from each equipment manager in a bag, and once they go into the officials’ locker room, nobody has access to them except for the officials. So nobody can sneak in there and let the air out or put air in or do anything. There’s usually a security guard in there, so the footballs sit in the officials’ locker room for two hours until they go out onto the field

 

If that was the case here, then back to the temp science.  So then, who guards the backup balls in the officials locker room if all of the officials have already went to the field for the game?  And who is in the replay booth if they are taken there?  Not that it has any difference as far as temp exposure, but seems to be a lapse of security protocol compared to all of the steps taken before that.

[AndreRison]

Former ref Jim Daopoulis described the process in this article http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/01/24/expert-explains-protocol-with-nfl-game-balls/fCtQ38pBjBFXId0WJC2wpL/story.html

Q: Who from the team brings the balls to the officials, and does the testing take place in the officials’ locker room?

JD: “The equipment manager will bring a bag of 12 or 24 footballs — it depends on the weather. The backup balls they’ll keep in the locker room or the replay room during the game. But those footballs come directly from each equipment manager in a bag, and once they go into the officials’ locker room, nobody has access to them except for the officials. So nobody can sneak in there and let the air out or put air in or do anything. There’s usually a security guard in there, so the footballs sit in the officials’ locker room for two hours until they go out onto the field

If this is true, I find it weird that the Patriots were using the Colts Footballs, because they couldn't locate the Patriot football's.

[AndreRison]

If that was the case here, then back to the temp science. So then, who guards the backup balls in the officials locker room if all of the officials have already went to the field for the game? And who is in the replay booth if they are taken there? Not that it has any difference as far as temp exposure, but seems to be a lapse of security protocol compared to all of the steps taken before that.

"Jackson does, however, recall one interesting moment during the first half that has something to do with the latest controversy. He recalls, during a television timeout, there was an especially long delay that prompted him to approach an official.

The game official mentioned something about their efforts to locate a usable football. Shortly after, Jackson noticed that the Patriots were using the Colts' footballs late in the first half. Jackson said it was odd to him that New England couldn't find a football to use, especially in the AFC Championship Game."

Somebody got to em', because nobody could find the Patriot balls.

[Bad Morty]

If that was the case here, then back to the temp science.  So then, who guards the backup balls in the officials locker room if all of the officials have already went to the field for the game?  And who is in the replay booth if they are taken there?  Not that it has any difference as far as temp exposure, but seems to be a lapse of security protocol compared to all of the steps taken before that.

Given that an employee of the league was just fired for stealing game balls in the middle of the league championship game, I'd say "lapse of security protocol" is the understatement of the year. Meanwhile, if a guy tried wearing his shirt slightly un-tucked, he'd be fined before he could blink...shows you how little the league actually cares about the footballs.

[ColtsBlueFL]

"Jackson does, however, recall one interesting moment during the first half that has something to do with the latest controversy. He recalls, during a television timeout, there was an especially long delay that prompted him to approach an official.

The game official mentioned something about their efforts to locate a usable football. Shortly after, Jackson noticed that the Patriots were using the Colts' footballs late in the first half. Jackson said it was odd to him that New England couldn't find a football to use, especially in the AFC Championship Game."

Somebody got to em', because nobody could find the Patriot balls.

 

That's right, in the NFL.com article where people saw that DQwell said he couldn't tell pressure differences.  Just wanted a souvenir. But he did say officials mentioned the they couldn't find a usable football, which goes back to the statement made earlier that the rules state - "It is the responsibility of the home team to furnish playable balls at all times... "

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000462315/article/colts-dqwell-jackson-i-didnt-know-football-had-less-pressure

 

Epic fail in every circumstance.  12 balls, 12 backups, and they can't find a usable ball, and finally had to use the Colts footballs for an undetermined amount of time.  And we're not sure if the underinflated balls were pumped back up for the second half, or the backups were pulled into use.  I've seen it reported both ways.  There is a lot of ground for Wells and his team to cover.

[ColtsSouljah]

MIT did if you don't recall

Of course he remembers; he was the one harping so much on it. Honestly, I'm not sure why people engage Viri anymore. He makes outlandish claims and then refuses to reply when called on them. He'll ignore your comment there, he has insisted the pats NEVER have been proven guilty of cheating (see the locked pats chaplain thread), and he has insisted EVERY super bowl parade has the winners trolling and taking vulgar shots at the losers (see the "what punishment is coming") thread. So far, I have not seen him answer to any of this. Pretty hard to have a discussion when one side does that.

[amfootball]

That's right, in the NFL.com article where people saw that DQwell said he couldn't tell pressure differences.  Just wanted a souvenir. But he did say officials mentioned the they couldn't find a usable football, which goes back to the statement made earlier that the rules state - "It is the responsibility of the home team to furnish playable balls at all times... "

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000462315/article/colts-dqwell-jackson-i-didnt-know-football-had-less-pressure

 

Epic fail in every circumstance.  12 balls, 12 backups, and they can't find a usable ball, and finally had to use the Colts footballs for an undetermined amount of time.  And we're not sure if the underinflated balls were pumped back up for the second half, or the backups were pulled into use.  I've seen it reported both ways.  There is a lot of ground for Wells and his team to cover.

This goes back to the ball handling by the refs which we are learning was a clown show from the rogue ref to not being able to locate the reserve balls. Of course balls had never been previously gauged at halftime so I am assuming that caused some confusion with ball location and protocol. It would seem this whole effort by the league to catch the Pats was as poorly organized as you can get.

[ColtsBlueFL]

This goes back to the ball handling by the refs which we are learning was a clown show from the rogue ref to not being able to locate the reserve balls. Of course balls had never been previously gauged at halftime so I am assuming that caused some confusion with ball location and protocol. It would seem this whole effort by the league to catch the Pats was as poorly organized as you can get.

 

I get that, it appears some rogue league employee was playing shenanigans with a ball, but why doesn't the Pat's ball handler have the bag of the other 11 balls at the ready?  Keeping track of those surely is the Pats equipment mangers responsibility, and it appears someone failed to keep tabs if they couldn't find the balls when they needed one.

 

I think it is time that NFL officials hire special security and ball handlers that only watch and handle the footballs once they are delivered to the official locker room.  They watch over and rotate the playing and K footballs into the game from either home or visitors side as necessary and relieve the home team of the responsibility.  Hire the guys and change the wording in the ruling because that wording means nothing.  At least in this case.  That is if indeed league employee(s) interfered with the home teams ball handler(s) from performing their duties properly as dictated via rule.

[amfootball]

I get that, it appears some rogue league employee was playing shenanigans with a ball, but why doesn't the Pat's ball handler have the bag of the other 11 balls at the ready?  Keeping track of those surely is the Pats equipment mangers responsibility, and it appears someone failed to keep tabs if they couldn't find the balls when they needed one.

 

I think it is time that NFL officials hire special security and ball handlers that only watch and handle the footballs once they are delivered to the official locker room.  They watch over and rotate the playing and K footballs into the game from either home or visitors side as necessary and relieve the home team of the responsibility.  Hire the guys and change the wording in the ruling because that wording means nothing.  At least in this case.  That is if indeed league employee(s) interfered with the home teams ball handler(s) from performing their duties properly as dictated via rule.

The Pats balls were gone at halftime being gauged. The first play of the third quarter had a kicking ball out there to where the ref had to stop the game, take the ball out and get an offensive ball. I am not sure what happened. I really think the confusion was caused by that as normally the balls would be on the sideline.

[ColtsBlueFL]

The Pats balls were gone at halftime being gauged. The first play of the third quarter had a kicking ball out there to where the ref had to stop the game, take the ball out and get an offensive ball. I am not sure what happened. I really think the confusion was caused by that as normally the balls would be on the sideline.

 

True on that part, but the instance being referenced here is this statement from DQwell Jackson during play in first half.  The Patriots bag of approved footballs should still have been available-

 

"Jackson does, however, recall one interesting moment during the first half that has something to do with the latest controversy. He recalls, during a television timeout, there was an especially long delay that prompted him to approach an official. The game official mentioned something about their efforts to locate a usable football. Shortly after, Jackson noticed that the Patriots were using the Colts' footballs late in the first half. Jackson said it was odd to him that New England couldn't find a football to use, especially in the AFC Championship Game."

[amfootball]

True on that part, but the instance being referenced here is this statement from DQwell Jackson during play in first half.  The Patriots bag of approved footballs should still have been available-

 

"Jackson does, however, recall one interesting moment during the first half that has something to do with the latest controversy. He recalls, during a television timeout, there was an especially long delay that prompted him to approach an official. The game official mentioned something about their efforts to locate a usable football. Shortly after, Jackson noticed that the Patriots were using the Colts' footballs late in the first half. Jackson said it was odd to him that New England couldn't find a football to use, especially in the AFC Championship Game."

I don't think that has been confirmed but I do remember the quote. Even if that did happen though it could still be on the refs versus the Pats ball boy. I mean the Pats guy is just standing there with the balls but if the refs were keying on the Pats balls, and also removing a kicking ball to sell after the game, maybe things got confused. This whole thing really is a royal mess.

[Bad Morty]

True on that part, but the instance being referenced here is this statement from DQwell Jackson during play in first half.  The Patriots bag of approved footballs should still have been available-

 

"Jackson does, however, recall one interesting moment during the first half that has something to do with the latest controversy. He recalls, during a television timeout, there was an especially long delay that prompted him to approach an official. The game official mentioned something about their efforts to locate a usable football. Shortly after, Jackson noticed that the Patriots were using the Colts' footballs late in the first half. Jackson said it was odd to him that New England couldn't find a football to use, especially in the AFC Championship Game."

I don't recall any "especially long delays" other than at the start of the 2nd half. This just sounds like it was a minor sideline issue getting a ball into play, which is probably normal for bad weather games (maybe they couldn't find a dry one or something?). The fact that the Pats apparently played with a Colts ball is more evidence to me that they weren't particularly concerned about the ball pressure...that sounds like "whatever - just give us a ball and let's go".  

[AndreRison]

A league official steals the "K1" ball. McNally tries to put an unapproved ball in. Why would McNally do that?

[Bad Morty]

A league official steals the "K1" ball. McNally tries to put an unapproved ball in. Why would McNally do that?

I suspect it's because Belichick ordered him to replace the official balls with magical super-power balls.

[dw49]

I suspect it's because Belichick ordered him to replace the official balls with magical super-power balls.

 

 

You mean one of those 12 that magically rubbed things that deflate while the opponents Wilson's don't ?

[Bad Morty]

You mean one of those 12 that magically rubbed things that deflate while the opponents Wilson's don't ?

 

I think they have a vault where there are tanks of Bill Parcell's flatulence stored...they inflate the balls with it, then they magically deflate.

 

In all seriousness, I believe there are only 2 realistic possibilities as to what happened here:

 

1) Nothing whatsoever

 

2) They figured out some way to treat the balls such that they'd pass the pre-game inspection and then soften up as the game went on.

 

I have said from day 1 (and I believe it now more than ever) that I can't under any circumstances believe that they would be dumb enough to tamper with the balls after the refs had approved them by sticking a needle in them to de-pressurize them. I think that is a more outlandish theory than the "Colts deflated the one ball" theory. I can't see any way that somebody could get away with sticking a needle in a ball (let alone 11 of them) on the sidelines without getting caught on camera doing it.

 

So what does that leave us with? Neither 1 or 2 above is illegal. You can do whatever you want to the balls as long as the refs measure them within the range and then you don't tamper with them.

[ViriLudant]

A league official steals the "K1" ball. McNally tries to put an unapproved ball in. Why would McNally do that?

*sigh*

Because it was handed to him by an NFL official, who has since been fired . This has been covered ad nauseum.

[Gramz]

This whole topic has been covered ad nauseum, and still none of us can be sure what the outcome of the Wells investigation will show. I hope they wrap it up soon.

[JerodMayo51]

I'm sure of what it will show, that the Pats did nothing wrong. Everyone who has piled on and tried to perpetuate this further should be forced to kneel before the Emperor (Belichick) and kiss all 4 of his rings

[bababooey]

*sigh*

Because it was handed to him by an NFL official, who has since been fired . This has been covered ad nauseum.

*sigh*

How come every time something else is covered ad nauseum that looks bad for your team you refuse to believe it?

[Bad Morty]

*sigh*

How come every time something else is covered ad nauseum that looks bad for your team you refuse to believe it?

Has there been anything that meets that criteria since the original Mort and Kravitz reports?

[amfootball]

I'm sure of what it will show, that the Pats did nothing wrong. Everyone who has piled on and tried to perpetuate this further should be forced to kneel before the Emperor (Belichick) and kiss all 4 of his rings

Did you see the combine? Both Bill and Rex walked in together. I wonder if Rex said to Bill to let him know when they get their fourth ring so he can kiss it like he has with the other 3.

[bababooey]

Has there been anything that meets that criteria since the original Mort and Kravitz reports?

NFL protocols followed by the referees that Blandino confirmed were done correctly by Anderson and his crew but some still think it was just a squeeze test. This was weeks before the leak about the rogue worker who collected balls for charity but switched one or multiple out after they had served their purpose.

[pgt_rob]

I can't believe this thread is still going. What else is there to cover on this subject? I feel like until the investigation is over and they go public with it, it's going to be so backwards from what everyone is currently talking about.

[amfootball]

NFL protocols followed by the referees that Blandino confirmed were done correctly by Anderson and his crew but some still think it was just a squeeze test. This was weeks before the leak about the rogue worker who collected balls for charity but switched one or multiple out after they had served their purpose.

Blandino was wrong about the origination of this beginning with the Jackson pick and the call from Grigson to the league in the second quarter so whose to say he is right about Anderson and his crew.

[bababooey]

Blandino was wrong about the origination of this beginning with the Jackson pick and the call from Grigson to the league in the second quarter so whose to say he is right about Anderson and his crew.

Blandino had no idea the NFL had a complaint about the balls beforehand, they were just doing their job, which Blandino confirmed during media week that the protocols that had to do with the checking and approving of the balls were followed. You said yourself you see Mike Kensil as the one with the vendetta who could have received the tip from Grigson before the game, did nothing proactive about it, and waited until the game to try to catch the Patriots red handed (also not doing his due diligence to make sure the game was fair from the start). The psi was not logged pregame bc they were not aware of anything unusual going on. You think because he was "wrong" about the origination (still don't know how you can say he is wrong when you don't know what the origination is) he was wrong about his crew following NFL protocols in checking/approving them before the game?

 

Also, this isn't about whether or not NFL protocols were followed. This is about whether NFL protocols involve gauging with a tool or just squeezing was what was covered ad nauseum but some still refuse to believe.

[amfootball]

Blandino had no idea the NFL had a complaint about the balls beforehand, they were just doing their job, which Blandino confirmed during media week that the protocols that had to do with the checking and approving of the balls were followed. You said yourself you see Mike Kensil as the one with the vendetta who could have received the tip from Grigson before the game, did nothing proactive about it, and waited until the game to try to catch the Patriots red handed (also not doing his due diligence to make sure the game was fair from the start). The psi was not logged pregame bc they were not aware of anything unusual going on. You think because he was "wrong" about the origination (still don't know how you can say he is wrong when you don't know what the origination is) he was wrong about his crew following NFL protocols in checking/approving them before the game?

 

Also, this isn't about whether or not NFL protocols were followed. This is about whether NFL protocols involve gauging with a tool or just squeezing was what was covered ad nauseum but some still refuse to believe.

Yes. I think he was wrong because I believe Grigson that he spoke to the league beforehand. He has no reason to lie.

[bababooey]

Yes. I think he was wrong because I believe Grigson that he spoke to the league beforehand. He has no reason to lie.

You can think what you want, until then you could be on a Sox forum celebrating the Moncada signing.

[dw49]

I think they have a vault where there are tanks of Bill Parcell's flatulence stored...they inflate the balls with it, then they magically deflate.

 

In all seriousness, I believe there are only 2 realistic possibilities as to what happened here:

 

1) Nothing whatsoever

 

2) They figured out some way to treat the balls such that they'd pass the pre-game inspection and then soften up as the game went on.

 

I have said from day 1 (and I believe it now more than ever) that I can't under any circumstances believe that they would be dumb enough to tamper with the balls after the refs had approved them by sticking a needle in them to de-pressurize them. I think that is a more outlandish theory than the "Colts deflated the one ball" theory. I can't see any way that somebody could get away with sticking a needle in a ball (let alone 11 of them) on the sidelines without getting caught on camera doing it.

 

So what does that leave us with? Neither 1 or 2 above is illegal. You can do whatever you want to the balls as long as the refs measure them within the range and then you don't tamper with them.

 

 

That's about the same conclusion I have and tend to think it's #2. I also don't think the NFL expected teams to kick the urine of of balls like BB explained. But I agree that it at least extremely likely that there is no rule violation here. In fact it might ben explain why you had such a variance in NE balls.