deflate gate
Each team supplies their own footballs. In inclement weather, a softer ball is easier to grip.
Brady could have been throwing bricks and he would have won that game. The colts were crushed in every way.
Well, the Patriots were clearly better in every way. Especially after the half when the Colts complained about the ball and the officials switched it out. But why would you cheat knowing full well that you'd win?
The balls are tested by the league 2 hours before the game. So I'll bet the Patriots filled the balls with 150 degree air 2 hours and 1 minute before the game.
"Hey, you said it had to be filled to 12.5 lb per square inch. You didn't say it had to stay that way."
The balls are tested by the league 2 hours before the game. So I'll bet the Patriots filled the balls with 150 degree air 2 hours and 1 minute before the game.
"Hey, you said it had to be filled to 12.5 lb per square inch. You didn't say it had to stay that way."
RobB said:
So I'll bet the Patriots filled the balls with 150 degree air 2 hours and 1 minute before the game.
Wouldn't that have made the balls Schwede?
According to an article I read, each team has its own balls and sometimes each quarterback (at least the stars) have their own that nobody else uses.Jasmo said:
However, I believe that each team shared the other team's balls.
Jan 21, 2015 at 3:35am Edited
Each team is given a supply of balls prior to the game and during the game each offense uses their own balls (insert joke here). There is time to prepare the balls in the manner a quarterback prefers.
Some play with other people's balls.
What a delightful scandal. So much material.
What a delightful scandal. So much material.
From Dan Wetzel on Yahoo Sports (a long portion of a longer article):
This is a strange story that keeps getting stranger, a scandal that creates only more questions as it grows.
Let's start with this: How the heck didn't the refs notice?
The NFL has a detailed protocol when it comes to game balls. Per Rule 2, Section 1 of the book, each team is supposed to bring 12 official Wilson brand balls "bearing the signature of the Commissioner of the League, Roger Goodell." (More on him in a moment.)
Precisely two hours, 15 minutes prior to kickoff, all the footballs are checked in the referee locker room by the head ref, in this case Walt Anderson.
"The Referee shall be the sole judge as to whether all balls offered for play comply with these specifications," the rulebook reads. "A pump is to be furnished by the home club, and the balls shall remain under the supervision of the Referee until they are delivered to the ball attendant just prior to the start of the game."
You can seemingly rule out the idea of the Patriots providing a pump that would provide inaccurate readings (if this is even possible) because it would have presumably then deemed the Indianapolis' footballs as overinflated. You can also give up on the weather altering the pressure because it would have done the same to the Colts' footballs and this isn't a story.
During a game each team uses its own footballs. So the Colts had theirs and the Pats had theirs. Why this is done in football (it's same at the college level) is another question. Kicking balls come straight from the manufacturer. Why not all footballs?
Anyway, if – if – the refs did their job before the game, then somehow New England managed to deflate 11 of the 12 balls during the heat of the game, all on a playing surface surrounded by cameras. To pull this off via sideline attendants or equipment managers is challenging but some in football say, commonplace. It's also, especially for New England, mind-numbingly brazen, especially to this level with that many footballs.
Then again, these are the Patriots, busted for Spygate back in 2007 and under suspicion from everyone outside of New England ever since.
Whenever they provide an explanation, it should be considered. It's worth noting that so far, the team hasn't denied anything. It has just said it would cooperate fully with the league, like it had an option to not cooperate.
Regardless, we're talking about 11 footballs. This isn't one that was deflated because Rob Gronkowski spiked it too hard. This isn't a couple that might have been defective. This isn't the weather causing just their footballs, but not the Colts', to lose pressure. This isn't … it doesn't matter.
Eleven. Eleven under-inflated footballs on a night when heavy rain made everything wet and a ball that is easier to grip makes passing, catching and dealing with snaps and handoffs easier. Eleven on a night when they had an offensive lineman catch a TD.
And who didn't "Do Your Job" and get to that 12th ball? It's about the only lack of execution New England had on Sunday.
It's still bizarre the refs didn't notice, or care. Two or three refs handle a football on each play. During Colts possessions the ball is inflated to one level and during New England possessions it's inflated to a different one? Wouldn't this seem obvious?
It was obvious enough someone from the Colts – an equipment man it seems – realized it after an interception brought one of New England's footballs to its sideline. It's why Indy complained.
How does the equipment man notice and grow troubled by it but not a team full of refs?
It wasn’t until after the Jackson interception in the second quarter that the footballs became an issue. The Boston Globe reports that, "the league inspected each of the Patriots’ 12 game balls twice at halftime, using different pressure gauges, and found footballs that were not properly inflated."
We don't yet know if there was an issue with the footballs in the second half, when Brady actually was better statistically and New England blew the game open.
Then, of course, there is this: Why the heck would the Patriots even bother?
They beat the tar out of the Colts on Sunday, 45-7. They beat the tar out of the Colts in November, 42-20. They beat the tar out of the Colts in last year's playoffs, 43-22.
The Patriots can pretty much beat the tar out of the Colts anytime they want. They rushed for 657 yards and 13 touchdowns in those games. They could carry a cannon ball around and win the game. The contests were in three different weather situations – including inside Lucas Oil Stadium.
It wasn't the ball that caused New England to advance to the Super Bowl. It was its offensive line and defensive secondary and the frightening prospect of Brady getting to use play-action. The Pats win no matter what.
So why do this, why risk this, why care about the ball?
Maybe these questions are answered by the NFL's full declaration on this, but if it is determined it was purposeful subterfuge (rather than just one heck of a coincidence or referee failure or something else), then it's an example of arrogance, of gumption, or addiction to gaining an edge, any edge, even an unnecessary edge.
The Patriots should know better if only because they had to realize this becomes a far, far bigger story because of who they are and the history they have.
So many big scandals come from small things, forgettable things, stupid things. Nixon was winning the 1972 presidential election without Watergate. They broke in anyway.
It snowballs from there.
Now it's rolled right onto Roger Goodell's desk, the commissioner coming off the worst year of his tenure where trust in his ability to lead the NFL through trying times is decidedly low.
He can't blow this one. He can't come down weak on this one. He can't be anything but fully transparent.
Maybe every team in the league tries to work the footballs to their liking, but that isn't the issue now. Maybe it doesn't provide that big of an advantage, but that isn't the issue either (if there isn't that big of an advantage, then why do it?).
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/on-scale-of-1-10--it-s-11-for-patriots-in-deflate-gate-mess---070254658.html
This is a strange story that keeps getting stranger, a scandal that creates only more questions as it grows.
Let's start with this: How the heck didn't the refs notice?
The NFL has a detailed protocol when it comes to game balls. Per Rule 2, Section 1 of the book, each team is supposed to bring 12 official Wilson brand balls "bearing the signature of the Commissioner of the League, Roger Goodell." (More on him in a moment.)
Precisely two hours, 15 minutes prior to kickoff, all the footballs are checked in the referee locker room by the head ref, in this case Walt Anderson.
"The Referee shall be the sole judge as to whether all balls offered for play comply with these specifications," the rulebook reads. "A pump is to be furnished by the home club, and the balls shall remain under the supervision of the Referee until they are delivered to the ball attendant just prior to the start of the game."
You can seemingly rule out the idea of the Patriots providing a pump that would provide inaccurate readings (if this is even possible) because it would have presumably then deemed the Indianapolis' footballs as overinflated. You can also give up on the weather altering the pressure because it would have done the same to the Colts' footballs and this isn't a story.
During a game each team uses its own footballs. So the Colts had theirs and the Pats had theirs. Why this is done in football (it's same at the college level) is another question. Kicking balls come straight from the manufacturer. Why not all footballs?
Anyway, if – if – the refs did their job before the game, then somehow New England managed to deflate 11 of the 12 balls during the heat of the game, all on a playing surface surrounded by cameras. To pull this off via sideline attendants or equipment managers is challenging but some in football say, commonplace. It's also, especially for New England, mind-numbingly brazen, especially to this level with that many footballs.
Then again, these are the Patriots, busted for Spygate back in 2007 and under suspicion from everyone outside of New England ever since.
Whenever they provide an explanation, it should be considered. It's worth noting that so far, the team hasn't denied anything. It has just said it would cooperate fully with the league, like it had an option to not cooperate.
Regardless, we're talking about 11 footballs. This isn't one that was deflated because Rob Gronkowski spiked it too hard. This isn't a couple that might have been defective. This isn't the weather causing just their footballs, but not the Colts', to lose pressure. This isn't … it doesn't matter.
Eleven. Eleven under-inflated footballs on a night when heavy rain made everything wet and a ball that is easier to grip makes passing, catching and dealing with snaps and handoffs easier. Eleven on a night when they had an offensive lineman catch a TD.
And who didn't "Do Your Job" and get to that 12th ball? It's about the only lack of execution New England had on Sunday.
It's still bizarre the refs didn't notice, or care. Two or three refs handle a football on each play. During Colts possessions the ball is inflated to one level and during New England possessions it's inflated to a different one? Wouldn't this seem obvious?
It was obvious enough someone from the Colts – an equipment man it seems – realized it after an interception brought one of New England's footballs to its sideline. It's why Indy complained.
How does the equipment man notice and grow troubled by it but not a team full of refs?
It wasn’t until after the Jackson interception in the second quarter that the footballs became an issue. The Boston Globe reports that, "the league inspected each of the Patriots’ 12 game balls twice at halftime, using different pressure gauges, and found footballs that were not properly inflated."
We don't yet know if there was an issue with the footballs in the second half, when Brady actually was better statistically and New England blew the game open.
Then, of course, there is this: Why the heck would the Patriots even bother?
They beat the tar out of the Colts on Sunday, 45-7. They beat the tar out of the Colts in November, 42-20. They beat the tar out of the Colts in last year's playoffs, 43-22.
The Patriots can pretty much beat the tar out of the Colts anytime they want. They rushed for 657 yards and 13 touchdowns in those games. They could carry a cannon ball around and win the game. The contests were in three different weather situations – including inside Lucas Oil Stadium.
It wasn't the ball that caused New England to advance to the Super Bowl. It was its offensive line and defensive secondary and the frightening prospect of Brady getting to use play-action. The Pats win no matter what.
So why do this, why risk this, why care about the ball?
Maybe these questions are answered by the NFL's full declaration on this, but if it is determined it was purposeful subterfuge (rather than just one heck of a coincidence or referee failure or something else), then it's an example of arrogance, of gumption, or addiction to gaining an edge, any edge, even an unnecessary edge.
The Patriots should know better if only because they had to realize this becomes a far, far bigger story because of who they are and the history they have.
So many big scandals come from small things, forgettable things, stupid things. Nixon was winning the 1972 presidential election without Watergate. They broke in anyway.
It snowballs from there.
Now it's rolled right onto Roger Goodell's desk, the commissioner coming off the worst year of his tenure where trust in his ability to lead the NFL through trying times is decidedly low.
He can't blow this one. He can't come down weak on this one. He can't be anything but fully transparent.
Maybe every team in the league tries to work the footballs to their liking, but that isn't the issue now. Maybe it doesn't provide that big of an advantage, but that isn't the issue either (if there isn't that big of an advantage, then why do it?).
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/on-scale-of-1-10--it-s-11-for-patriots-in-deflate-gate-mess---070254658.html
yahooyahoo said:
Each team is given a supply of balls...
No. Each team has to bring a supply of balls. 11 of the 12 balls that the Pats used were "significantly underinflated". It's unclear if the ref just didn't check them thoroughly or if they passed the inflation check, then were deflated later.
It's amusing to me that each team has to supply their own balls. Like it's little league or something.
Jan 21, 2015 at 3:51am Edited
grahamb said:
It's amusing to me that each team has to supply their own balls. Like it's little league or something.
Why is it amusing? When men have sex, they generally supply their own balls.
Jan 21, 2015 at 4:12am Edited
grahamb said:
yahooyahoo said:
Each team is given a supply of balls...
No. Each team has to bring a supply of balls. 11 of the 12 balls that the Pats used were "significantly underinflated". It's unclear if the ref just didn't check them thoroughly or if they passed the inflation check, then were deflated later.
It's amusing to me that each team has to supply their own balls. Like it's little league or something.
Grahamb- The balls that each team brings to the games are supplied by the "official" supplier at some point prior to the game. I don't know if it's days or weeks. The teams don't go out and buy the balls at a sporting goods store.
Months and months. There was a story about Eli a few years ago. The Giants basically "promote" from practice to game balls once he says they're ready.
Jan 21, 2015 at 4:22am Edited
I wish I could find the article I read about this yesterday ... it was fascinating. It said that they do a lot of work on the balls to get them ready to be used. They don't just use brand new balls as that would be the worst thing they could do apparently. It described hours of prep done to each ball and not all balls being deemed good enough to go "in the bag".
ETA - Probably the story RobB mentions. It was about Eli Manning's balls.
ETA - Probably the story RobB mentions. It was about Eli Manning's balls.
Maybe they could standardize like MLB. They buy standard balls and then rough them up with official baseball mud.
New Jersey's Own™ official baseball mud.
All 30 major league teams use riverbank mud from a tidal tributary of the Delaware River in New Jersey. The exact location is an old secret guarded by Jim Bintliff. He owns Lena Blackburne Baseball Rubbing Mud, and its mud has the look and feel of chocolate pudding.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/1018/p18s02-hfks.html?s=widep
All 30 major league teams use riverbank mud from a tidal tributary of the Delaware River in New Jersey. The exact location is an old secret guarded by Jim Bintliff. He owns Lena Blackburne Baseball Rubbing Mud, and its mud has the look and feel of chocolate pudding.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/1018/p18s02-hfks.html?s=widep
tjohn said:
Maybe they could standardize like MLB. They buy standard balls and then rough them up with official baseball mud.
Official baseball mud--from right here in Jersey!
http://www.baseballrubbingmud.com/
Deflating the balls would be the last thing on my mind. I'd be too busy spraying my uniform with Pam, coating the tape on my hands with denture paste, and concealing a blob or 2 of icy-hot or bengay under my neck roll so I can blind people in a pile up.
Freeway said:
Deflating the balls would be the last thing on my mind. I'd be too busy spraying my uniform with Pam, coating the tape on my hands with denture paste, and concealing a blob or 2 of icy-hot or bengay under my neck roll so I can blind people in a pile up.
from my sister's Facebook page:
What do Belichick and the European Central Bank have in common?
They're both worried about deflation.
What do Belichick and the European Central Bank have in common?
They're both worried about deflation.
Jan 21, 2015 at 10:51am Edited
Good read. #shrinkage
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/24/sports/football/eli-mannings-footballs-are-months-in-making.html?_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/24/sports/football/eli-mannings-footballs-are-months-in-making.html?_r=0
Who was the comedian who "quoted" Belachick as saying " we only use our needles to pump our players full of steroids" (or something to that effect)?
http://www.sbnation.com/2015/1/21/7865605/brad-johnson-tampa-bay-buccaneers-super-bowl-deflategate
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