The outcome has absolutely nothing do with why this is an issue. It's the intentional manipulation to gain an advantage that is outside of the rules. There's no doubt in my mind that the Patriots are habitual cheaters. They were caught here and at spygate, but you can guarantee there many other ways they have cheated over the years and never gotten caught. There's a rumor that they filmed the Rams practice before the Superbowl, but there's no way the NFL would make that public info knowing it had a clear impact in the outcome of the Superbowl.
That was investigated thoroughly and nothing of substance was found. Spygate was never even an issue until after they won several superbowls. The rules never did make it illegal (and still don't)... Goodell just laid the hammer down after warning them to stop in 2006 and they did it again anyway because Bill believed arrogantly that he wasn't breaking the letter of the law and he couldn't be touched. Then they went back and punished them for breaking a rule before a rule was even written (and the rule still hasn't been written). If it is so cut and dry, why would Goodell destroy the tapes after collecting them? I'm not saying what they did was right. I'm not saying Bill or Tom did or didn't know it happened. I'm just saying it's a WAAAAYYYYY bigger story because it happened to the Patriots in a title game and what was done isn't as bad as many make it out to be. It's less forgivable because it's the Patriots. If it was all about the integrity of the game, then in theory it would be as big of a story for a season opener. Don't kid yourself.
What if it was the Cowboys? Rodgers and Green Bay? Manning and Denver? Wouldn't be a big story? This whole ... only because its the Patriots thing simply in not true. Well yeah it's more magnified because it happened in a championship game and now to be talked about before the biggest game of the year lol. I'm sure it wouldn't get as much attention if it was the Jaquars in week 3. But that's the point. The integrity of the organization is in the spotlight now. People want answers of how long this went on? Who's responsible? Who knew what? And like it or not the impact and how they are viewed could be VERY tarnished. Even if we're only talking about air in a ball. Something still stinks. ** coming from a sports fan/non- patriot hater
I didn't mean to imply only the Patriots could draw this kind of heat. If the teams you mentioned had something like this happen, they'd be under the spotlight too. The difference is those teams haven't accomplished combined what the Patriots have over the past 15 years. Any chance to discredit that success will be and has been utilized. While it should be looked at, I feel like it is making a mountain out of a mole hill because of who it is... not what was actually done.
Interesting.....they have the guy who did it....let's see if he gives up Brady http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/...r=112638779551&adbsc=social_20150126_39430487
What if the guy was paid as a plant by another team to intentionally screw something up? It was of no use to Brady to deflate the balls, he played better the second half after the problem was reported, lol.
I'll be honest, that is more than I thought they would turn up. Nothing will come down until after the Super Bowl anyways, so hopefully the media can turn it's attention to the game. Covey, a deflated ball does have it's benefits. 2nd half numbers hold absolutely no bearing on the issue, it's about the intent to purposely break a rule, but that has been hatched out on the 100 something posts before on this thread. The NFL is a league that is driven by gambling. No other league has so many insiders getting info on players. No other league has detailed injury reports telling exactly what injury is going on with what player week by week. There's a reason the league gets 12 months of publicity, and that's because a lot of people are following up on their "investments" for the next year. Why else does someone need every single game, every Sunday? We don't wire up 3 big screens with all the games because my fantasy lineup is in limbo each week. As soon as someone feels like the rules or the integrity of fair play are being compromised by the participants they are a little more hesitant to lay some money on the table. I for one, would not bet while the replacement refs were around 2 years ago, just too many variables. While it didn't matter with Indy, I would be PO'd had I put some money on Baltimore the week before, with the possibility of this same thing occurring is very likely plausible. That is why the NFL will nip this thing and try to prove they are doing their best to find out if something was or wasn't done intentionally.
That's what I'm saying though, If Brady plays better with properly inflated footballs then why would he bother taking a risk of breaking a rule? His performance in the second half proves he doesn't need the lower pressure footballs. The other team played more poorly after the low air balls were taken...maybe they should be investigated. Maybe the officials should keep possession of the game balls indefinitely so that everyone is on even turf?
Brady is on record saying he prefers deflating them as low as he can. The Colts footballs were not tampered with. Yes the officials should keep them in their possession after they check them.
Pretty predictable. Kind of figured it would come down to a ball boy taking the fall. One of two things will happen. Continue to plead ignorance and deny (which is still easy to do) or sing like a canary.
If the NFL holds to the precedent the NCAA set with the Lane Kiffin incident at USC, they may still levy a punishment on the Pats regardless if Tommy tucks what's left of his balls and lays the blame on the equipment manager. Again a fine does nothing more than tell people they cheated and slap them on the wrist for it.
Lol.... Tommy is definitely tucking his under inflated balls. No way he back tracks now. Hit them with a fine as an organizational issue and it's done will be the outcome imo. p.s. check the dudes bank account lol.
This whole debacle will make the excuses on either side interesting after the SB. Pats lose and they cry about the distracting weeks leading up to the game... Pats win and everyone collectively cries that they shouldn't be there in the first place.
It is interesting how many big name guys have voiced opinions that theoretically would vouch for Brady not noticing a deflated ball in the first half (saying that in game situations no way to tell 1 lb difference in inflation). That said, no way in hell a ball boy took his own prerogative to deflate a ball against Brady's will. Doesn't really affect my opinion of him all that much, but if a ball boy was found to have done this the QB or a coach of some sort knew.
Said ball boy disappeared for approximately 90 seconds. It was found that in that 90 seconds he disappeared into the restroom. So basically the ball boy excuse has been debunk. As said above, even if Brady didn't himself deflate the balls, I find it very unlikely that someone within the organization would take air out of the ball and Brady not recognize and fire said ball boy for messing with the balls just how he likes them. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Obviously the balls were tampered with illegally. So NFL rules were broken by the Patriots. At the same time, both Brady and Bellicheck deny any and all involvement. Then Craft gets up in defense putting his name on the line. If someone can figure out what actually happened (though this is highly unlikely), I could see Craft firing who lied to him and made him look like a fool. Most likely the NFL will slap the Patriots on the wrist because they have to and the case will go unresolved.
Why would the ball boy story be debunked? 90 seconds is plenty of time to let a puff of air out of 11 balls... I would tend to believe Bill or Tom one knew, but with them all knowing a BIG investigation was underway... I don't think Bob, Bill, nor Tom are dense enough to stick their neck out this far with the statements all 3 have made if a link could be made (if one exists) to them.
Absolutely. Not a chance in the world the ball boy takes it on himself. I think it came from Brady... to the equipment manager... to ball boy. Bellichick? I'm not sure about his knowledge yet to be honest. He is a control freak, but at the same time I think he has bigger things to deal with about film and game plans on a weekly basis. Also, what about the officials? Is there any absolute knowledge that they even checked them correctly? Or is it just assumed?
