Belicheat at it again.

[Jooser]

Jesus Christ, some people are so willfully ignorant...

If you read, you will see that each team is responsible for their own game balls...the officiating crew is to verify the inflation. Either they didn't, they were persuaded not to, or the balls were interfered with during the game...

If it isn't important and doesn't provide an advantage, then why have a rule in place?

Bing bing bing! Winner, winner - chicken dinner! Exactly! Then why is the rule in place to begin with? It's not a freaking loophole as some suggest!

[SteelBuckeye]

so when the 1 football was thrown out, the pats were at a huge disadvantage because they spent the whole week throwing and catching a deflated football but then had to use a properly inflated one the rest of the game.

Here's the thing for me. The ball attendants are supplied by the home team. After the balls are checked by referee they are under the control of the attendants. It's possible the attendants deflated some footballs. Maybe there's a prearranged signal as to when the attendants supply the deflated footballs; like the Center asking for a new football. This would ensure that NE got the deflated footballs at a time that was advantageous to them.

Sounds complicated; but less complicated than rigging a system to videotape your opponents.

[squidkid]

that makes perfect sense...assuming you are correct in your assumption that there was only one ball affected....which is why they are investigating this irregularity to begin with...to see if there's multiple balls deflated, thus pointing to giving the Pats an advantage...not so sure why you are so passionately defending them?

how is it an advantage for a team to practice with 'soft' footballs all week...
not knowing if they are even going to get to use them?
if used, only have 1 or a couple of them be in a rotation of dozens of footballs being used during the game?
if both teams got to use them?
unless info comes out that the Pats were able to make sure that they always had a deflated football when on offense, that the colts never did, and that the Pats practiced all week with a deflated football, will i buy into the cheating conspiracy.
i'm not defending the Pats, i'm defending rationality.

[feltdizz]

Jesus Christ, some people are so willfully ignorant...

If you read, you will see that each team is responsible for their own game balls...the officiating crew is to verify the inflation. Either they didn't, they were persuaded not to, or the balls were interfered with during the game...

If it isn't important and doesn't provide an advantage, then why have a rule in place?

I thought it was odd when they stopped the game to change out the football. I never knew there was a kicking ball.

[SteelBuckeye]

how is it an advantage for a team to practice with 'soft' footballs all week...
not knowing if they are even going to get to use them?
if used, only have 1 or a couple of them be in a rotation of dozens of footballs being used during the game?
if both teams got to use them?
unless info comes out that the Pats were able to make sure that they always had a deflated football when on offense, that the colts never did, and that the Pats practiced all week with a deflated football, will i buy into the cheating conspiracy.
i'm not defending the Pats, i'm defending rationality.

Again, getting the soft football at a crucial time (right before the second Pats* TD (or the 3rd (?) in the rain) provides a hell of an advantage.

[feltdizz]

how is it an advantage for a team to practice with 'soft' footballs all week...
not knowing if they are even going to get to use them?
if used, only have 1 or a couple of them be in a rotation of dozens of footballs being used during the game?
if both teams got to use them?
unless info comes out that the Pats were able to make sure that they always had a deflated football when on offense, that the colts never did, and that the Pats practiced all week with a deflated football, will i buy into the cheating conspiracy.
i'm not defending the Pats, i'm defending rationality.

are you choosing to ignore that each team has their own set of 12 footballs?

[squidkid]

are you choosing to ignore that each team has their own set of 12 footballs?

so you are telling me that NE brings 12 footballs that only they use and Indy brings 12 that they only use?

[Slapstick]

are you choosing to ignore that each team has their own set of 12 footballs?

Yes, yes he is...

[Slapstick]

Read this:

Rule 2 of the official NFL rule book requires that each team make “12 primary balls available for testing” two hours and 15 minutes before kickoff. The home team must make 12 backup balls available, and the visiting team may bring another 12 backup balls for games to be played outdoors.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Don Shula was right.

[Steelhere10]

Just imagine if Tomlin did it, squid would lose his mind. Just like the Baltimore kick return extravaganza .

[Jooser]

************************************************** ************************************************** ************************

(all i got to say)

[Sword]

This is a bunch of crap....the home team has to provide 35 balls and the colts use the same ball....
so when you don't like a team you accuse them of cheating ...what proof?
Colts and like most other teams were out coached period....

[fezziwig]

Jim Miller on the Fan Radio said today. Each team has twelve footballs and their own ball boys. Each team only uses their own footballs and handled by their own ball boys.

[fezziwig]

Patriots are a good team but, a good team that cheats.