#DeflateGate (Court of Appeals Reinstates Suspension)

[Neurotic Guy]

Wondering to what extent Seattle will taunt the Pats and Brady -- calling them "cheaters" during the game.  Sounds juvenile and potentially counterproductive but I bet some Seahawks will believe that the word will get under Pats' skin and in their heads -- throwing them off their game.   

It's easy to suggest that this would just burn more fire in the competitive bellies of NE players, but I'm not so sure that it won't hit home -- this controversy potentially cuts deep with regard to the Pats place in NFL history.  This is something that truly can throw a team off.

[Roy H.]

Wondering to what extent Seattle will taunt the Pats and Brady -- calling them "cheaters" during the game.  Sounds juvenile and potentially counterproductive but I bet some Seahawks will believe that the word will get under Pats' skin and in their heads -- throwing them off their game.   

It's easy to suggest that this would just burn more fire in the competitive bellies of NE players, but I'm not so sure that it won't hit home -- this controversy potentially cuts deep with regard to the Pats place in NFL history.  This is something that truly can throw a team off.

I think the Patriots are usually ultra-focused, and for better or for worse, they've been through this before (Spygate, the controversy over taping the Rams practice, etc.)  I don't think it will affect their game much.

[Quetzalcoatl]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/21/report-nfl-planned-to-inspect-patriots-football-before-dqwell-jackson-interception/

Even juicier, it's now being reported in light of D'Qwell's comments that the league was going to (allegedly) check the Pats' balls at the half anyways, because the Colts thought they were doing it before.  Further, they were doing based on info that the Colts gave them in November.

So that means that the NFL knew since November and didn't check the balls in any game leading up to it?  Why not?

That every report that listed D'Qwell as the tattle tale was inaccurate and nobody mentioned this because why?

It also means that the fact that the Colts' balls were inflated is now meaningless, since they planned this ahead of time.

Even more, why didn't D'Qwell know?  The players weren't told to look out for it? 

The whole thing is falling apart. 

[Quetzalcoatl]

And look, the temperature of the November game was 31 degrees in Indy, which is even colder than the Playoff game. 

http://www.colts.com/fanzone/contests-and-promotions/weatherchallenge.html

[Boris Badenov]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/21/report-nfl-planned-to-inspect-patriots-football-before-dqwell-jackson-interception/

Even juicier, it's now being reported in light of D'Qwell's comments that the league was going to (allegedly) check the Pats' balls at the half anyways, because the Colts thought they were doing it before.  Further, they were doing based on info that the Colts gave them in November.

So that means that the NFL knew since November and didn't check the balls in any game leading up to it?  Why not?

That every report that listed D'Qwell as the tattle tale was inaccurate and nobody mentioned this because why?

It also means that the fact that the Colts' balls were inflated is now meaningless, since they planned this ahead of time.

Even more, why didn't D'Qwell know?  The players weren't told to look out for it? 

The whole thing is falling apart.

Not sure whether this helps or hurts. I mean, if the Colts felt the balls were flat last time, and the Ravens did too, and then they ended up being flat this time, it means the Pats could have been doing something all along.

[Donoghus]

And look, the temperature of the November game was 31 degrees in Indy, which is even colder than the Playoff game. 

http://www.colts.com/fanzone/contests-and-promotions/weatherchallenge.html

Colts play in a retractable roof stadium.

[Eja117]

You can see ESPN trying so hard to keep this story alive and they're just failing and making themselves look so desperate and worthless by the second.

Bring evidence or go home.

[Cman]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/21/report-nfl-planned-to-inspect-patriots-football-before-dqwell-jackson-interception/

Even juicier, it's now being reported in light of D'Qwell's comments that the league was going to (allegedly) check the Pats' balls at the half anyways, because the Colts thought they were doing it before.  Further, they were doing based on info that the Colts gave them in November.

So that means that the NFL knew since November and didn't check the balls in any game leading up to it?  Why not?

That every report that listed D'Qwell as the tattle tale was inaccurate and nobody mentioned this because why?

It also means that the fact that the Colts' balls were inflated is now meaningless, since they planned this ahead of time.

Even more, why didn't D'Qwell know?  The players weren't told to look out for it? 

The whole thing is falling apart.

Not sure whether this helps or hurts. I mean, if the Colts felt the balls were flat last time, and the Ravens did too, and then they ended up being flat this time, it means the Pats could have been doing something all along.

Um, yeah, except the "reported" Ravens' concerns with the balls are about the balls used on kickoffs, which are not ever touched by the Patriots. So, that's one we just need to chalk up to sour grapes.
http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/1/21/7864957/patriots-deflated-kicking-balls-ravens-colts

[Cman]

To sum up the last several days:
(1) The NFL is investigating deflated balls. The NFL has confirmed this.
(2) The NFL has confirmed nothing else, other than (1)
(3) It was initially reported that DQwell Jackson (who intercepted Brady) handed the ball over to the equipment guy because the ball felt flat. This turned out to be a false report. DQwell now says he noticed nothing odd about the ball he intercepted, but did notice the referees swapping out Pats balls for Colts balls.
(4) There was a leaked report that 11 of 12 patriots balls were deflated, by as much as 2 psi. It is not clear if all were 2 psi below the 12.5 psi minimum, or some, or one. Keeping (3) in mind, it is also not clear that any of these balls were ever used in the game. The NFL hasn't confirmed this in any case.
(5) During a press conference, BB denies knowing anything.
(6) During a press conference, TB denies knowing anything.
(7) TB says he has yet to be contacted by the NFL.
( The NFL did say early on (Monday or so) that they hoped to wrap up in a few days.
(9) There has been a ton of innuendo and speculation by the popular press.

I think that about sums it up.

[Roy H.]

You can see ESPN trying so hard to keep this story alive and they're just failing and making themselves look so desperate and worthless by the second.

Bring evidence or go home.

It's not just ESPN, though.  Apparently, all three of the major network news shows led off with this, and at least some of the networks broke from their regular programing to show the Brady news conference.

The hype machine is in overdrive, over an issue that didn't make an ounce of difference in the game.  I suspect the Pats cheated, and I think they should be punished and the rules should be changed, but this has been blown out of proportion.  I understand why it's a hot topic in New England, but elsewhere I don't see why this is such scintillating news.

[Boris Badenov]

I've lost whatever respect I had left for ESPN.

Their primary story on this thing, as of right now, leads with this gem:

Under his oversized ski cap, Tom Brady could not hide from the fact he was convicting himself in the court of public opinion. The quarterback of the New England Patriots admitted that footballs pumped up to 12.5 pounds per square inch are "a perfect fit for me," yet swore he did not notice a difference in the AFC Championship Game when the balls weighed two pounds lighter.

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/12213363/tom-brady-tale-hold-weight

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

ESPN just posted a real good piece of crap from Ian O'Connor, which includes these over-the-top nuggets:

If the NFL finds in the coming days that Brady did have something to do with altering the 11 Patriots footballs ... then Commissioner Roger Goodell needs to bench him for the Super Bowl.

Oh yeah? You think Goodell's gonna bench one of the game's most popular players in the biggest game of the year? That would be great for ratings.

He (Brady) looked and sounded weak and in desperate need of a tuck rule, though he said his friends need not worry.

Ah, yes, another old saw of Pats haters everywhere.

Someday pro football will be about pro football again.

Funny how that Vikings-Panthers game in November was "all about pro football" and not at all about the guys illegally warming up balls on the sideline. On live TV.

Truth is, somebody did something to those footballs, and the man who threw 35 passes for the winners had to know he was playing with illegal balls in the first half.

Yet the referees, who touched those footballs at least as many times as Brady and should be just as familiar with the proper air pressure of a football, apparently didn't notice a thing. Huh.

And these gems from the sidebar:

Mark Brunell: If you don't feel good about throwing that ball? Your success on the football field can suffer from that."

Right, so if a QB doesn't feel good about throwing a ball in the 12.5–13.5 psi range, he shouldn't have to. Stupid rule. Get rid of it.

Jerome Bettis: "I'm so disappointed because I thought this was a perfect opportunity for Tom Brady to go and say 'You know what? I made a mistake. I blew it. It's on me. I'll take the blame here, and this will go away.' He didn't do that ... I'm disappointed in you, Tom Brady."

Yes, Jerome, you're as "distraught" and "angry" about this as the NFL is. Give me a break. This isn't a point-shaving scandal. This is going 50 in a 45. Minor infraction at worst. Get over it. And I strongly suspect that if Brady is guilty and DID admit it, people wouldn't be forgiving.

[Roy H.]

I've lost whatever respect I had left for ESPN.

Their primary story on this thing, as of right now, leads with this gem:

Under his oversized ski cap, Tom Brady could not hide from the fact he was convicting himself in the court of public opinion. The quarterback of the New England Patriots admitted that footballs pumped up to 12.5 pounds per square inch are "a perfect fit for me," yet swore he did not notice a difference in the AFC Championship Game when the balls weighed two pounds lighter.

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/12213363/tom-brady-tale-hold-weight

That one got past both the reporter and the editor?

I think the NFL would be more entertaining if the league made them play with a 12.5 pound ball, though.

[danglertx]

Now are we sure the colts balls did not change at all in terms of PSI or that they were still legal?  If they filled at the top of the allowed spectrum, they could dip and still be legal.  To be honest I would find it hard to believe that they were exactly the same.

You aren't the only one who would find it hard to believe, any scientist, anyone who has lived in cold weather, anyone who knows the least bit about physics, and pretty much every rational adult human in the educated world can tell you a ball will deflate as the temperature decreases.

For those unable to do the math, someone already did it and it was 1.2 psi from room temp to game start temp.  That would be assuming the balls were kept in a 72 degree room, which they may or may not have been.

Since Brady likes 12.5 I think you could assume the Patriots submitted balls around 12.5psi.  So at least the balls would be down to 11.3 psi assuming they were properly checked.  Arron Rogers said he tries to slip overinflated balls by the refs because they don't always check well, maybe the Patriots submitted balls between 12 and 13.  Every time you check the balls a little air comes out.  They were checked at least twice.  It isn't the least bit shocking some of the balls might have been close to 10.5 and nothing nefarious was going on.

As for the Colt's balls, I don't know how much air they lost and neither does anyone else posting on here.  Anyone who says, "the Colts balls didn't lose any air" are flat out lying.  Unless they filled their balls outside in the cold, their footballs lost pressure.  Maybe the Colts fill their footballs to 13.5 and ended just below 12.5 or maybe they were never even checked.

I'd believe the above is what happened before I'd believe some ball boy was letting air out of the balls on the sidelines in front of any number of people and cameras minutes before kickoff.

[Cman]

I've lost whatever respect I had left for ESPN.

Their primary story on this thing, as of right now, leads with this gem:

Under his oversized ski cap, Tom Brady could not hide from the fact he was convicting himself in the court of public opinion. The quarterback of the New England Patriots admitted that footballs pumped up to 12.5 pounds per square inch are "a perfect fit for me," yet swore he did not notice a difference in the AFC Championship Game when the balls weighed two pounds lighter.

http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/12213363/tom-brady-tale-hold-weight

Yeah, really bad "reporting".

Part of the issue is that there is no evidence that Brady actually played with underweight balls, so when he says he didn't notice a difference, that could be because, um, there wasn't.

Again, D. Jackson says an official told him that the Pats balls were swapped for the Colts balls. If the Colts balls felt "normal" (I'm correct on this, right? No one is alleging that the Colts balls were below weight, right?), then Brady wouldn't have noticed a difference... right?

Of course, Brady would have presumably noticed the refs swapping balls. But, in any case, the larger point is that there is, at this point, not a whole lot of info, and instead a huge, huge, huge amount of speculation.