While I totally agree, let me play devil's advocate. Forget the Pats. What if Andrew Luck had a ball that was easier to grip. Early in the game, he missed WRs, and their were some drops. If the ball was deflated, would those have become catches? I'm not saying the Colts would have beat the Pats. I don't think anyone thinks that. But here is what I do think: 1. This isn't the first time this has happened. I bet Brady prefers an under inflated ball. 2. As one poster mentioned, if there is no advantage, why do it? 3. This is what they got CAUGHT doing. What other rules are they breaking that we do not know of? The bottom line is this hurts integrity on what should be one of the greatest coach/QB tandems in NFL history.
Really? An intentional breaking of NFL rules in order to get an unfair competitive advantage is "a joke"?
You don't seem to see the difference. Balls altered before the inspection are fixed to regulation, then used in the game. These balls were to regulation before the game during the inspection, but altered after and used in the game. You said you came here to accept blame in your first post, but every post since you've been making excuses.
It's how they want it. They're currently guaging the public before publishing their findings, which is what they didn't do for the Ray Rice debacle. Small leaks without much context over time. They cannot be wrong this way.
If the Refs handled the balls in question after every play and didn't notice it right away how big of a deal could it have been?If the Colts played good defense it wouldn't have mattered what the ball weighed .I can almost guarntee you every team in the league has done this at one point or another
It's simple... the team presents their balls to the refs for inspection. If they passed inspection - and did nothing to the balls - then I'm not going to blame them for anything. If they presented their balls to the refs for inspection, they passed... and then the Patriots went ahead and ALTERED the balls... then throw the book at them. I don't think it makes a big difference but the rules are the rules and nobody gets to choose which ones are more important than the others. I mean - there's no "official" news of anything - so I'm not ready to hang them all in my opinion until I hear something official. There's still the possibility that there's nothing to see here. I'm waiting until that possibility is gone before casting my disdain.
Welcome. I think you'll find this place much better than JI. 95% of the posters are really friendly and knowledgeable without the pretense of being internet bullies. Good to have U with us..
There is only one reason that the NFL would not have dismissed this already, especially with the SB in a week and a half - something is wrong, and they are trying to figure out what to do. If the claim was unfounded, they would have put this to bed already. While we don't know the particulars, its obvious that something is up.
You're right, something wrong WAS found, my point has been that it hasn't been proven that the Patriots are guilty or innocent. Only that it appears the balls were altered as they have stated they passed the alleged pregame checks. The question is who, if anyone, is guilty of wrong doing.
Well wha I do not agree with this. Sounds like wishful thinking from someone who REALLY hates the Patriots. Which I get. But rationalizing that they are guilty because they haven't been found not guilty yet - isn't a line I'm willing to go down with much of anything in my life.
