Your outrage that people aren't "reading the rule" loses all credibility when you decide not to read the memo that NFL sends to players that specifically says stickum is illegal. But then again, credibility isn't really your thing.
Yes it does ... and then the NFL Rulebook expressly says (paraphrase) "but there's an exception for tacky substances used on gloves". Also, I'm not outraged; I find the Cheaties fans as a whole to be hilarious - everything you care about was shattered because Brady opened his big mouth and mocked Harbaugh for not knowing the rulebook and the rest of the league said "oh yeah?!?" Oh, btw, here's the rule (again): (i) Adhesive or slippery substances on the body, equipment, or uniform of any player; provided, however, that players may wear gloves with a tackified surface if such tacky substance does not adhere to the football or otherwise cause handling problems for players.
From MMQB - Rice’s admission, on an ESPN feature in January, that he used Stickum during his NFL career on his already-tacky gloves. Stickum was banned by the league in 1981, and Rice’s NFL career began in 1985. As he said in the ESPN piece: “I know this might be a little illegal, guys, but you put a little spray, a little Stickum on [the gloves] to make sure that texture is a little sticky.” His rookie year before he wore the gloves, he had a lot of issues with dropping passes.
If you're looking for me to defend Peter King's reporting, you're looking in the wrong spot. I have stated several times in the thread that I find it ridiculous that the media makes no effort to read the rulebook. The rulebook publicly available and is clear. (i) Adhesive or slippery substances on the body, equipment, or uniform of any player; provided, however, that players may wear gloves with a tackified surface if such tacky substance does not adhere to the football or otherwise cause handling problems for players.
He was already wearing tackified gloves! He also put stickum on it, which is illegal. How dense are you?
Back on topic.... 11 Pats balls are deflated, for the first half only No Colt footballs deflated CHEATRIOTS CHEATED TAINTED SBs, ALL OF THEM!
The rulebook expressly makes an exception for tacky substances on gloves: (i) Adhesive or slippery substances on the body, equipment, or uniform of any player; provided, however, that players may wear gloves with a tackified surface if such tacky substance does not adhere to the football or otherwise cause handling problems for players. If you are wearing gloves, and you put a tacky substance on them (be it Stickum or any other substance) and that substance does not leave residue on the ball (or another player), then you have not violated the NFL's rule on adhesive substances. If you put two different tacky substances on the gloves, you have not violated the rule (assuming no residue). If you put 37 different tacky substances on the gloves, you have not violated the rule (assuming no residue). Sorry, read the rule. Unless you have some evidence that Rice was using the substance somewhere other than gloves, or evidence that residue was being left on the ball, he was not in violation of the rulebook. EDIT: If you're argument had any merit, the league would have fined the Chargers for using the Gorilla Gold towels with the sticky powder on them. Instead, the league expressly stated the towels (and the tacky substance) was legal. Regardless, how does the NFL's rule on adhesive substances change the Patriots' culpability for cheating? (the topic of the thread).
It doesn't. It's a ruse, a slight of hand, an attempt to deflect the attention away from the Patriots cheating. It's The Patriot Way. _
Because those towels were provided from the company with that material already on them. And guess what? After that incident the nfl banned them for the remainder of the season
"Following a review of the San Diego Chargers use of towels that included an adhesive substance in an October 15 game against the Denver Broncos, the NFL has determined that the club did not violate a competitive rule by use of the towels." - NFL League Office, Nov 7, 2012
