The NFL Playoffs of 2015

[Wisconsin Beth]

Yeah, that was pretty bad for my Packers.  I'm still in mourning, sort of. 

[b2r]

 11 of 12 Pats footballs underinflated


The NFL has found that 11 of the New England Patriots' 12 game balls were inflated significantly below the NFL's requirements, league sources involved and familiar with the investigation of Sunday's AFC Championship Game told ESPN.

More from ESPN.com
Assuming the initial inspection was done correctly and weather wasn't a factor, the Patriots should be punished for deflating footballs, writes Mike Reiss. Story

The investigation found the footballs were inflated 2 pounds per square inch below what's required by NFL regulations during the Pats' 45-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, according to sources.

"We are not commenting at this time," said Greg Aiello, the NFL's senior vice president of communications.

League sources have confirmed that the footballs were properly inspected and approved by referee Walt Anderson 2 hours and 15 minutes before kickoff, before they were returned to each team.

Under NFL rules, no alteration of the footballs is allowed once they are approved.



espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/12202450/nfl-says-new-england-patriots-had-inflated-footballs-afc-championship-game

[NoNamePerson]

Wouldn't alll the abuse the balls take during a game cause them to lose air How much does a ball weigh with the proper amount of air in them. And here I thought I knew football. Now I have to research balls  

[NoNamePerson]

Jan 21, 2015 13:41:39 GMT -5 b2r said:

 11 of 12 Pats footballs underinflated


The NFL has found that 11 of the New England Patriots' 12 game balls were inflated significantly below the NFL's requirements, league sources involved and familiar with the investigation of Sunday's AFC Championship Game told ESPN.

More from ESPN.com
Assuming the initial inspection was done correctly and weather wasn't a factor, the Patriots should be punished for deflating footballs, writes Mike Reiss. Story

The investigation found the footballs were inflated 2 pounds per square inch below what's required by NFL regulations during the Pats' 45-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, according to sources.

"We are not commenting at this time," said Greg Aiello, the NFL's senior vice president of communications.

League sources have confirmed that the footballs were properly inspected and approved by referee Walt Anderson 2 hours and 15 minutes before kickoff, before they were returned to each team.

Under NFL rules, no alteration of the footballs is allowed once they are approved.



espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/12202450/nfl-says-new-england-patriots-had-inflated-footballs-afc-championship-game

Wonder why the balls arent' kept under lock and key just before the teams trot out onto the field. Sorry I couldn't "bold" the part about 2 hrs and 15 mins - so that is what made me ask.

[Deleted]

Of course they did, they are cheaters! Tom Brady prefers an underinflated ball in the conditions they were playing in that day.

I wonder how many other times they did that throughout the course of the season. No wonder we lost by 4 points. I want a rematch with properly inflated balls!

They have no integrity whatsoever. Tom Brady was so smug telling the Ravens to learn the rule book after they beat us. I think he and his coach should take his own advice!

[Deleted]

The balls were checked a few hours before the game by the refs. Of course there was time to mess with them.

eta: Whoops, I didn't see that you already posted that in the original post.

To answer your question: If they were locked up, the Patriots could not fix the game! We can't have that, now can we? 

[billisonboard]

...
Assuming the initial inspection was done correctly and weather wasn't a factor, the Patriots should be punished for deflating footballs, writes Mike Reiss. ...

I say they have to play with their balls overinflated by 2 pounds in the Super Bowl. There should be some consequence effecting the footballs they use also.

[Deleted]

Jan 21, 2015 14:19:13 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

...
Assuming the initial inspection was done correctly and weather wasn't a factor, the Patriots should be punished for deflating footballs, writes Mike Reiss. ...

I say they have to play with their balls overinflated by 2 pounds in the Super Bowl. There should be some consequence effecting the footballs they use also.

Lol.

[NoNamePerson]

@           billisonboard. Never thought an NFL thread would have me googling balls  - like I needed an excuse  

[Deleted]

Ahh, they did do it before.  The Colts notified the NFL about potential under-inflation after safety Mike Adams picked off Brady twice in New England’s 42-20 victory.

[Malarky]

I wondered when we would get to the under inflated ball thing.

Refs check the balls and have control of them until game time.

Refs touch the ball before and after each play.  

Why did it take so long to notice?  

espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4776799/all-thoughts-in-one-place-on-deflated-balls

I haven't seen whether the Colt's balls were also weighed.  I'm curious about that.  

[Deleted]

Jan 21, 2015 14:31:53 GMT -5 Malarky said:

I wondered when we would get to the under inflated ball thing.

Refs check the balls and have control of them until game time.

Refs touch the ball before and after each play.  

Why did it take so long to notice?  

espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4776799/all-thoughts-in-one-place-on-deflated-balls

I haven't seen whether the Colt's balls were also weighed.  I'm curious about that.  

All the balls were weighed. Only the Patriots' balls were underinflated.  Are you really going to blame it on the refs? Smh.

[Value Buy]

Now we find out Baltimore is crying the footballs used in kick offs and punt returns last week were underinflated.

Problem is, these are shipped straight from the manufacturer in a sealed box.

I never knew they used specific balls for the kicks.

Wouldn't both teams be affected by this condition?

At least baseball keeps the baseballs with the umps. They are all inspected and wiped down with clay before each game by the crew.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Jan 21, 2015 14:31:53 GMT -5 Malarky said:

I wondered when we would get to the under inflated ball thing.

Refs check the balls and have control of them until game time.

Refs touch the ball before and after each play.  

Why did it take so long to notice?  

espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4776799/all-thoughts-in-one-place-on-deflated-balls

I haven't seen whether the Colt's balls were also weighed.  I'm curious about that.  

I haven't seen anything that indicated the Colt's balls were weighted either. 

I don't get how the refs didn't notice either. 

But didn't this come up at some point in the season - either under or over inflated balls? 

[Malarky]

I'm not blaming anyone.  

I'm questioning how the refs didn't notice. 

I really didn't see anywhere where the Colts balls were weighed, I've only seen the stats for the Patriots.

And I was really surprised that it took so long for anyone to bring it up on this thread.


ETA:  I still can't find any source telling whether the Colt's balls were weighed and what the results were.  

[Wisconsin Beth]

Nevermind, I'm thinking of this:

"MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Vikings played their coldest home game in 38 years on Sunday, when they beat the Carolina Panthers in 12-degree temperatures at TCF Bank Stadium.

As both teams dealt with the freezing temperatures, Fox cameras showed sideline attendants using heaters to warm up game balls, which is against league rules. NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino said Monday morning on NFL Network that officials warned both the Vikings and Panthers not to heat up the balls during Sunday's game, and would remind teams this week not to heat game balls."

[Deleted]

Jan 21, 2015 15:03:57 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

Now we find out Baltimore is crying the footballs used in kick offs and punt returns last week were underinflated.

Problem is, these are shipped straight from the manufacturer in a sealed box.

I never knew they used specific balls for the kicks.

Wouldn't both teams be affected by this condition?

At least baseball keeps the baseballs with the umps. They are all inspected and wiped down with clay before each game by the crew.

No, we aren't crying. The NFL went to the Baltimore players and asked them questions as part of their investigation. Big difference!

I'm not blaming our loss on anything but the poor play of our secondary. However, wouldn't you want to know that your team possibly lost out on a chance to go to a championship game because the other team was cheating?

[Deleted]

Wisconsin Beth

The Colts notified the NFL about potential under-inflation after safety Mike Adams picked off Brady twice in New England’s 42-20 victory back in November.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Jan 21, 2015 15:18:18 GMT -5 @familycfo said:

Wisconsin Beth

The Colts notified the NFL about potential under-inflation after safety Mike Adams picked off Brady twice in New England’s 42-20 victory back in November.

yeah but I don't think that made the news.  The ball heating did, at least enough for me to go "huh, I didn't know that" which is probably why part of me was going "didn't we cover something on this earlier in the season?"   

[Malarky]

Math question:

All balls are supposed to be marked.

The Colts have 12 balls. 
The Pats have 12 balls.
Twelve balls are reserved and marked for kicking.

All the balls are are accounted for and weighed before the game.

Eleven of 12 Patriot  balls were judged to be underweight.

How many balls were tossed into the stands after touchdowns?  

If any, how would the Patriots have 12 balls left to be weighed?  


ETA:   This answers my own question.  Completely new set of balls in the second half.

nesn.com/2015/01/report-patriots-used-ref-approved-backup-balls-in-second-half-vs-colts/

[NoNamePerson]

Hell, I think my team has forgotten what a football even looks like much less how much it weighs 

[tallguy]

Refs check the balls and have control of them until game time.

That is actually no longer true.  I was reading something by John Madden who said the rules were changed in 2006, largely due to the efforts of Peyton Manning.  Manning wanted the quarterbacks to be able to handle the balls before the game, so the rule was changed.  The referee now inspects the balls and they are then turned over to the teams.  It is still illegal to tamper with them after they have been inspected, which is why we have the investigation going on.

[chiver78]

Jan 21, 2015 21:15:16 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Refs check the balls and have control of them until game time.

That is actually no longer true.  I was reading something by John Madden who said the rules were changed in 2006, largely due to the efforts of Peyton Manning.  Manning wanted the quarterbacks to be able to handle the balls before the game, so the rule was changed.  The referee now inspects the balls and they are then turned over to the teams.  It is still illegal to tamper with them after they have been inspected, which is why we have the investigation going on.

so the rule for changed by influence from a Colt. that's pretty ironic, I must say.

as far as the BS I keep hearing about in the news, this whole thing is just sour grapes IMHO. I'm on my phone now, could get back to a 'puter tomorrow night. don't at all intend to get into any long-winded discussions unless I'm at a 'puter with an actual keyboard.

sent from my electronic distraction

[tallguy]

so the rule for changed by influence from a Colt. that's pretty ironic, I must say.

Yes, but the decision to cheat came from the Patriots.  Just like the cheaters they are!  And have been...for, like...FOREVER!!  

 

[ArchietheDragon]

And... how many jokes or memes can you make about Tom Brady's balls... go

[Value Buy]

DEFLATEGATE!

Well, we have a week to go, and still it all about the football rather than the game.

Right now, I will go

Seattle 24

New England 18

Despite all the ball problems, I believe the game will be called rather hard against New England, (this will be the real penalty the NFL will enforce) and any and all close calls will not favor New England.

There will not be enough red flags for New England coach to throw for review.

If the NFL  comes out before the game next Sunday, and says all was ok, I would be shocked to no end.

Most Of America would not accept this.

[NoNamePerson]

They've spent more time investigating deflated balls than they did the player who punched out his wife and dragged her out of the elevator  

But I agree with you on the flags and penalties against NE. Wait - are you saying the refs might be biased Like this is something new. Sometimes over the years their bias is so blatant it is downright comical except when it is happening to your (collective your) team 

[Value Buy]

Jan 26, 2015 7:13:58 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

They've spent more time investigating deflated balls than they did the player who punched out his wife and dragged her out of the elevator  

But I agree with you on the flags and penalties against NE. Wait - are you saying the refs might be biased Like this is something new. Sometimes over the years their bias is so blatant it is downright comical except when it is happening to your (collective your) team 

I am of the belief, at this point the NFL cannot afford New England winning the Super Bowl this year.

Usually, they let the players, "play" in the game and do not call the tacky fouls and infractions. This year New England will not get that call, and Seattle players will get away with things that normally be called.

The penalty that will be issued is, a forfeit of the Super Bowl, without a straight forward acknowledgment.

And for the record, if this occurs, the NFL will be more tarnished than ever.

[billisonboard]

Jan 26, 2015 7:13:58 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

They've spent more time investigating deflated balls than they did the player who punched out his wife and dragged her out of the elevator  

...

The National Football League has spent more time investigating a situation that took place during a football game which involved football than they spent investigation a situation that had nothing to do with football except it involved one of their employees during off duty hours? I am thankful that the police have spent more time investigating the criminal activity that took place than they have investigating deflated footballs.

[NoNamePerson]

Jan 26, 2015 11:04:31 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Jan 26, 2015 7:13:58 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

They've spent more time investigating deflated balls than they did the player who punched out his wife and dragged her out of the elevator  

...

The National Football League has spent more time investigating a situation that took place during a football game which involved football than they spent investigation a situation that had nothing to do with football except it involved one of their employees during off duty hours? I am thankful that the police have spent more time investigating the criminal activity that took place than they have investigating deflated footballs.

I think we agree but I'm going to have to read again. Or are you saying the NFL shouldn't spend time investigating their employees off duty hours? They do a lot of that before suspending players for doing drugs - off duty hours. But I agree that the police should be investigating criminal acts.

Oh a side note, I wonder if the commissioner of football will look like he would rather swallow his tongue than present the trophy to the Pats should they win - ala Pete Rozelle presenting to Al Davis