Patriots deflated game balls

[Anonymous]

Where is Roget Goodell? He earns $44M and had not trouble calling out child-spankers (an easy and popular move). But what about when an NFL team provides game balls in contravention of NFL rules (after same balls were tested and approved by NFL officials)?

[Anonymous]

I don't want to get into which conduct is worse so let's rephrase: clearly Goodell has no trouble throwing around his weight when it comes to individual player's off field conduct. But where is he regarding an entire franchise investigation two weeks before the super bowl on a matter central to the game?

[Anonymous]

So is there one shred of actual evidence that the Patriots did this deliberately, or is everyone just assuming so because of Spygate? Because Belichick and Brady just flat-out denied doing or knowing anything about it. So the battle lines have been pretty clearly drawn.

The NFL is a league full of wife-beaters, murderers, child abusers, drunk drivers, and druggies who spend their careers turning their brains into mush (and I'm a football fan, but I have no illusions about what exactly I'm rooting for). And this is what people choose to freak out over? That this has become as big a domestic story as Charlie Hebdo is a complete farce.

[Anonymous]

Since it doesn't matter . Brady should be forced to play with over inflated footballs the rest of his career including the Super Bowl.

The colts noticed it earlier in the season too. He's been doing it for years . Football is a game of inches and a soft football is easier to throw, catch and harder to fumble.

It's huge for a quarterback and effects winning and losing.

[Anonymous]

I'm no Patriots fan, but I do know this: I don't think properly inflated balls would have helped the Colts tackle better.

[Anonymous]

^ but he probably cheated agains the ravens too and they won by inches.

[Anonymous]

A few points:
12 of 12 Colts-provided balls were properly inflated; 11 of 12 Pats balls were de/under inflated.
The outcome of the game is irrelevant to following the rules if you expect people to follow the rules.
Brady/Bellichick denying knowledge means next to nothing at this point.
Colts and Ravens have noticed the underinflated Pat balls previously -- the NFL should have already been on notice/alert and this show could have been avoided the week before the Super Bowl.
Bellichick's a known cheater so there's not a reserve a goodwill here.
Where is Goodall?

[Anonymous]

The Patriots should be disqualified from the finals.

It does not matter who made the decision to deflate the balls, the reality is that it happened and was against the rules. I can't even fathom how something like this is allowed to pass without serious consequences.

[Anonymous]

I'm not surprised Brady and Belichick are denying any knowledge. Maybe they didn't know but if they did of course they aren't going to say anything until there is some sort of proof against them personally. I can't remember the beginning of Spygate but I can't imagine Belichick came out and openly admitted to knowing about it as soon as the story broke, I bet he only confessed once there was proof?

I hate that they are going to get to play in the Superbowl with this. I can't imagine this is the only game they have done this. A measly fine and draft picks barely feel like a punishment.

I really want to hear from Goodell. For the stance he takes on other issues, I would love to hear how he feels about the same organization being involved in ANOTHER scandal in recent years. It's not like it's a new coaching staff or all new players...they were all there for 2007.

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised there's not more outrage simply because he went after the off the field "conduct" issues (involving individual players and their family lives) but when it comes to a know/unambiguous league rule, he's silent. Sure, the second senario involves beautiful QB, winning coach, mega-money making franchise.

[Anonymous]

Of course Brady is denying it. He cops to it, buh-bye Canton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: It's hard to believe that the refs or the other team wouldn't notice. I mean, everyone handles the same ball, right?

Well when you're not expecting a cheater . . .
And wasn't it a cold driving rain for much of the game?

Yea, except they were. NFL had been notified before the game that Colts had suspicion Patriots had done previously. So seriously, if the refs were warned before, two refs touch the ball on every play and didn't notice and you still think this is a scandal. It is just jealousy of TB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: It's hard to believe that the refs or the other team wouldn't notice. I mean, everyone handles the same ball, right?

Well when you're not expecting a cheater . . .
And wasn't it a cold driving rain for much of the game?

Yea, except they were. NFL had been notified before the game that Colts had suspicion Patriots had done previously. So seriously, if the refs were warned before, two refs touch the ball on every play and didn't notice and you still think this is a scandal. It is just jealousy of TB.

You're right that the NFL blew this. It's not TB jealousy. It goes more to throwing the book at individual (black) players who beat their wives and kids but looking the other way when a (white) dream team (Brady, Belichick, Pats franchise) violate/ignores NFL rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course Brady is denying it. He cops to it, buh-bye Canton.

Right, Aaron Rogers already said he overinflates and hates when officials take air out. This had no impact on HOF you idiot. He'd be better off if he stabbed to people to death and everyone knew it that being suspected of asking someone to let air out of the balls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course Brady is denying it. He cops to it, buh-bye Canton.

Right, Aaron Rogers already said he overinflates and hates when officials take air out. This had no impact on HOF you idiot. He'd be better off if he stabbed to people to death and everyone knew it that being suspected of asking someone to let air out of the balls.

See Armstrong, Lance for a case study. Also: Rose, Pete.