2014 NFL thread: The Final Battle

[EnderWiggin]

I know.

We've got a great, well matched game on our hands and we're stuck talking about a football.

That's the media for yall

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

Report: NFL Was Aware Of Patriots Deflation Allegations Before Sunday

http://deadspin.com/report-nfl-was-aware-of-patriots-deflation-allegations-1680914291

ESPN's Adam Schefter says the Colts' suspicions date back to their Nov. 16 game against New England, a 42-20 Patriots win. In that game, Indianapolis safety Mike Adams intercepted two passes and handed both balls to the Colts' equipment manager to hold as souvenirs. Both balls, Schefter's sources say, were noticeably underinflated.

Those sources said the Colts raised concerns to the league, which was aware of the issue going into this weekend's AFC title game.

The timing of everything else then falls into place. Reportedly, the Colts' Sunday suspicions were confirmed the first time they got their hands on one of Brady's balls: when D'Qwell Jackson picked him off in the second quarter. The equipment manager told coach Chuck Pagano, who told GM Ryan Grigson, who told the NFL's director of field operations, who alerted the officials working the game. At the half, they inspected the balls.

Then, on the very first play of the second half (not counting the kickoff, which would have used one of the "K-balls" kept separately from the others), officials checked out the Patriots' ball and found it unsuitable for play:

 

[Rowsdower!]

BREAKING: BENGALS EXTEND MARVIN LEWIS' CONTRACT DUE TO DEFLATEGATE

By Bruce J. Mitchell

In the wake of the infamous DeflateGate/Ballghazi scandal, reports have emerged that letting a little air out of a football is actually a common practice for many NFL teams. One team that apparently does not bend the rules, however, is the Cincinnati Bengals. Bengals owner Mike Brown released a statement Wednesday that he is extending head coach Marvin Lewis' contract for another eight years, because he knows Lewis would never partake in such unethical activity.

"When I heard the reports that the Patriots deflated balls before the game, I was absolutely disgusted," Brown said. "It's pretty obvious it leads back to Belichick. And how many other coaches out there are doing this? Our coach, Marvin Lewis, would never even think to engage in such activity, and that's why I'm extending his contract today for an additional eight years. At least I think he's never done anything like that. I don't really give a crap either way, but keeping me around saves me the trouble of having to go out there and find someone who commands a higher salary."

For his part, Lewis was adamant that he has never tampered with balls before a game. "That sort of thing just disgraceful," he said. "Teams these days are too focused on winning, and that's not what we're about. People complain all the time about our lack of post-season success, but to be honest, I'm not sure how we got their four years in a row. Maybe the AFC North is just that bad."

When asked whether he thought playing with a deflated football might help improve his numbers, Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton expressed doubt. "I don't see what advantage letting air out of the ball would give me," he said. "Other quarterbacks, sure. But me? Nah, I'm pretty much hopeless."

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

"Cheating is not cheating unless it is the exact and direct cause for one team beating another"

~Every Pats Fan Right Now

 

[HBKfan28]

Who cares if it overshadows the game? It should. Who knows how many times they've done it before, because we all know this isn't the first time. It hurts the integrity of the game to begin with. And yes, they would've beaten the Colts anyway, but that isn't the point. Belicheat doesn't know how to stop himself from being a shady liar. What if they did it against the Ravens? We won't know, but now we have to suspect it.

Hopefully Seattle wins, otherwise it'll just get much bigger. They already have the Spygate asterisks.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Would the Pats have won without this? Most likely yes. But it is past that at this point. They continue to do this stuff. It was coming down pretty good during the game, so making a ball easier to catch, easier to hold onto, does matter. It matters a lot. When running backs are making crash catches down the sideline, it means something.

And while it ended with a huge difference, it is easier to run away with a big lead and young team trying to catch up.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

They should have waited to after the Superbowl to release this story. All the media outlets are going to have a field day with this crap and it's going to overshadow the actual game.

I know.

We've got a great, well matched game on our hands and we're stuck talking about a football.

Maybe they shouldn't have cheated then?

 

[ih8nyy]

Would the Pats have won without this? Most likely yes. But it is past that at this point. They continue to do this stuff. It was coming down pretty good during the game, so making a ball easier to catch, easier to hold onto, does matter. It matters a lot. When running backs are making crash catches down the sideline, it means something.

And while it ended with a huge difference, it is easier to run away with a big lead and young team trying to catch up.

As a Pats fan I was beyond pissed when I woke up to the 11 out 12 news this AM. Especially since I just booked a God **** ticket to Glendale. They didn't need to do this and it's getting way to hard to defend BB and crap like this. Un****ing real.

 

[Warhammer]

I cannoy believe this s***.

We all know Aaron Rodgers alters his footballs but he receives no criticism. Brad Johnson talks about deflating footballs and nobody cares. But everyone now wants New England to be burned on the stake. Oh my god, the integrity of the game is ruined. How could Belichick dare do this? They should be kicked out of the Super Bowl. Every team does it.

This is Bountygate all over again. People demonized New Orleans when almost every team did the same s***. They were just the ones who got caught on video. The worst part of it all is that this will overshadow the Big Game.

Biased ass football fans. Some especially salty Indianapolis fans as well.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

As a Pats fan I was beyond pissed when I woke up to the 11 out 12 news this AM. Especially since I just booked a God **** ticket to Glendale. They didn't need to do this and it's getting way to hard to defend BB and crap like this. Un****ing real.

Did you get an actual ticket for the game?

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I cannoy believe this s***.

We all know Aaron Rodgers alters his footballs but he receives no criticism. Brad Johnson talks about deflating footballs and nobody cares. But everyone now wants New England to be burned on the stake. Oh my god, the integrity of the game is ruined. How could Belichick dare do this? They should be kicked out of the Super Bowl. Every team does it.

This is Bountygate all over again. People demonized New Orleans when almost every team did the same s***. They were just the ones who got caught on video. The worst part of it all is that this will overshadow the Big Game.

Biased ass football fans. Some especially salty Indianapolis fans as well.

This is classic deflection. What others do is irrelevant. Especially when you consider most are probably not ridiculous enough to try this kind of thing during the game.

 

[HBKfan28]

Yeah I doubt every team does this and finally in 2015, 45 years after the 1970 merger, a team finally got caught. The same team/coach that previously was caught doing something against the rules and got punished once.

 

[ih8nyy]

Did you get an actual ticket for the game?

Yes I have an actual ticket for the game.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Yes I have an actual ticket for the game.

Nice. I hope you have a great time.

 

[Huddsy]

Who cares if it overshadows the game? It should. Who knows how many times they've done it before, because we all know this isn't the first time. It hurts the integrity of the game to begin with. And yes, they would've beaten the Colts anyway, but that isn't the point. Belicheat doesn't know how to stop himself from being a shady liar. What if they did it against the Ravens? We won't know, but now we have to suspect it.

Hopefully Seattle wins, otherwise it'll just get much bigger. They already have the Spygate asterisks.

Would the Pats have won without this? Most likely yes. But it is past that at this point. They continue to do this stuff. It was coming down pretty good during the game, so making a ball easier to catch, easier to hold onto, does matter. It matters a lot. When running backs are making crash catches down the sideline, it means something.

And while it ended with a huge difference, it is easier to run away with a big lead and young team trying to catch up.

"Cheating is not cheating unless it is the exact and direct cause for one team beating another"

~Every Pats Fan Right Now

Yeah I doubt every team does this and finally in 2015, 45 years after the 1970 merger, a team finally got caught. The same team/coach that previously was caught doing something against the rules and got punished once.

Damn Pats... doing what every team ever does! Screw them.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/not-f...nager-everyone-cheats-deflates-184104713.html

 

[Poetic Chaos]

If this is an issue, I don't know why teams are allowed to handle their own balls at all.

 

[Hound55]

If this is an issue, I don't know why teams are allowed to handle their own balls at all.

Frankly, they shouldn't... no other sport does.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Frankly, they shouldn't... no other sport does.

Exactly.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Damn Pats... doing what every team ever does! Screw them.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/not-f...nager-everyone-cheats-deflates-184104713.html

I am sorry, when did this become college ball? And it is flippin' adorable when the response to cheating is, everyone else does it. So we really didn't do anything wrong.

 

[Huddsy]

Frankly, they shouldn't... no other sport does.

Exactly.

The stars (Brady, Manning, Rodgers, etc.) want it. Stars get what they want when they are the marketable assets that bring in the $$$$$$$$.

I actually don't think it's a bad thing... having different hardness of balls. It's like in hockey with sticks -- some players are using new technology with flexes with get better shots, and gain advantages.

 

[Huddsy]

I am sorry, when did this become college ball? And it is flippin' adorable when the response to cheating is, everyone else does it. So we really didn't do anything wrong.

Because Rodgers admitted that he does it, and it was Manning who wanted the ability for teams to handle balls. Everything you read up on this says it's likely an unwritten rule amongst QBs and trainers.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Because Rodgers admitted that he does it, and it was Manning who wanted the ability for teams to handle balls. Everything you read up on this says it's likely an unwritten rule amongst QBs and trainers.

Rodgers said he inflates them more. Now whether he gets away with it, who knows. It actually does the exact opposite of making the ball easier to catch, which is what the Pats are being accused of here. Or maybe I am wrong. Rodgers also says be believes there should be a minimum number, which goes against what the Pats did.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

The stars (Brady, Manning, Rodgers, etc.) want it. Stars get what they want when they are the marketable assets that bring in the $$$$$$$$.

I actually don't think it's a bad thing... having different hardness of balls. It's like in hockey with sticks -- some players are using new technology with flexes with get better shots, and gain advantages.

The football is the equivalent of the puck, not the stick.

 

[ih8nyy]

Nice. I hope you have a great time.

Thank you. I am sure it will be a good time.

If this is an issue, I don't know why teams are allowed to handle their own balls at all.

The stars (Brady, Manning, Rodgers, etc.) want it. Stars get what they want when they are the marketable assets that bring in the $$$$$$$$.

I actually don't think it's a bad thing... having different hardness of balls. It's like in hockey with sticks -- some players are using new technology with flexes with get better shots, and gain advantages.

All QB's can scuff up, soften or do whatever they want to make the ball to their liking. But the PSI has to be between 12.5 and 13.5. Rogers said he pushes the limit and if the refs catch him, they just deflate it to 13.5. Pretty much every QB that's been asked about this calls it a non issue and most coaches have said the same thing. But the bottom line is this is NE, they should know better and they are under the microscope. Should be interesting to hear Brady talk about this tomorrow since he flat out laughed about it on Monday during his weekly radio appearance.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

What I think people may be missing here is that the Pats are basically being accused of messing with the footballs after the evaluation 2 hours before the game. Which I seriously doubt anyone else would do.