"DeflateGate" Update: Suspension Upheld! Brady Accepts 4 Game Ban.

[Tank 92]

I think this is all on Tom Brady and the ball boy, not Belichick. Knowing how hard Belichick drives his players, and knowing that he intentionally makes the ball harder to handle in practice, I find it hard to believe he'd do this. Why would he put mud and water and what have you on the ball in practice if the team is just gonna look for shortcuts during the game? Also, Belichick has benched and flat out cut players who fumble. Doesn't sound like the kind of guy to just deflate balls. Not to mention, Brady is on record saying he likes his footballs to be under-inflated. I think Brady bribed the ball boy to get this done.

 

 

So you don't think BB knew about what was going on?  It may have not been his idea, but I doubt that he didn't know it was being done. And obviously from the suspicions brought up by the colts in the fall this wasn't the first and only instance. No question in my mind they did it against the Ravens as well.

[The Raven]

So you don't think BB knew about what was going on?  It may have not been his idea, but I doubt that he didn't know it was being done. And obviously from the suspicions brought up by the colts in the fall this wasn't the first and only instance. No question in my mind they did it against the Ravens as well.

 

Admittedly, I'm unsure of that. I wouldn't be surprised either way. I wouldn't be surprised if Brady went behind BB's back to do it. I mean, he was the one who lobbied for the team to have more control over the footballs, not BB.

[mg90]

Ball boy couldn't let the balls out of his sight so he took them in with him. That's my guess at the defense of the video (and probably a good one). Was there anyone else in the room at the time that would make this unnecessary?

[K-Dog]

Ball boy couldn't let the balls out of his sight so he took them in with him. That's my guess at the defense of the video (and probably a good one). Was there anyone else in the room at the time that would make this unnecessary?

That is a good point.

I mean maybe, MAYBE, he had too pee. Stranger things have happened.

I guess you could pee and wash your hands in a minute and a half.

Unless he didnt wash his hands......

Now there is some crazy conspiracy material. Did the ball boy wash his hands?

Did he rub his germ infested hands on the footballs?

This just gets deeper and deeper.

[A Fish Called Yanda]

That is a good point.

I mean maybe, MAYBE, he had too pee. Stranger things have happened.

I guess you could pee and wash your hands in a minute and a half.

Unless he didnt wash his hands......

Now there is some crazy conspiracy material. Did the ball boy wash his hands?

Did he rub his germ infested hands on the footballs?

This just gets deeper and deeper.

 

I also find it ironic that this has turned into such a pissing contest between the Pats and the NFL.

[allblackraven]

I also find it ironic that this has turned into such a pissing contest between the Pats and the NFL.

 

That's the best part, unless it's all for show. I don't trust them much.

[K-Dog]

I also find it ironic that this has turned into such a pissing contest between the Pats and the NFL.

Well done.

[JO_75]

90 sec is a short time … but it`s not impossible if you are trained to do it…  maybe he had help already waiting in the room…could be a second bag ... if the reff crew always uses the same sighn like the one reff who always uses a L for his daughter or wife ...

 

From PFT....

 

 

 One league source with extensive knowledge and experience in the NFL believes that 90 seconds provides enough time to do it — especially if the type of bag allowed the valves to be accessed without individually removing them.  (The bag in the photo, for example, has a large zipper that when open permits quick access to the balls.)

 

The source called it as “easy” thing to do. “Needle in each ball for a couple of seconds,” the source said.

Indeed, if this is something that had been going on for some period of time, the employee would have developed a certain expertise in this regard, allowing him to do it quickly — which in turn would allow for the plausible argument to be made that there was no deflation but merely urination.

 

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/27/can-a-bag-of-footballs-be-deflated-in-90-seconds/

[hawkprey]

Of course he went in there to deflate the balls. You're an equipment guy in charge of the balls your team is using to get to the Super Bowl? Nobody has to go that bad. That's his Olympic torch.

 

Not only that, we KNOW the balls were tampered with at around this point in time. Let's not even entertain excuses.

[Tank 92]

Wonder if they will look at surveillance footage from the Ravens game.

[Willbacker]

Wonder if they will look at surveillance footage from the Ravens game.

I'm sure they checked out all kinds of surveillance footage

[3-4ravdef509]

So you guys are telling me if the balls hadn't been deflated, that the Ravens or Colts would have won?

 

Not buying it for a second. 

Edited January 27, 2015 by 3-4ravdef509

[Tank 92]

So you guys are telling me if the balls hadn't been deflated, that the Ravens or Colts would have won?

 

Not buying it for a second. 

 

 

Certainly not a stretch to think the Ravens could have won. Just the possible recovery of fumbles alone could have been worth 4 points. 

 

Don't think you are grasping the importance of increased grip on the ball when it is cold. Easier to handle for anyone touching it. 

[3-4ravdef509]

Certainly not a stretch to think the Ravens could have won. Just the possible recovery of fumbles alone could have been worth 4 points. 

 

Don't think you are grasping the importance of increased grip on the ball when it is cold. Easier to handle for anyone touching it. 

 

Didn't have any impact on the following:

 

Daniels dropping touchdown catch

 

Flacco throwing an int

 

Secondary being owned in the second half

 

I just feel like it's ok to say the Patriots cheated, as long as we aren't using it an an excuse as to why we lost. And if we can admit we lost not cause of that, then when you sit back and think about it, the whole thing seems very blown out of proportion to me.

Edited January 27, 2015 by 3-4ravdef509

[tolucaraven]

Why wouldnt the attendant just take a squirt before entering the officials room beforehand, then grab the balls and do It after leaving the room? Did the urge just suddenly hit him? 

[arnie_uk]

So you guys are telling me if the balls hadn't been deflated, that the Ravens or Colts would have won?

Not buying it for a second.

no one is saying that. They cheated, the outcome doesn't matter.

[arnie_uk]

Didn't have any impact on the following:

Daniels dropping touchdown catch

Flacco throwing an int

Secondary being owned in the second half

I just feel like it's ok to say the Patriots cheated, as long as we aren't using it an an excuse as to why we lost. And if we can admit we lost not cause of that, then when you sit back and think about it, the whole thing seems very blown out of proportion to me.

so your happy for them to cheat at long as that isn't he reason they win?

I guess your have no morales or follow any kind of ethical code then?

[Inqui]

So you guys are telling me if the balls hadn't been deflated, that the Ravens or Colts would have won?

 

Not buying it for a second. 

Not really the point.

[DMH_in_WA]

Didn't have any impact on the following:

 

Daniels dropping touchdown catch

 

Flacco throwing an int

 

Secondary being owned in the second half

 

I just feel like it's ok to say the Patriots cheated, as long as we aren't using it an an excuse as to why we lost. And if we can admit we lost not cause of that, then when you sit back and think about it, the whole thing seems very blown out of proportion to me.

There's too much that goes into a game to say whether it did or didn't effect the game. No way to be sure of anything. But by the same token, I don't think it's a stretch to say that IF they were playing with a under-inflated ball, it could have had an impact on the following big plays off the top of my head:

Julian Edelman 51yd TD pass to Amendola (softer ball, easier to grip and throw for smaller hands like Edelman)

Edelman fumble surrounded by Ravens that kind of hit the ground and didn't really bounce anywhere as he dropped straight down to cover it

Football has always been a game of inches and seconds. No way you can honestly say that if the Patriots used an under-inflated ball that's the reason the Ravens lost. But by the same token, you can't say the Ravens would have lost regardless either.

[DMH_in_WA]

I'm not sure I understand this whole "he only had 90 seconds" or "look how precise the amount of deflation was" counters. 90-seconds is more than enough time. You're not talking about walking in there with an inflation/deflation needle like we had on the hand pumps we used as kids.

I'm certain if they were going to do this, they'd use a gauge with a release valve (like in photo). With one of these, you could probably exactly deflate a ball by 2psi in 3-5 seconds each. And if the bag the balls were in is like what we used in school (large bag with zipper running down length), 90 seconds is probably 45-55 seconds longer than you'd need.

[Inqui]

I'm not sure I understand this whole "he only had 90 seconds" or "look how precise the amount of deflation was" counters. 90-seconds is more than enough time. You're not talking about walking in there with an inflation/deflation needle like we had on the hand pumps we used as kids.

I'm certain if they were going to do this, they'd use a gauge with a release valve (like in photo). With one of these, you could probably exactly deflate a ball by 2psi in 3-5 seconds each. And if the bag the balls were in is like what we used in school (large bag with zipper running down length), 90 seconds is probably 45-55 seconds longer than you'd need.

And that doesn't factor in the chance to get a few done on the way in or out.

[ravensdfan]

Didn't have any impact on the following:

 

Daniels dropping touchdown catch

 

Flacco throwing an int

 

Secondary being owned in the second half

 

I just feel like it's ok to say the Patriots cheated, as long as we aren't using it an an excuse as to why we lost. And if we can admit we lost not cause of that, then when you sit back and think about it, the whole thing seems very blown out of proportion to me.

1. Not saying it is why we lost or why the Colts lost. On the other hand, can't say it isn't why we lost either. There are numerous ways it could have affected the game at different points.

2. Do you really believe for one second that if the Pats have been using deflated footballs there are not other ways they're skirting the rules and not getting caught? That could/do have a much bigger affect on the outcome of a game?

3. As soon as Tom Brady said "he couldn't tell the difference" and "he doesn't give it a thought" you know it's a lie based on previous statements he's made. Only one reason you lie.

4. Even if it had no bearing at all, cheating should never be rewarded. Since they feel they can twist the intent of the rules (the shifts in our game) and outright thwart them (deflated balls) the NFL must come up with a deterrent that actually costs them something to keep them from just doing it again.

[Tank 92]

Didn't have any impact on the following:

 

Daniels dropping touchdown catch

 

Flacco throwing an int

 

Secondary being owned in the second half

 

I just feel like it's ok to say the Patriots cheated, as long as we aren't using it an an excuse as to why we lost. And if we can admit we lost not cause of that, then when you sit back and think about it, the whole thing seems very blown out of proportion to me.

 

 

Didn't have any impact on the following:

 

Daniels dropping touchdown catch

 

Flacco throwing an int

 

Secondary being owned in the second half

 

I just feel like it's ok to say the Patriots cheated, as long as we aren't using it an an excuse as to why we lost. And if we can admit we lost not cause of that, then when you sit back and think about it, the whole thing seems very blown out of proportion to me.

 

 

No one is making excuses, but it's certainly possible that it gave them the competitive edge to win.

 

Do you think they would cheat and risk getting caught if they didn't think it would help them win?  

[IceDevilHH81]

So you guys are telling me if the balls hadn't been deflated, that the Ravens or Colts would have won?

 

Not buying it for a second. 

 

Why not? In the second half NE just played 4 "runplays" 3x kneedowns and a sneak... 2x they were down 14 Points. If they fixed the balls in that game there might be some more incompletions in critical game situations. I don`t think the Colts would have won - but with only 4 points in our game the outcome could have been different!

[sflegend89]

People mainly talked about the passing game effect when this story broke.. now I think more and more people are realizing that this was done to cut down on fumbles. Belichick is known for being extremely obsessive about ball security.. there isn't a shorter leash in the NFL than playing RB for Bill Belichick (Stevan Ridley?). Their fumbles per carry stat is astronomically better then the 2nd best team, given the evidence of 11 deflated footballs something is very amiss here and it's all starting to add up.

 

I found this interesting. Benjarvus Green-Ellis had ZERO fumbles in 4 seasons as a Patriot. As a Bengal he had 5 fumbles in 2 seasons.

 

The NFL wants the negative publicity about this story to go away and if they could have put it to rest and said there's no evidence the Patriots had any involvement they would've done it by now. I think the Patriots really gave themselves away with how badly they over compensated their reaction to this, if Bill Belichick had nothing to do with it he wouldn't feel the need to do an additional press conference and speculate about a bunch of pseudoscience explanations that made no sense. The charade is winding to a close for NE and more and more of their supposed explanations have been swiftly debunked. 

 

It wasn't "atmospheric conditions", it was only 51 degrees and every single one of the Colts balls maintained their PSI and both sets of balls were inspected and approved at the same time prior to the game. By far the most logical explanation is that they were tampered with using a ball pump with a pressure gauge post-inspection.. hmm I wonder who had possession of those footballs post inspection. There's episodes of Scooby Doo that are harder to figure out than this.

Edited January 27, 2015 by sflegend89

[Grapple Raven]

People mainly talked about the passing game effect when this story broke.. now I think more and more people are realizing that this was done to cut down on fumbles. Belichick is known for being extremely obsessive about ball security.. there isn't a shorter leash in the NFL than playing RB for Bill Belichick (Stevan Ridley?). Their fumbles per carry stat is astronomically better then the 2nd best team, given the evidence of 11 deflated footballs something is very amiss here and it's all starting to add up.

 

I found this interesting. Benjarvus Green-Ellis had ZERO fumbles in 4 seasons as a Patriot. As a Bengal he had 5 fumbles in 2 seasons.

 

The NFL wants the negative publicity about this story to go away and if they could have put it to rest and said there's no evidence the Patriots had any involvement they would've done it by now. I think the Patriots really gave themselves away with how badly they over compensated their reaction to this, if Bill Belichick had nothing to do with it he wouldn't feel the need to do an additional press conference and speculate about a bunch of pseudoscience explanations that made no sense. The charade is winding to a close for NE and more and more of their supposed explanations have been swiftly debunked. 

 

It wasn't "atmospheric conditions", it was only 51 degrees and every single one of the Colts balls maintained their PSI and both sets of balls were inspected and approved at the same time prior to the game. By far the most logical explanation is that they were tampered with using a ball pump with a pressure gauge post-inspection.. hmm I wonder who had possession of those footballs post inspection. There's episodes of Scooby Doo that are harder to figure out than this.

 

Couldn't agree with you more, you did a fantastic job explaining exactly how I feel!

[K-Dog]

Why wouldnt the attendant just take a squirt before entering the officials room beforehand, then grab the balls and do It after leaving the room? Did the urge just suddenly hit him? 

As a member of the small bladder crew yeah.  Some times you are fine and then all of a sudden ya gotta go.   maybe not real bad but why bother waiting?

[Tank 92]

As a member of the small bladder crew yeah.  Some times you are fine and then all of a sudden ya gotta go.   maybe not real bad but why bother waiting?

 

Because you are carrying the game balls to the field? And I'm guessing we are talking about someone that is somewhere between 20 and 30 years old?

 

just doesn't hold water. whooops!  

[Ravenseconbeast]

That is a good point.

I mean maybe, MAYBE, he had too pee. Stranger things have happened.

I guess you could pee and wash your hands in a minute and a half.

Unless he didnt wash his hands......

Now there is some crazy conspiracy material. Did the ball boy wash his hands?

Did he rub his germ infested hands on the footballs?

This just gets deeper and deeper.

Why would you bring footballs into the bathroom?

Also, I dont think the 'investigators' are doing justice searching in to this investigation thoroughly.

I mean the facts are there: colts ball were not deflated. All patriots ball were.

Am I missing something here?

Edited January 28, 2015 by Ravenseconbeast

[Inqui]

Why would you bring footballs into the bathroom?

Am I missing something here?

The great dilemma - if you're carrying the balls and you have to go, do you bring them with you?