Sharky's NFL play of the week

[Three]

Belicheck's defense will be that shriveled up balls are the norm at this time of the year.

11 equally under inflated balls and 1 properly inflated ball for kicking is just screams intentional under inflation. You would have to be the most gullible person in the world not to see through that one. And a Colt handles 1 ball for 1 play and it is obvious to him but the Pats inflating the balls and throwing them etc never had a clue. That is just so lame I wouldn't even make that argument to someone sitting in judgement. It would almost certainly make your situation worse. What do you want to bet every kick the Pats did was with the properly inflated ball. They knew what was going on and I am guessing the refs knew and were in on it as well. Many of them handled the balls regularly during the game. Balls are tossed around and placed against the turf.

This is the same home field where the refs let a snowplow come out on the field so the kicker could kick a long field goal. The same refs that let NE notify eligible players at the last second so the defense couldn't be notified in time to know that they were eligible. Didn't you think it odd that the game winning drive for NE against BAL they kept hitting receivers that broke late from the line and were so open no defender was within 15 or 20 yards of them? They were open because the defense didn't know they were eligible receivers because the refs didn't call timeout so the defense could be notified the players were eligible. There is a very good chance the Pats would not have scored at all and especially not a TD without that deception. They were even awarded a 15 yard gift penalty when Harbaugh tried to talk to the officials about it. Not only did they have the refs be complicit in the deception the refs rewarded NE with 15 penalty yards to boot. I would be investigating all the refs at Foxboro as well as coming down extremely hard on a team that just refuses not to cheat. This isn't one guy cheating this is a teamwide systematic cheating for decades every way they can think of. Just think of how many had to know about the under inflated balls either to present them to be used, place them in play or handle them throughout the game.

That makes the last 2 playoff wins tainted and the BAL game decided by cheating and yet they are playing in the SB. I know who I will be rooting for and it is not the team that ONLY got there because they cheated. NE would not even have made the AFC Championship game without cheating. But here we are they cheated in the AFC Championship game as well and they are in the SB. It just makes me sick.

[Aslan]

If the Pats are really as good as everyone says why do they feel the need to constantly find new ways to cheat? The answer seems to be that they are only that good because they cheat.

Tthree, this is not necessarily a correct conclusion. "Seems to be" is correct, but the inference may be wrong. Consider the first "gate" of all. I have read time and again that Nixon didn't need to burglarize the Watergate, since his reelection was virtually assured. There is a certain mentality that doesn't want to leave anything to chance; it wants to "control."

But that is not the only example. I have spent a lot of time around pool halls in my lifetime. Back around 1959, a pro I knew arranged to play a lesser player for $10,000. The lesser player was given a modest handicap, but not enough to ensure a fair game. The pro approached the owner of the pool room where the match was to take place and requested that he have the table they would be playing on covered with a new felt. The owner, of course, objected, saying how expensive that would be. The pro replied that he himself would pay the bill. On the day the tables were recovered, the pro was present to pay the bill and to see that all went well. During the course of his presence there he found an opportunity to slip a shim under one leg of the table, that is, he slightly jacked up the table so that the "roll" would favor one side and not the other when balls were rolled a slow speed. Even though the pro already had the edge in his favor, he found it necessary to create an even greater advantage.

It takes two conditions to cheat at sports: (1) a personality that is totally focused on winning; and (2) a lack of conscience or moral fiber.

Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing. Vince Lombardi

Vince Lombardi had the first condition, but he lacked the second. That "lack" of Lombardi is why he will always be considered truly great in the annals of NFL coaching history, whereas Belichick may always be associated with the cheating scandals and not his accomplishments over which a cloud will always hang. In all fairness, there is still a chance that he may not be implicated in the present scandal, but that is a stretch to the imagination; still we have to withhold final judgment until the full report is out. Also, if found guilty, I am wondering if the Commission will allow him to be present for his team's Super Bowl bid?

[Exoter175]

The part of the rule I hate the most is the 'process of making a catch' Because Dez had full control of the ball when his knee and elbow touched the ground and the play should've been deemed dead right after that. But the 'process of making a catch' goes all the way until you hit the ground which I find rather stupid.

He didn't though, that' the thing. The "process of the catch" is a vague determination, but the reason it was called correctly "incomplete" is because he didn't control the ball. At first it was up in his arm and shoulder area, then while going to the ground still, it was moving down into his lower body, when he made contact with the ground, the ball touched the ground and as he made a "football move" the ball came loose, and then he caught it again. Had that ball not touched that ground, which is the huge qualifier here, it would have been ruled a catch at the 1. It touched the ground and became loose after, as well as being loose prior, and was ruled incomplete, as the rules support.

Well ZK. The person you quote in your post is wrong, a football move is not required. What is required is enough time to make a football move. If a football move is made they obviously had time to do it. The following is quoted from the NFL rule book. See Rule 8, section 1, article 3, Part c, Note 1. Many people don't know this part of the rule. All they know is what announcers tell them.

The fuck I am wrong T3, the ball touched the ground as he was going to the ground prior to his "football" move, that's an incomplete pass. Furthermore, a "football" move isn't even required there the ball wasn't in control going to the ground, touched the ground, and wasn't in control again after. That's an incomplete catch.

If you're going to argue with me about the rules, read Section A of the rule you are quoting, and then read it again, and again, and again, and then bold and large the "ground" portion, until it gets into your thick fucking head.

It seemed to me that the catching of the ball and the move to the inzone were happening simultaneously. I did not see it as a catch and then a move to the inzone, but a catch in progress as he leaped for the inzone, the ball hitting the ground before he had the ball long enough to constitute control. I guarantee you that if at the moment the ball hit the ground it was hit out of his hands by the defense, it would have been called an incomplete pass, because control had not yet been established.

100% correct, however, had his forearm been under the ball, and the exact same catch happened, where the ball flies out and he catches it again to be down at the half yard line, it would have been a correct call to rule it as a catch rather than incomplete. The big qualifier behind the call is that the ball touches the ground and then becomes loose before "possession" is established. That's it, that's the whole call right there.

[Exoter175]

I gotta go with the Hawks. I believe a very strong defense will usually
beat a very strong offense. A very strong defense can often shock a
strong offense. As to vice-versa - I think their defense loves to play
against the best. Gronk is the main threat. Hawks should eat up
Edelman and LaFell.

One of those guys, Edelman or LaFell, is going to have a big day, possibly even Amendola with the way the Seahawks will have to address the defensive concerns with covering Gronkowski. On top of that, with how bad the Seahawks played last week, there's a lot to "forget" about that game, and if any part of that "game" carries over to a game against the Patriots, the Patriots will literally flay the Seahawks on the world stage. The Patriots are certainly the most "complete" team in the NFL and have been all season long, despite their 2-2 start. And now they all play on a neutral field under immense pressure where Brady's been there 5 times before and Wilson only once. There's a lot more pressure on Wilson on the Seahawks to be more than "one hit wonders" and the chip will be on their shoulders this time.

Its a rough game looking at it, neither team's offense matches up well against the defense, and neither defense completely matches up to stop the opposing teams' offense. Right now the Advantage in both of those matchups goes to the Patriots who have enough quality DB's to cover the Seahawks' receivers, as well as having the "Matchup Nightmare" of Gronkowski against someone like Earl Thomas (if he plays) or even Richard Sherman (if he plays). If both of those guys are out, its going to be an absolute stomping at the Super Bowl, again.

[Aslan]

I heard the deflated balls thing has been going on for some time. Apparently, at least one player says he's noticed it in the past.

If everything is easier with deflated balls (no pun intended), why does the NFL require them to be pumped higher? Then again, Rodgers says he likes over-inflated ones. Maybe each team should have their choice. But that's besides the point-- the rules are the rules. How big a cheat do you think this is? Minor or major?

Was Spygate really cheating? Isn't it like hole carding? Isn't it up to each team to protect its signals?

Why don't the referees control the storage and introduction of footballs? That would solve the problem.

Have they proven Belichick was aware of the deflated balls? I'm fairly sure everyone who handled the footballs during the game was aware, for sure the quarterback, the center and the receivers. But why didn't the referees notice it, since they handle the ball after each play. Shouldn't it be their responsibility to ensure that the ball is all right for play each down when hey spot it? If not, it should be. IfF they put it into play, shouldn't it be considered legal, deflated or not?

[Three]

Isn't it like hole carding?

The Pats supplied the balls. It is like inserting your own marked cards into the game. If the casino doesn't change the cards out and they get naturally marked that s on them. You bring marked cards to be used in the game and you are going to jail.

Why don't the referees control the storage and introduction of footballs?

The refs do control the balls after the Pats give them to them. They check them and mark them. They are guarded so no tampering can happen. The refs missing this is pretty much proof the crew was on the take.

Have they proven Belichick was aware of the deflated balls?

The evidence looks like it was Brady that was the one. They would be made so he could handle them best. He handled them on every play they were used. They used the properly inflated ball for kicks and the Colts used balls they supplied. The fact that Brady laughed and said now he has heard everything is practically an admission of guilt. If the guy intercepting the pass could tell handling the ball on one play (what started the investigation) Brady had to know. They would have been deflated to his specifications. Now it is coming out they have done it in previous championship games. They should be stripped of their last 3 SB wins. They are all tainted anyway without this due to spy-gate and illegally taping the pre SB practice of the Rams. The spy-gate 6 year cheating offense was so severe that the worst fine handed down to a coach in NFL history was taken from Belicheck. 3/4 of a million dollars in fines were handed out, first round draft pick lost. They should suspend Brady 11 games (one for each deflated football) starting now. 3 SB wins from cheating is enough. We don't need a 4th. Steps should be taken to handicap NE to equalize the advantage they had in their 2 playoff wins this season.

Have they proven Belichick was aware of the deflated balls?

This isn't a court of law. They don't have to prove anything. Belicheck has cheated at every chance in the past. This is obviously a large conspiracy that involves many to pull off. And many more to keep undetected in order for the balls to be used in the game. Every pass Brady threw might have been intercepted or dropped with properly inflated balls affecting his grip and release. For those that say it was such a blowout that the balls would not have affected the outcome of the game just don't understand the huge difference and advantage that was in the game. It is like being in a craps tournament final where each of the two participants provide their own dice which are inspected by the tournament officials. One player hands them a loaded pair of dice and the other uses fair dice. The player knowing the skewed outcome from the loaded dice has a huge advantage. Getting the loaded dice into the tournament would be almost impossible. Every time the dice flew off the table they would be handled by officials and the fraud should be detected.

Shouldn't it be their responsibility to ensure that the ball is all right for play each down when hey spot it? If not, it should be. IfF they put it into play, shouldn't it be considered legal, deflated or not?

Tell that to the casino after you get caught introducing loaded dice into the game. See how far that gets you. It is not okay to cheat if it goes undetected. I am not surprised to hear someone that would cheat another make that argument but I am surprised to hear Aslan make it. If you get a bomb past TSA is it okay to blow up a plane? That is where that kind of logic leads.

The rule on notifying refs of ineligible players being eligible is specifically there to notify the refs AND defense that they are eligible. Trying to find a way around the intent of the rule and saying it is okay is like saying murder is okay if they can't charge you because of a technicality, like diplomatic immunity or something. You might not get charged or found guilty or be punished but you still did the crime and are in fact guilty.

You seem to be thinking along the lines that of course teams will cheat. If they get one by pre-game inspection or in some other way get into the game without being caught that makes it legal and not cheating. I have a big problem with that type of lack of integrity. Remember the Pats supplied these balls. It was 11 of 12 balls deflated to exactly the same pressure not 1 to 4 of 12 balls randomly under inflated. The only ones benefiting from the under inflation was the Pats. Brady and all the receivers and the Center should have known the balls were under inflated. The refs may have been in on it as well. If the refs are bought how much more of the game was tainted?

This is probably the biggest cheating issue in history of the NFL. It even tops the at least 6 season cheating and 3 SB victories tainted due to spy-gate because of the large number of complicate guilty players and staff and possibly even officials and those charged with keeping the integrity of inspected footballs before the game on the field that had to be involved if by no other way to not point out the under inflated balls. They had 12 more to replace the 11 being used but they still used the same 11 balls. 3/4 of a million in fines and the loss of a first round draft pick was not enough to fix this cheating mindset.

Perhaps it is time for adding a significant digit to the fines and expelling some coaches and players from the league, barring them from entry in the hall of fame and the loss of far more draft picks to prevent future cheating. The damage to the NFL product is done and was done for a repeated pattern of damage to every other team and the NFL product as a whole. All they can do is make sure the repeat offender can't do any more damage. The NBA made a racist owner sell the team to protect the value of the NBA product and the value of every other franchise in the league. Is it time for such an extreme penalty? Have an auction where each bidder must be vetted before the auction to prevent good old boy ownership passing the team from on pocket to the other. Perhaps making the team relocate to another part of the country under new ownership. Many cities have lost teams due to the whims of ownership and politicians not seeing eye to eye. Why should a team stay in an environment that damages the entire NFL, all teams and its product as a whole?

It will be interesting to see what the NFL does. I doubt they will mess wit their premier product, the SB. But I know after the other scandals this year they are seeing their product lose value and this can either be a multiplier to that lose or get some of it back. I suspect the penalties will be far worse than anyone thinks it will be. Then the CBA will get players appeals and it will be softened but the team and coaches implicated will see extreme penalties and I am not sure if they have an appeal process or if it would be wise to pursue one. The league could decide they didn't learn their lesson and increase the penalties in appeals if such an avenue is open to them. The league is taking things very seriously after this years scandals (Peterson child abuse and Rice domestic abuse to name the two most public ones). You can bet that doesn't bode well for the guilty parties when punishments are meted out. Nor the fact that this is a pattern of behavior for over a decade. The league needs to look like it is serious about all these issues and the punishment handed out here will be their vehicle to demonstrate that. At certain times making the minimal splash with something is best for your product but at other times coming down hard to make a statement is the only way to protect your product. At this time the league will most certainly decide their product is best served by coming down extremely hard on all parties involved and do their best not to let any guilty parties or publicly perceived bad guys slip trough the cracks.

The league has tried to establish parody in the league and they have a great product because of the success toward that endeavor. There has been one dynasty through it all, NE. It is now becoming obvious why they are unaffected by what causes parody and as a result the greatest product in sports. They cheat every way they can think of. For every cheat they get caught on they probably get away with at least 10 other forms undetected. As we know from our casino experiences a long history way out of the norm is not because of ability but cheating. Ability gets you a small edge but cheating dwarfs all legal edges. If the shoe fits...

[Three]

IF you through out the BUF game in week 17 as irrelevant because the Pats rested key players in this meaningless game the Pats scored at home this year in chronological order listed by opponent:
OAK 16, CIN 43, NYJ 27, CHI 51, DEN 43, DET 34, MIA 41, BAL 35 and IND 42. (8/9 over 24 points or over, 7/9 34 points or over), 6 games with playoff teams among the 9 games.
Average 37

Away:
MIA 20, MIN 30, KC 14, BUF 37, IND 42, GB 21, SD 23 and NYJ 17. (3/8 24 points or over, 2/8 34 points or over) 2 games with playoff teams among the 8 games.
Average 25.5

Is it cheating or just HFA? That is a ridiculous offensive HFA of 11 points! Their defensive HFA is 3 points. Total HFA 14 points!!!!! You can't point to strength of schedule as the factor as 2/3rds of their above home games were against playoff teams versus 1/4 of their away games against playoff teams.

[Gamblor]

I gotta go with the Hawks. I believe a very strong defense will usually
beat a very strong offense. A very strong defense can often shock a
strong offense. As to vice-versa - I think their defense loves to play
against the best. Gronk is the main threat. Hawks should eat up
Edelman and LaFell.

Yes by default I'll go take the good D vs the good O. But this matchup is a little tougher. Before Deflategate, I was sure the ref calls were going to favor Pats, still might. Also Pats D is stronger than usual. And the Pats do have the versatility on offense that could expose the weaknesses of Seattle D, either a power run game with Blount, or a bunch of small shifty receivers against that oversized secondary. Of course Seattle offense is heavily flawed, as GB showed make sure to rush Wilson with at least 4 with proper lane containment and tight man coverage - shut down Seattle for most of the game, until GB started going into a more prevent and 3 man rushes at the end.

[Exoter175]

I heard the deflated balls thing has been going on for some time. Apparently, at least one player says he's noticed it in the past.

If everything is easier with deflated balls (no pun intended), why does the NFL require them to be pumped higher? Then again, Rodgers says he likes over-inflated ones. Maybe each team should have their choice. But that's besides the point-- the rules are the rules. How big a cheat do you think this is? Minor or major?

Was Spygate really cheating? Isn't it like hole carding? Isn't it up to each team to protect its signals?

Why don't the referees control the storage and introduction of footballs? That would solve the problem.

Have they proven Belichick was aware of the deflated balls? I'm fairly sure everyone who handled the footballs during the game was aware, for sure the quarterback, the center and the receivers. But why didn't the referees notice it, since they handle the ball after each play. Shouldn't it be their responsibility to ensure that the ball is all right for play each down when hey spot it? If not, it should be. IfF they put it into play, shouldn't it be considered legal, deflated or not?

Yeah "supposedly" someone from the Ravens organization "tipped" someone from Indy off, not like it truly matters in the end because they are all playing with the same balls (don't laugh). The home team supplies the balls to the referees nearly 2.5 hours before the game, each ball is checked by a referee and the buck stops there. From then, only the referees and ball boys are allowed to "manage" them. This isn't really a "cheat" in my book if a referee himself gave the "all clear" on the balls supplied by the Patriots. That being said, it would certainly be a "minor" cheat just as the whole "spygate" thing was a "minor" thing, but the NFL has to drum up rumors and drama to keep the game relevant during its downtime, as they have two weeks off now with a ton of broadcasting stations doing hours upon hours of previews, "gameday" stuff, reports, news etc. and just about nobody actually watches the pro-bowl anyways. The NFL has one game left then just under a 3 month break until the draft, there's a lot of revenue there to pick and prod at, so why not fill it up with nonsensical "cheating" rumors that the NFL knows well enough was their own fault.

[Aslan]

The Pats supplied the balls. It is like inserting your own marked cards into the game. If the casino doesn't change the cards out and they get naturally marked that s on them. You bring marked cards to be used in the game and you are going to jail.


The refs do control the balls after the Pats give them to them. They check them and mark them. They are guarded so no tampering can happen. The refs missing this is pretty much proof the crew was on the take.


The evidence looks like it was Brady that was the one. They would be made so he could handle them best. He handled them on every play they were used. They used the properly inflated ball for kicks and the Colts used balls they supplied. The fact that Brady laughed and said now he has heard everything is practically an admission of guilt. If the guy intercepting the pass could tell handling the ball on one play (what started the investigation) Brady had to know. They would have been deflated to his specifications. Now it is coming out they have done it in previous championship games. They should be stripped of their last 3 SB wins. They are all tainted anyway without this due to spy-gate and illegally taping the pre SB practice of the Rams. The spy-gate 6 year cheating offense was so severe that the worst fine handed down to a coach in NFL history was taken from Belicheck. 3/4 of a million dollars in fines were handed out, first round draft pick lost. They should suspend Brady 11 games (one for each deflated football) starting now. 3 SB wins from cheating is enough. We don't need a 4th. Steps should be taken to handicap NE to equalize the advantage they had in their 2 playoff wins this season.


This isn't a court of law. They don't have to prove anything. Belicheck has cheated at every chance in the past. This is obviously a large conspiracy that involves many to pull off. And many more to keep undetected in order for the balls to be used in the game. Every pass Brady threw might have been intercepted or dropped with properly inflated balls affecting his grip and release. For those that say it was such a blowout that the balls would not have affected the outcome of the game just don't understand the huge difference and advantage that was in the game. It is like being in a craps tournament final where each of the two participants provide their own dice which are inspected by the tournament officials. One player hands them a loaded pair of dice and the other uses fair dice. The player knowing the skewed outcome from the loaded dice has a huge advantage. Getting the loaded dice into the tournament would be almost impossible. Every time the dice flew off the table they would be handled by officials and the fraud should be detected.

Tell that to the casino after you get caught introducing loaded dice into the game. See how far that gets you. It is not okay to cheat if it goes undetected. I am not surprised to hear someone that would cheat another make that argument but I am surprised to hear Aslan make it. If you get a bomb past TSA is it okay to blow up a plane? That is where that kind of logic leads.

The rule on notifying refs of ineligible players being eligible is specifically there to notify the refs AND defense that they are eligible. Trying to find a way around the intent of the rule and saying it is okay is like saying murder is okay if they can't charge you because of a technicality, like diplomatic immunity or something. You might not get charged or found guilty or be punished but you still did the crime and are in fact guilty.

You seem to be thinking along the lines that of course teams will cheat. If they get one by pre-game inspection or in some other way get into the game without being caught that makes it legal and not cheating. I have a big problem with that type of lack of integrity. Remember the Pats supplied these balls. It was 11 of 12 balls deflated to exactly the same pressure not 1 to 4 of 12 balls randomly under inflated. The only ones benefiting from the under inflation was the Pats. Brady and all the receivers and the Center should have known the balls were under inflated. The refs may have been in on it as well. If the refs are bought how much more of the game was tainted?

This is probably the biggest cheating issue in history of the NFL. It even tops the at least 6 season cheating and 3 SB victories tainted due to spy-gate because of the large number of complicate guilty players and staff and possibly even officials and those charged with keeping the integrity of inspected footballs before the game on the field that had to be involved if by no other way to not point out the under inflated balls. They had 12 more to replace the 11 being used but they still used the same 11 balls. 3/4 of a million in fines and the loss of a first round draft pick was not enough to fix this cheating mindset.

Perhaps it is time for adding a significant digit to the fines and expelling some coaches and players from the league, barring them from entry in the hall of fame and the loss of far more draft picks to prevent future cheating. The damage to the NFL product is done and was done for a repeated pattern of damage to every other team and the NFL product as a whole. All they can do is make sure the repeat offender can't do any more damage. The NBA made a racist owner sell the team to protect the value of the NBA product and the value of every other franchise in the league. Is it time for such an extreme penalty? Have an auction where each bidder must be vetted before the auction to prevent good old boy ownership passing the team from on pocket to the other. Perhaps making the team relocate to another part of the country under new ownership. Many cities have lost teams due to the whims of ownership and politicians not seeing eye to eye. Why should a team stay in an environment that damages the entire NFL, all teams and its product as a whole?

It will be interesting to see what the NFL does. I doubt they will mess wit their premier product, the SB. But I know after the other scandals this year they are seeing their product lose value and this can either be a multiplier to that lose or get some of it back. I suspect the penalties will be far worse than anyone thinks it will be. Then the CBA will get players appeals and it will be softened but the team and coaches implicated will see extreme penalties and I am not sure if they have an appeal process or if it would be wise to pursue one. The league could decide they didn't learn their lesson and increase the penalties in appeals if such an avenue is open to them. The league is taking things very seriously after this years scandals (Peterson child abuse and Rice domestic abuse to name the two most public ones). You can bet that doesn't bode well for the guilty parties when punishments are meted out. Nor the fact that this is a pattern of behavior for over a decade. The league needs to look like it is serious about all these issues and the punishment handed out here will be their vehicle to demonstrate that. At certain times making the minimal splash with something is best for your product but at other times coming down hard to make a statement is the only way to protect your product. At this time the league will most certainly decide their product is best served by coming down extremely hard on all parties involved and do their best not to let any guilty parties or publicly perceived bad guys slip trough the cracks.

The league has tried to establish parody in the league and they have a great product because of the success toward that endeavor. There has been one dynasty through it all, NE. It is now becoming obvious why they are unaffected by what causes parody and as a result the greatest product in sports. They cheat every way they can think of. For every cheat they get caught on they probably get away with at least 10 other forms undetected. As we know from our casino experiences a long history way out of the norm is not because of ability but cheating. Ability gets you a small edge but cheating dwarfs all legal edges. If the shoe fits...

I'm not a conspiracy theorist. The opponent says he could tell the ball was under-inflated. Could he? I don't know. I have no idea what the difference in feel is between a ball that is properly inflated and one that is two pounds of pressure (not weight) under-inflated. I doubt the ball is soft and squishy, but still firm but less firm.

But if you want to go to conspiracy theories, maybe someone from the Colts deflated the balls to cast aspersions on the Patriots. I say, until they can prove what happened, no one should accuse anyone. I say, if the refs couldn't tell, and they do handle the balls every down, then it is believable that Brady did not notice either, as he just said he didn't. The trouble with these conspiracy theories is that it takes half the world to be in on it for them to be true-- Brady, the coach, the equipment handlers, the referees, and anyone who might have been in the vicinity and could have seen what happened. It's so easy to say the coldness could not have deflated the balls, but could it? Have they tested the Colts' balls? DId the teenage Patriot ball boys deflate the balls with no one knowing it? If they knew Brady liked under-inflated balls, might they not have done it unbeknown to him? Lastly, not to justify it, but is it common practice to deflate or inflate footballs throughout the league?

It's not a court of law, but I want proof before I accuse someone. Let the investigation continue. Prior foul play is not proof of current foul play. If someone did deflate balls, let's find out who. A good investigation can find this out, especially if it were the teenage ball boys who were in the best position of all to do so. I doubt Brady carries a ball deflater in his pocket if there is such a thing, plus he's out in plain sight when they're breaking in the balls. .

[Three]

Well, Foxsports broke that the Ravens warned the Colts about the Pats using under inflated footballs in their home games. League officials planned to investigate at halftime during the game regardless of what the Colts defender said after the interception. A 3 year old comment by Brady in November of 2011, "When Gronk scores he spikes the ball and he deflates the ball.Ii love that because I like the deflated football. But I feel for the football, because he puts everything he can into those spikes."

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/d...otballs-012115

IF you through out the BUF game in week 17 as irrelevant because the Pats rested key players in this meaningless game the Pats scored at home this year in chronological order listed by opponent:

OAK 16, CIN 43, NYJ 27, CHI 51, DEN 43, DET 34, MIA 41, BAL 35 and IND 42. (8/9 over 24 points or over, 7/9 34 points or over), 6 games with playoff teams among the 9 games.
Average 37

Away:
MIA 20, MIN 30, KC 14, BUF 37, IND 42, GB 21, SD 23 and NYJ 17. (3/8 24 points or over, 2/8 34 points or over) 2 games with playoff teams among the 8 games.
Average 25.5

My guess is they have been doing this for years in home games and Brady's comment was a result of already doing this or caused the start of it THREE YEARS AGO. The home and away scoring certainly suggests there is more than just home field advantage going on. Other teams have large differences in performance at home and on the road but they are usually dome teams and the difference is more indoors and out tan home and away or like in mile high where the air is thin and opponents lose their wind in the second half but away they don't have winded opponents to face in the second half..

But if you want to go to conspiracy theories, maybe someone from the Colts deflated the balls to cast aspersions on the Patriots. I say, until they can prove what happened, no one should accuse anyone. I say, if the refs couldn't tell, and they do handle the balls every down, then it is believable that Brady did not notice either, as he just said he didn't.

It is easy enough to see if there is evidence that Brady and the Pats benefited from doctored ball pressure by looking at the difference in home scoring and away scoring for the Pats since Brady has been QB. Brady made the comment about liking under inflated footballs in late 2011 a marked improvement in home game scoring versus road game scoring should be apparent if they have been cheating in home games lately. The difference should even tell you how long they have been doctoring balls in home game.

Season: Home, Away, Difference
2003: 22.0 ppg, 22.4 ppg, 0.4 more ppg on the road
2004: 24.8 ppg, 29.9 ppg, 5.1 more ppg on the road
2005: 23.4 ppg, 23.2 ppg, 0.2 more ppg scored at home
2006: 22.4 ppg, 27.8 ppg, 3.4 more ppg on the road
2007: 32.7 ppg, 36.4 ppg, 3.7 more ppg on the road
2008: 25.2ppg, 26.0 ppg, 0.8 ppg more on the road
2009: 29.3 ppg, 22.1 ppg, 7.2 more ppg at home
2010: 32.6 ppg, 30.8 ppg, 1.6 more ppg at home
2011: 31.4 ppg, 33.4 ppg, 2.0 more ppg on the road
2012: 33.2 ppg, 34.9 ppg, 1.7 more ppg on the road
2013: 31.8 ppg, 24.1 ppg, 7.7 more ppg at home
This season throwing out the meaningless BUF game where key players were rested and football doctoring would not be necessary in week 17 and including the post season:
2014: 36.9 ppg, 25.5 ppg, 11.4 ppg more at home.

Well the Pats' history shows a long history of scoring more ppg on the road before 2013 season (7/10 seasons more ppg on the road). Only 1 of the 10 seasons did they score a significant amount higher at home, 2009 where they scored 7.2 more ppg at home than on the road. Yet in 2013 and 2014 they scored 7.7 and 11.4 more ppg at home than on the road. That is pretty conclusive evidence they have been using doctored balls at home for the last 2 seasons. At least this season and much of last season. I mean this year 2/3rds of their home games were against playoff teams while 1/4 of their away games were against playoff teams. Assuming playoff status is indicative of a better defense there should be far more ppg in road games as has been their tendency over the years.

Like the wise man said to the fool, If it stinks like sh*t and looks like sh*t. You don't have to taste it to know its sh*t. The Pats have been able to sneak doctored balls into home games over the last 2 seasons.

[Three]

Perhaps the league should DQ the Pats and have the Colts and Ravens play for who should be AFC champions.

[Exoter175]

I'm not even going to quote that horseshit that T3 just dumped all over this thread, or even dignify it by being quoted.

The Patriots are the best team in the NFL and have been the best team for the last decade. They have the best coach, and best QB. Combine that with a solid cast of "middle men" starters and you will constantly get good teams churned out. Now toss in the development of guys like Patrick Chung and Rob Gronkowski, and the "ignored" guys like Welker, Edelman, Amendola, Blount, etc. and you can't even begin to put any weight on them "cheating" to get where they are. They have a SOLID Coaching Staff and a SOLID Front Office who drafts well, but does a PRISTINE job of developing/signing the "throwaways" or "Castoffs" from other teams and getting them into a system those players can "buy into" and developing that talent.

Deflated balls is on the officials and ball boys that "take them over". And if what is now coming out is true, that the officials switched out the balls at halftime, who is to speak for the 28-0 nothing blowout in the second half, after the game went to half 17-7?

T3, there is no "weight" to the suggestion that they have done this before, no weight that it "helped" them, and certainly no weight that it helped this game after having those balls switched out at the half and then IMPROVING their game afterward.

T3, you're a HUGE conspiracy theorist, I "get that" now after the Cowboys, Romo, Rodgers, and now Patriots discussions, and "I get" that you've never played a game in your life. I also get that you are probably the most full of shit guy in this entire thread with your constant "oh I changed bets or took this teaser or that teaser" post-game pick changing. I should have known this with your bullshit letter grade nonsense from the beginning of the year, definitely should have known better after I eviscerated your 50/50 distribution theory for Baltimore's run game "abandonment".

And now its come to this, the guy who just posted about this being "on the refs" yesterday, has now jumped on and tried to "prove" a bandwagon conspiracy theory.


T3, do me a favor. Go back through all of those years, and post the common opponents for the years you have selected that they do significantly better "at home". On top of that, please relate their Home PPG to Away PPG to SoS.

I know you won't, because it'll prove your theory wrong and give a "reason" for those improved numbers, but I just want it to be said, so that you have something to look back to.