It's sad because the Patriots don't have to do this in order to win.
Belichick is probably the best coach in the game. New England was winning that game against the Colts no matter what.
Why be shady like this when you are already better than everyone and don't have to? The risk of getting caught just isn't worth it when you don't need the competitive advantage.
Screw the Patriots. Disgusting organization.
They're the Barry Bonds of football. They could have been great without being cheaters and ***holes, but that doesn't change the fact that they're cheaters and ***holes.
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to gargamel For This Useful Post:
Belichick just gave a surprisingly forthright and informative statement at the beginning of his press conference, and for the first time ever, admits there is an area of the team that he does not have his thumb on. Either way, I think most critics will agree it was a pretty good statement as far as his personal defense goes, but certainly doesn't vindicate the team. I will try and find a link of the entire statement. The question period was pretty useless and he didn't say anything.
He claims he is aware that there are regulations on the football weight, but was never aware of the specifics. Has never handled a ball during a game and has never given instructions with regards to the ball specs. He said they do intentionally make the balls as difficult as possible during practice to really improve ball security- slippery, wet, worn out etc. Any questions on Brady's preference will have to be directed to Brady.
Some may interpret as throwing Brady and his equipment staff under the bus. Either way, he sounded genuine that he has no involvement in how the game balls are prepared.
In my opinion, ignorance of this area is not a defense and Belichick needs to be held responsible for what his subordinates do and I would expect him to be fined.
the reaction of other quarterbacks around the league, or past quarterbacks for that matter, basically all stating that this is a non issue and happens everywhere makes me think this is a non issue but will keep people talking up to superbowl Sunday
If this were anyone but the Patriots it would be a total non-issue. Every single team in the NFL, in one way or another, doctors their footballs. And why wouldn't they? If you get to use your own balls, why wouldn't you tailor it to how your QB likes it? Every team and every QB does it. Now deflating the balls is a bit different than doctoring the ball, but only a bit. It's not some mega issue.
The main issue here is the custody of the balls and the fact teams have their own balls, and I'm sure it'll be changing now and the NFL will be the sole custodian of game balls. But the overreaction to this is purely because it's New England. And if I was Seattle fan I'd be pissed they are poking the bear because Belichick has been pretty nasty in games after these types of moments.
__________________
"Think I'm gonna be the scapegoat for the whole damn machine? Sheeee......."
Expanding on what the Senator said- the issue isn't slightly under/over inflating the balls and hoping they get by the refs. Hats off to a team that can do this and get away with it, which does happen, as per the Aaron Rodgers comments. That isn't the issue and that would be a joke if it were. The issue is changing the ball after the ref's inspection. If that has happened, the person and/or people responsible need to be punished. Belichick probably needs to be fined regardless of his involvement as he is the boss- even he knows and probably accepts that.
They're the Barry Bonds of football. They could have been great without being cheaters and ***holes, but that doesn't change the fact that they're cheaters and ***holes.
Are you really equating deflating footballs and videotaping practices with what Bonds did?
I have been a Giants and Pats fan for decades, but turned away during the Bonds era. What he did bothered me. What the Pats did was justly penalized (spygate), but did not bother me. What they have accomplished is remarkable and not tainted IMO. Since spygate, the Pats have won more games than any other team.
If you want to look at steroids (the NFL does not) every team is guilty of that.
My question is why only 11 of the 12 and not all 12 balls were under-inflated. It is all unclear if the 11 balls were all precisely under-inflated by 2 pound per inch. To me, if the Pats knowingly under-inflate 11 balls hoping the refs won't catch them during inspection, that's sneaky but falls under everybody does it so why not we category.
But if the Pats fully inflated the balls and had someone put a needle in them after inspection, even as a Pats fan, I think they had crossed the line. But the later should be improbable as there are cameras and phones everywhere in the stadium; and how do you know how much air to let out so that the balls are all precisely or close to 2 pounds under pressure.
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to darklord700 For This Useful Post:
My question is why only 11 of the 12 and not all 12 balls were under-inflated. It is all unclear if the 11 balls were all precisely under-inflated by 2 pound per inch. To me, if the Pats knowingly under-inflate 11 balls hoping the refs won't catch them during inspection, that's sneaky but falls under everybody does it so why not we category.
But if the Pats fully inflated the balls and had someone put a needle in them after inspection, even as a Pats fan, I think they had crossed the line. But the later should be improbable as there are cameras and phones everywhere in the stadium; and how do you know how much air to let out so that the balls are all precisely or close to 2 pounds under pressure.
We still haven't seen the official report on how much and how many were underinflated. 11 balls being 2lb PSI under is still just a rumor. Belichick was using 0.2lb PSI in his example, which has people speculating that the rumor was way off. We'll see. Everyone expects the NFL to make announcement today.
We still haven't seen the official report on how much and how many were underinflated.
Of course these are speculations at this point. Another point is the Pats didn't need 11 "money balls" for Brady. They only needed to hand Brady one money ball during clutch time for that scheme to work. It doesn't make sense to have 11 money balls as the risk of being detected is too great to ignore.
Of course these are speculations at this point. Another point is the Pats didn't need 11 "money balls" for Brady. They only needed to hand Brady one money ball during clutch time for that scheme to work. It doesn't make sense to have 11 money balls as the risk of being detected is too great to ignore.
I'm going to guess that was riskier to have the ball boy obviously looking for that 'special' ball than having them all the same. Especially as it doesn't appear the league was doing much due diligence.
My guess is Brady is pissed that the equipment staff missed the 12th ball, 'what do you mean one was regulation? How the eff did that happen?'
Naturally, Brady doesn't know what happened either
Quote:
“I didn’t alter the ball in any way,” Brady said. “I have a process I go through before every game where I go in and pick the balls — the footballs that I want to use for the game. Our equipment guys do a great job of breaking the balls in. They have a process that they go through. When I pick those footballs out, at that point, to me, they’re perfect. I don’t want anyone touching the balls after that, I don’t want anyone rubbing them, putting any air in, taking any air out, to me those balls are perfect and that’s what I expect when I’m on the field.”
Brady said he didn’t think there was anything wrong with the footballs used in the AFC Championship Game.
“I didn’t think anything of it until I woke up Monday morning and answered a question on the radio about it. That was the first I heard of it,” Brady said.
Quote:
“I feel like I’ve always played within the rules,” Brady said. “I would never do anything to break the rules. I believe in fair play, I respect the league and everything they’re doing to try to create a competitive playing field for all the NFL teams. It’s a very competitive league. Every team is doing the best they can to win every week. I believe in fair play and will always do that for as long as I’m playing.”
