Quote Originally Posted by quickstrike2 View Post
I haven't read much about it, but did the NFL take any of Indy footballs and compare their pregame and during game weights as well? Or did they just take the Patriots football and crucify them immediately, when it's possible other teams do this as well or maybe even the temperature or other outside factors had something to do with it. BB and the Patriots are definitely rule benders and do everything they can to gain an advantage, but I think folks are out to get them because 1) They have been to 6 bowls in recent memory 2) Most teams haven't been able to beat them so let's find something (this was a 45-7 game, do you think air weights changed 38 points? and 3) Teams didn't think of it first (Against the Ravens, BB used a technique within the rules to gain an advantage.)
"Rule benders"? Are you for real? They are out & out cheaters. What they have been caught doing is certifiable, undeniable, willful cheating, and they should be punished for it, period!

You, Sir, are an apologist. Rule-bending is doing things like, watering an infield down when you're about to play a fast team. Cheating is when you blatantly and intentionally break a rule. The Pats balls were inspected by the refs prior to kickoff, then returned to them. They WILLFULLY took 2 lbs of air out KNOWING it was significant cheating to do so.

I don't give a damn how big of a target they may have on their backs, cheating is cheating, and it is probably a main reason why many folks don't like the Pats.

As far as I'm concerned, they should get significantly harsher punishment since this is the 2nd time in recent memory that they have been caught cheating. It suggests a culture of cheating that does not belong in the NFL. It cheapens the game, mars the Pats history and gives the NFL a huge black eye if they don't respond appropriately.