Reply With QuoteBefore you ask, no...both teams do NOT use the same ball. The Patriots brought 12 balls to be played by their players. 11 of the 12 were underdeflated significantly.
Well...it looks like the Patriots underinflated the balls by over 2 pounds, or 16%. The fact that the Colts LB that caught the interception, and rarely touches the ball anyway, noticed the underinflation, but the referees that handle footballs regularly did not raises flags. Now this does raise the question, what could the NFL do if it is deemed an egregious enough unfair act that the outcome of the game could be dramatically changed? Well that's where we go to the NFL Rule book. Gentlemen, I give you NFL Rule 17, Section 1, Article 10, Section 2.
Now...pay particular attention to Article 3 "Penalties for Unfair Acts". Let me put it into laymen's terms for you. The Commissioner, if enough evidence is found that there are egregious enough unfair acts, can REVERSE THE OUTCOME of the game in question. That's right, gentlemen. We could have those Colts AFC Champions shirts coming back from Africa and into the hands of Colts players.Section 2 Extraordinarily Unfair Acts
COMMISSIONER AUTHORITY
Article 1 The Commissioner has the sole authority to investigate and take appropriate disciplinary and/or corrective
measures if any club action, non-participant interference, or calamity occurs in an NFL game which he deems so
extraordinarily unfair or outside the accepted tactics encountered in professional football that such action has a major
effect on the result of the game.
NO CLUB PROTESTS
Article 2 The authority and measures provided for in this entire Section 2 do not constitute a protest machinery for NFL
clubs to avail themselves of in the event a dispute arises over the result of a game. The investigation called for in this
Section 2 will be conducted solely on the Commissioner?s initiative to review an act or occurrence that he deems so
extraordinary or unfair that the result of the game in question would be inequitable to one of the participating teams. The
Commissioner will not apply his authority in cases of complaints by clubs concerning judgmental errors or routine errors of
omission by game officials. Games involving such complaints will continue to stand as completed.
PENALTIES FOR UNFAIR ACTS
Article 3 The Commissioner?s powers under this Section 2 include the imposition of monetary fines and draft-choice
forfeitures, suspension of persons involved in unfair acts, and, if appropriate, the reversal of a game?s result or the
rescheduling of a game, either from the beginning or from the point at which the extraordinary act occurred. In the event of
rescheduling a game, the Commissioner will be guided by the procedures specified in Rule 17, Section 1, Articles 5
through 11, above. In all cases, the Commissioner will conduct a full investigation, including the opportunity for hearings,
use of game video, and any other procedure he deems appropriate.
Hang on, boys...this is gonna be funnnnnnnn
B.S. Geosciences, Professional Meteorology Concentration, Operational Emphasis
c/o 2015
Mississippi State University
@ColdSouthern911
Leicester City FC Owner
Before you ask, no...both teams do NOT use the same ball. The Patriots brought 12 balls to be played by their players. 11 of the 12 were underdeflated significantly.
B.S. Geosciences, Professional Meteorology Concentration, Operational Emphasis
c/o 2015
Mississippi State University
@ColdSouthern911
Leicester City FC Owner
I seriously doubt that is going to happen. The Pats will get a slap on the wrist like usual
Won't happen but they'll probably lose every draft pick this year. Which will cripple them more.Originally Posted by TheRef
The game will definitely not be reversed or replayed. My guess is They may lose a draft pick and get a fine, nothing more. I wish the game had been closer so the Colts had an argument
Referee , Walt Anderson, and the ball bitch have some explaining to do.
How many times do the have to get caught cheating before they get significantly hammered? You think Belichek loses any sleep over a half mil fine? Suspend the team for a season.
Ok. I agree that under inflated balls would be easier to catch in those conditions but throwing one isn't the same. I wonder if Brady and the bunch practiced w them during game week? Who's idea was it? How did the officials not notice the entire game the balls were squishy and not tight? Complete bullshit. The Pats were gonna beat their ass anyeay. Why cheat
I guess the flat footballs helped Legarette Blount and the offensive line treat Indys defense like the little bitches they are up front. They ran the ball up their ass at will. They could have used a snow cone in place of a football the entire game and the outcome wouldn't have been any different.
Typical of people today and the NFL in general...nfl will prob fine the Pats $1 million and one of Brady's kids for using suspect footballs while some asshole that beats the shit out of his wife or kids gets to sit out WITH FULL PAY while the league does nothing but sit on their hands because of "being fair". Domestic abuse, drugs, general moronic societal activity is normal but under inflate a couple of footballs and the franchise gets disembowled.
Maybe Bracky did an internship in the NFL offices we don't know about....
Doesn't matter that the balls really didn't affect the outcome. The pats' intent is the issue here. If they knowingly cheated, I hope the nfl lowers the boom on them. Take draft picks and suspend BB for a year. Enough is enough...
I agree with this. I'm a Tom Brady fan, but I despise BB. They should get hammered for this. The intent to cheat is there and it's become what they are known for.
I wish we'd be more like NE.
Looking at you Brackey.
Looking at you "no AAU Strick".
I didn't have the moral superiority feeling losing to ULL and their rolled bats, did you? Let's roll those bitches and launch missiles at the LFL.
As they say.........if you ain't cheating, you ain't trying . No reversing of the results.
The NFL won't have the guts to reverse the game, especially as one sided as it was, but I wish they would have the guts to suspend New England for a year from playing football, period. I don't care for the Seahawks, but I guess I'll pull for them in the Super Bowl.
I read they corrected the under inflated balls at halftime. The Pats outscored the Colts 28-0 in the second half. Worst case is that the Pats lose a draft pick like they did in 2007.
Think they try to blame their small balls on playing in the cold rain?
The patriots have mastered the cheating then saying "it wouldn't have mattered anyway" move.
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.)
It's not so much the actual act that I have a problem with. As athletes, competitors, fans, all we really want is an even playing field. Let both teams deflate the balls for all I care, but lets play the game mano-a-mano, straight up, even playing field. It didn't make a difference in this game, but it damn well could have the week before ... and you can bet they deflated their footballs against the Ravens too. This falls at the feet of BB. He should be suspended, and I think that's what will happen. If they suspended Payton for a year, they'll suspend BB. Plus a nice hefty fine and a draft pick or two.
Did you really expect the refs, who penalized the Colts for a textbook hit on Brady (facemask to the chest) to say anything about it even if they noticed? They're in the Pat's pockets and have been ever since the tuck rule game. Just watch a Pat's game and you'll see what I'm talking about.
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