How Will the NFL Punish the Patriots

[Rick N. Backer]

Death penalty.

The only rational decision for something of this magnitude.

 

I'm not talking figuratively for the franchise. I mean for Brady, Belichick, and Kraft.

[g under p]

http://www.sharpfootballanalysis.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Fumble-Chart-1.png

 

Take a look, a closer look at the numbers....

 

The New England Patriots Prevention Of Fumbles Nearly Impossible

 

http://www.sharpfootballanalysis.com/blog/?p=2932

 

They ARE the VILLIANS of the NFL....DARTH VADAR if you will...lol

 

Peace

Edited January 24, 2015 by g under p

[goose]

Death penalty.

The only rational decision for something of this magnitude.

 

I'm not talking figuratively for the franchise. I mean for Brady, Belichick, and Kraft.

We are one the same page. The future of democracy depends on it.

[troutman]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/23/nfl-issues-statement-on-deflategate-investigation/

[Rick N. Backer]

Belated congratulations to the SB 37 champs, the Oakland Raiders. Thank goodness Brad Johnson was finally brought to justice.

[Rick N. Backer]

Oh, wait. Johnson didn't play for the Patriots. We don't care what he did to game balls.

[troutman]

Belated congratulations to the SB 37 champs, the Oakland Raiders. Thank goodness Brad Johnson was finally brought to justice.

 

[troutman]

Oh, wait. Johnson didn't play for the Patriots. We don't care what he did to game balls.

 

You know,

 

There is so much crap that goes on in sports. It's funny how certain players/teams get treated differently.

[WorkingAllTheTime]

Ugh.... so tired of hearing/talking about this non-story....

 

The league's rule is so ridiculously vague and their handling of the equipment process is so inept I don't know how Goodell could actually put up any punishment other than just the fine.

 

My prediction: They won't be able to prove any single person deflated the balls because the actual culprit is very likely the creative use of physics.

 

I was happy to see USA Today finally ran a story that I and pretty much any guy who works at a tire shop already theorized: Inflate the balls with warm air (perhaps in a sauna, or using some other method to warm pumped air) just before they are checked. As the balls are used outside in the cold, the air pressure will drop. The same phenomenon causes your tire pressure to increase with heat and decrease with cold.

 

No, the refs would not have noticed the balls as being hot because the air bladder inside the ball would act as a barrier. Yes, the air inside the balls would rapidly cool down and there would be an impact.

 

Is this cheating? No, not technically. It does skirt the intent and spirit of the rule and is definitely not in the interest of sportsmanship.... but is anyone here actually going to suggest the NFL really gives a hoot about sportsmanship? If this is what happened, it seems Tom Brady likes his balls a bit mushy (insert various jokes here) and the team found a creative way to accommodate without actually breaking the rule.

 

I mean, if Goodell really wants to suspend someone, I guess he could suspend God for the laws of the universe? Or maybe himself for being a moron?

 

In the end, though, what we are finding out is the NFL, like MLB, is pretty much stupid for allowing the teams to be the caretakers of the fundamental piece of equipment needed for the game. Granted, for MLB, you have 2,430 regular season match ups to manage so their decision is somewhat understandable. But the NFL can't figure out that maybe the league should control and prepare the footballs used in their 256 regular season match ups? Hell, why not let the home teams hire and pay the refs, too!?

 

What's more, if the league actually makes that big a deal out of this (other than to change their practices with who preps the game balls), Goodell will.... again.... look like the giant arse he proves himself to be on a regular basis. Remember, this is the league that ignored a star running back cold-cocking his fiancee in a hotel elevator.... that's the culture of the NFL... of course team's try to skirt the rules in the culture of this league!

 

And, one other thing.... the league has stated the less inflated (different than "deflated" balls - there's a good chance no one actually "deflated" them) were only used in the first half. The balls used in the second half were fine. The final score was 45-7. The Patriots were up 17-7 at half. The Patriots outscored the Colts 28-0 in the second half. Translation: It's pretty hard to find a correlation between the less inflated balls and actual impact.

[laughedatbytime]

Belated congratulations to the SB 37 champs, the Oakland Raiders. Thank goodness Brad Johnson was finally brought to justice.

We'll pretend for a second that you're not aware of the three important differences between that situation and the current kerfuffle and instead express surprise at the fact that you think that the Tampa Bay Bucs should have as many Super Bowl championships as the New England Patriots of Anaheim. :angel:

[LedRush]

Oh, wait. Johnson didn't play for the Patriots. We don't care what he did to game balls.

 

You know,

 

There is so much crap that goes on in sports. It's funny how certain players/teams get treated differently.

 

Yeah, it's almost like one team did broke the rules to gain a competitive advantage over the other with a non-compliant ball and the other team didn't.

Ugh.... so tired of hearing/talking about this non-story....

 

The league's rule is so ridiculously vague and their handling of the equipment process is so inept I don't know how Goodell could actually put up any punishment other than just the fine.

 

My prediction: They won't be able to prove any single person deflated the balls because the actual culprit is very likely the creative use of physics.

 

I was happy to see USA Today finally ran a story that I and pretty much any guy who works at a tire shop already theorized: Inflate the balls with warm air (perhaps in a sauna, or using some other method to warm pumped air) just before they are checked. As the balls are used outside in the cold, the air pressure will drop. The same phenomenon causes your tire pressure to increase with heat and decrease with cold.

 

No, the refs would not have noticed the balls as being hot because the air bladder inside the ball would act as a barrier. Yes, the air inside the balls would rapidly cool down and there would be an impact.

 

Is this cheating? No, not technically. It does skirt the intent and spirit of the rule and is definitely not in the interest of sportsmanship.... but is anyone here actually going to suggest the NFL really gives a hoot about sportsmanship? If this is what happened, it seems Tom Brady likes his balls a bit mushy (insert various jokes here) and the team found a creative way to accommodate without actually breaking the rule.

 

I mean, if Goodell really wants to suspend someone, I guess he could suspend God for the laws of the universe? Or maybe himself for being a moron?

 

In the end, though, what we are finding out is the NFL, like MLB, is pretty much stupid for allowing the teams to be the caretakers of the fundamental piece of equipment needed for the game. Granted, for MLB, you have 2,430 regular season match ups to manage so their decision is somewhat understandable. But the NFL can't figure out that maybe the league should control and prepare the footballs used in their 256 regular season match ups? Hell, why not let the home teams hire and pay the refs, too!?

 

What's more, if the league actually makes that big a deal out of this (other than to change their practices with who preps the game balls), Goodell will.... again.... look like the giant arse he proves himself to be on a regular basis. Remember, this is the league that ignored a star running back cold-cocking his fiancee in a hotel elevator.... that's the culture of the NFL... of course team's try to skirt the rules in the culture of this league!

 

And, one other thing.... the league has stated the less inflated (different than "deflated" balls - there's a good chance no one actually "deflated" them) were only used in the first half. The balls used in the second half were fine. The final score was 45-7. The Patriots were up 17-7 at half. The Patriots outscored the Colts 28-0 in the second half. Translation: It's pretty hard to find a correlation between the less inflated balls and actual impact.

 

From what I've read, the difference in air temperature was not nearly enough to account for a 2psi differential. I concede I'm not an expert, but I've not read an explanation that could account for the difference naturally.

[laughedatbytime]

Oh, wait. Johnson didn't play for the Patriots. We don't care what he did to game balls.

But there is at least one player named Johnson that did play for the Patriots. Apparently Belichick didn't care if his brain was the same consistency as Tom Brady's preferred balls.

 

NEW YORK -- Former New England Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson said coach Bill Belichick subjected him to hard hits in practice while he was recovering from a concussion -- against the advice of the team's top trainer.

 

Ted Johnson

Johnson

Johnson, who helped the Patriots win three Super Bowl titles before retiring two years ago, told The New York Times that a collision with another player during that 2002 practice led to another concussion. And, after sustaining additional concussions over the next three seasons, he now forgets people's names, misses appointments and suffers from depression and an addiction to amphetamines.

 

"There's something wrong with me," Johnson, 34, told the Times in a story posted on its Web site Thursday night. "There's something wrong with my brain. And I know when it started."

 

The Boston Globe, which is owned by the Times, posted a similar story on its Web site.

 

Johnson, who played 10 years in the NFL, said he began to deteriorate in August 2002 with a concussion during an exhibition game against the New York Giants. He sustained another concussion four days later after Belichick prodded him to participate in a full-contact practice, even though he was supposed to be avoiding hits, Johnson said.

 

The next month, with their relationship already strained, Johnson confronted Belichick about the practice after the coach asked him to meet in his office.

 

"I told him, 'You played God with my health. You knew I shouldn't have been cleared to play,'" Johnson told the Globe.

 

Belichick told the Globe he got no cue from Johnson in practice that day that he was hesitant about participating in the full-contact drill.

 

"If Ted felt so strongly that he didn't feel he was ready to practice with us, he should have told me," Belichick said.

 

Patriots owner Robert Kraft, in Miami for the Super Bowl, said he wasn't qualified to speak on concussions.

 

"Ted is one of my favorite players, someone I've had a deep relationship with," Kraft said Friday. "He's going through a difficult time. My thoughts and prayers are with him."

 

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, at his state of the league news conference Friday, did not get into specifics of the case, saying he only became aware of the situation Thursday. He said, however, a player's health should take precedence over football issues.

 

The Patriots did not allow Jim Whalen, still their head trainer, to comment for this story, according to the Globe.

 

Patriots spokesman Stacey James told The Associated Press on Thursday night that the team was aware of the report but was not prepared to comment.

 

In a story last month, the Times reported that brain damage caused on the football field ultimately led to the suicide of former NFL defensive back Andre Waters last November, according to a forensic pathologist who studied Waters' brain tissue.

 

"We have been focused on the issue of concussions for years," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told the AP. "It remains one of our prime concerns as we continue to do everything possible to protect the health of our players."

 

Dr. Lee H. Schwamm, the neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital who examined Johnson, wrote in a memo Aug. 19, 2002, that Johnson sustained a second concussion in that practice, the Times reported.

 

Schwamm also wrote that, after speaking with Whalen, the trainer "was on the sidelines when he sustained the concussion during the game and assessed him frequently at the sideline" and that "he has kept Mr. Johnson out of contact since that time."

 

Johnson said he spoke with Belichick the next day about the incident, but only briefly, the Times said.

 

"He was vaguely acknowledging that he was aware of what happened," Johnson said, "and he wanted to just kind of let me know that he knew."

 

Johnson sat out the next two preseason games on the advice of his neurologist but played in the final one. Then, thinking he was still going to be left off the active roster for the season opener against Pittsburgh, he angrily left camp for two days before returning and meeting with Belichick.

 

"It's as clear as a bell, 'I had to see if you could play,'" Johnson recalled Belichick saying, according to the Times.

 

Moments later, Johnson said, Belichick admitted he had made a mistake by subjecting him to a full-contact drill.

 

"It was a real kind of admittance, but it was only him and I in the room," Johnson told the Times.

 

After returning to game action, the linebacker sustained more concussions of varying severity over the following three seasons, each of them exacerbating the next, according to his current neurologist, Dr. Robert Cantu.

 

Cantu told the Times he was certain that Johnson's problems "are related to his previous head injuries, as they are all rather classic postconcussion symptoms."

 

He added, "They are most likely permanent."

 

Cantu, the chief of neurosurgery and director of sports medicine at Emerson Hospital in Concord, Mass., also said Johnson shows signs of early Alzheimer's disease.

 

"The majority of those symptoms relentlessly progress over time," Cantu said. "It could be that at the time he's in his 50s, he could have severe Alzheimer's symptoms."

 

Johnson told the Globe he estimates he had at least six concussions in his last three seasons but reported only one because he already had a reputation as an injury-prone player and he didn't want to make it worse.

 

"Looking back, it was stupid not to tell anyone," Johnson said. "But I didn't know then that every time you have a concussion, you are four to six times more susceptible the next time. I had no idea the damage I was causing myself."

 

Gene Upshaw, executive director of the NFL Players Association, spoke in general terms about concussions at a news conference Thursday in Miami, where the Super Bowl will be played Sunday.

 

"If a coach or anyone else is saying, 'You don't have a concussion, you get back in there,' you don't have to go, and you shouldn't go," Upshaw said, not speaking about Johnson's case specifically. "You know how you feel. That's what we tried to do throughout the years, is take the coach out of the decision-making. It's the medical people that have to decide."

 

Upshaw told the AP that concussions are one of the issues the union is examining this year.

 

"We've seen a number of concussions in the NFL this year, and as a result of our studies, we've seen a change in the helmet. We're also studying the effects of that on concussions," Upshaw said.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2751614

[Lost In Xanadu]

Any thought put into being inflated in a warn location and they were low because of the cold? Happens to my car tires all the time

[laughedatbytime]

Oh, wait. Johnson didn't play for the Patriots. We don't care what he did to game balls.

 

You know,

 

There is so much crap that goes on in sports. It's funny how certain players/teams get treated differently.

 

Yeah, it's almost like one team did broke the rules to gain a competitive advantage over the other with a non-compliant ball and the other team didn't.

Ugh.... so tired of hearing/talking about this non-story....

 

The league's rule is so ridiculously vague and their handling of the equipment process is so inept I don't know how Goodell could actually put up any punishment other than just the fine.

 

My prediction: They won't be able to prove any single person deflated the balls because the actual culprit is very likely the creative use of physics.

 

I was happy to see USA Today finally ran a story that I and pretty much any guy who works at a tire shop already theorized: Inflate the balls with warm air (perhaps in a sauna, or using some other method to warm pumped air) just before they are checked. As the balls are used outside in the cold, the air pressure will drop. The same phenomenon causes your tire pressure to increase with heat and decrease with cold.

 

No, the refs would not have noticed the balls as being hot because the air bladder inside the ball would act as a barrier. Yes, the air inside the balls would rapidly cool down and there would be an impact.

 

Is this cheating? No, not technically. It does skirt the intent and spirit of the rule and is definitely not in the interest of sportsmanship.... but is anyone here actually going to suggest the NFL really gives a hoot about sportsmanship? If this is what happened, it seems Tom Brady likes his balls a bit mushy (insert various jokes here) and the team found a creative way to accommodate without actually breaking the rule.

 

I mean, if Goodell really wants to suspend someone, I guess he could suspend God for the laws of the universe? Or maybe himself for being a moron?

 

In the end, though, what we are finding out is the NFL, like MLB, is pretty much stupid for allowing the teams to be the caretakers of the fundamental piece of equipment needed for the game. Granted, for MLB, you have 2,430 regular season match ups to manage so their decision is somewhat understandable. But the NFL can't figure out that maybe the league should control and prepare the footballs used in their 256 regular season match ups? Hell, why not let the home teams hire and pay the refs, too!?

 

What's more, if the league actually makes that big a deal out of this (other than to change their practices with who preps the game balls), Goodell will.... again.... look like the giant arse he proves himself to be on a regular basis. Remember, this is the league that ignored a star running back cold-cocking his fiancee in a hotel elevator.... that's the culture of the NFL... of course team's try to skirt the rules in the culture of this league!

 

And, one other thing.... the league has stated the less inflated (different than "deflated" balls - there's a good chance no one actually "deflated" them) were only used in the first half. The balls used in the second half were fine. The final score was 45-7. The Patriots were up 17-7 at half. The Patriots outscored the Colts 28-0 in the second half. Translation: It's pretty hard to find a correlation between the less inflated balls and actual impact.

 

From what I've read, the difference in air temperature was not nearly enough to account for a 2psi differential. I concede I'm not an expert, but I've not read an explanation that could account for the difference naturally.

Well, you see...this was all part of those nefarious Colts' plans to subject our angels to scrutiny. Their balls were of "normal" pressure, right? Well, that had to be because the Colts overinflated their balls by 2 PSI...then when they were subjected to the cold air which causes them to lose pressure in the freezing 50 degree conditions, they could frame St. Belichick and St. Brady.

 

Would Mr. Kraft allow this type of activity to spoil the reputation of his franchise? Just look at his grilling of Belichick for Spygate. If only the CIA interrogators at Gitmo were as thorough as Kraft was in that investigation, the war on terror would be over.

[laughedatbytime]

Any thought put into being inflated in a warn location and they were low because of the cold? Happens to my car tires all the time

Any thought about the role of Occam's Razor in bringing the balls to the level they were at when measured at halftime?

 

Since you live in Wisconsin, I would hope you have car tires that don't get low on air when it's 52 degrees, since it gets about 70 degrees colder than that at times.

[WorkingAllTheTime]

Oh, wait. Johnson didn't play for the Patriots. We don't care what he did to game balls.

 

You know,

 

There is so much crap that goes on in sports. It's funny how certain players/teams get treated differently.

 

Yeah, it's almost like one team did broke the rules to gain a competitive advantage over the other with a non-compliant ball and the other team didn't.

Ugh.... so tired of hearing/talking about this non-story....

 

The league's rule is so ridiculously vague and their handling of the equipment process is so inept I don't know how Goodell could actually put up any punishment other than just the fine.

 

My prediction: They won't be able to prove any single person deflated the balls because the actual culprit is very likely the creative use of physics.

 

I was happy to see USA Today finally ran a story that I and pretty much any guy who works at a tire shop already theorized: Inflate the balls with warm air (perhaps in a sauna, or using some other method to warm pumped air) just before they are checked. As the balls are used outside in the cold, the air pressure will drop. The same phenomenon causes your tire pressure to increase with heat and decrease with cold.

 

No, the refs would not have noticed the balls as being hot because the air bladder inside the ball would act as a barrier. Yes, the air inside the balls would rapidly cool down and there would be an impact.

 

Is this cheating? No, not technically. It does skirt the intent and spirit of the rule and is definitely not in the interest of sportsmanship.... but is anyone here actually going to suggest the NFL really gives a hoot about sportsmanship? If this is what happened, it seems Tom Brady likes his balls a bit mushy (insert various jokes here) and the team found a creative way to accommodate without actually breaking the rule.

 

I mean, if Goodell really wants to suspend someone, I guess he could suspend God for the laws of the universe? Or maybe himself for being a moron?

 

In the end, though, what we are finding out is the NFL, like MLB, is pretty much stupid for allowing the teams to be the caretakers of the fundamental piece of equipment needed for the game. Granted, for MLB, you have 2,430 regular season match ups to manage so their decision is somewhat understandable. But the NFL can't figure out that maybe the league should control and prepare the footballs used in their 256 regular season match ups? Hell, why not let the home teams hire and pay the refs, too!?

 

What's more, if the league actually makes that big a deal out of this (other than to change their practices with who preps the game balls), Goodell will.... again.... look like the giant arse he proves himself to be on a regular basis. Remember, this is the league that ignored a star running back cold-cocking his fiancee in a hotel elevator.... that's the culture of the NFL... of course team's try to skirt the rules in the culture of this league!

 

And, one other thing.... the league has stated the less inflated (different than "deflated" balls - there's a good chance no one actually "deflated" them) were only used in the first half. The balls used in the second half were fine. The final score was 45-7. The Patriots were up 17-7 at half. The Patriots outscored the Colts 28-0 in the second half. Translation: It's pretty hard to find a correlation between the less inflated balls and actual impact.

 

From what I've read, the difference in air temperature was not nearly enough to account for a 2psi differential. I concede I'm not an expert, but I've not read an explanation that could account for the difference naturally.

 

The on field temperature was indeed mild.... so, yes, in a setting where they would have filled the balls with room temperature air, this theory wouldn't be plausible. But if the balls would have been inflated with heated (keep in mind we are talking sauna level heat) air, you could easily account for that, especially if you, say, chilled them in between the time they were inspected and used.... and if you take into account Brady has clearly said he likes the balls at the low end of the tolerance levels.

 

I clearly believe the Patriots organization manipulated the situation, but I don't for a second think there will be any evidence to show someone using an air pressure to deflate the balls after the inspection.

[g under p]

This stuff is getting more and more hilarious....

 

[Rick N. Backer]

Oh, wait. Johnson didn't play for the Patriots. We don't care what he did to game balls.

 

You know,

 

There is so much crap that goes on in sports. It's funny how certain players/teams get treated differently.

 

Yeah, it's almost like one team did broke the rules to gain a competitive advantage over the other with a non-compliant ball and the other team didn't.

Ugh.... so tired of hearing/talking about this non-story....

 

The league's rule is so ridiculously vague and their handling of the equipment process is so inept I don't know how Goodell could actually put up any punishment other than just the fine.

 

My prediction: They won't be able to prove any single person deflated the balls because the actual culprit is very likely the creative use of physics.

 

I was happy to see USA Today finally ran a story that I and pretty much any guy who works at a tire shop already theorized: Inflate the balls with warm air (perhaps in a sauna, or using some other method to warm pumped air) just before they are checked. As the balls are used outside in the cold, the air pressure will drop. The same phenomenon causes your tire pressure to increase with heat and decrease with cold.

 

No, the refs would not have noticed the balls as being hot because the air bladder inside the ball would act as a barrier. Yes, the air inside the balls would rapidly cool down and there would be an impact.

 

Is this cheating? No, not technically. It does skirt the intent and spirit of the rule and is definitely not in the interest of sportsmanship.... but is anyone here actually going to suggest the NFL really gives a hoot about sportsmanship? If this is what happened, it seems Tom Brady likes his balls a bit mushy (insert various jokes here) and the team found a creative way to accommodate without actually breaking the rule.

 

I mean, if Goodell really wants to suspend someone, I guess he could suspend God for the laws of the universe? Or maybe himself for being a moron?

 

In the end, though, what we are finding out is the NFL, like MLB, is pretty much stupid for allowing the teams to be the caretakers of the fundamental piece of equipment needed for the game. Granted, for MLB, you have 2,430 regular season match ups to manage so their decision is somewhat understandable. But the NFL can't figure out that maybe the league should control and prepare the footballs used in their 256 regular season match ups? Hell, why not let the home teams hire and pay the refs, too!?

 

What's more, if the league actually makes that big a deal out of this (other than to change their practices with who preps the game balls), Goodell will.... again.... look like the giant arse he proves himself to be on a regular basis. Remember, this is the league that ignored a star running back cold-cocking his fiancee in a hotel elevator.... that's the culture of the NFL... of course team's try to skirt the rules in the culture of this league!

 

And, one other thing.... the league has stated the less inflated (different than "deflated" balls - there's a good chance no one actually "deflated" them) were only used in the first half. The balls used in the second half were fine. The final score was 45-7. The Patriots were up 17-7 at half. The Patriots outscored the Colts 28-0 in the second half. Translation: It's pretty hard to find a correlation between the less inflated balls and actual impact.

 

From what I've read, the difference in air temperature was not nearly enough to account for a 2psi differential. I concede I'm not an expert, but I've not read an explanation that could account for the difference naturally.

 

Isn't it odd that at least one ref handled those drastically altered balls on every play, and didn't notice anything unusual about them?

 

People get that the balls weren't a) two pounds lighter or b) Nerf-like, right?

[Rick N. Backer]

I was glad to hear Belichick finally point out that the coordinators they filmed in "Spygate" (cue scary organ music) were calling signals in front of 80,000 people.

 

But I do hope the public keeps this up for another week.

[LedRush]

Oh, wait. Johnson didn't play for the Patriots. We don't care what he did to game balls.

 

You know,

 

There is so much crap that goes on in sports. It's funny how certain players/teams get treated differently.

 

Yeah, it's almost like one team did broke the rules to gain a competitive advantage over the other with a non-compliant ball and the other team didn't.

Ugh.... so tired of hearing/talking about this non-story....

 

The league's rule is so ridiculously vague and their handling of the equipment process is so inept I don't know how Goodell could actually put up any punishment other than just the fine.

 

My prediction: They won't be able to prove any single person deflated the balls because the actual culprit is very likely the creative use of physics.

 

I was happy to see USA Today finally ran a story that I and pretty much any guy who works at a tire shop already theorized: Inflate the balls with warm air (perhaps in a sauna, or using some other method to warm pumped air) just before they are checked. As the balls are used outside in the cold, the air pressure will drop. The same phenomenon causes your tire pressure to increase with heat and decrease with cold.

 

No, the refs would not have noticed the balls as being hot because the air bladder inside the ball would act as a barrier. Yes, the air inside the balls would rapidly cool down and there would be an impact.

 

Is this cheating? No, not technically. It does skirt the intent and spirit of the rule and is definitely not in the interest of sportsmanship.... but is anyone here actually going to suggest the NFL really gives a hoot about sportsmanship? If this is what happened, it seems Tom Brady likes his balls a bit mushy (insert various jokes here) and the team found a creative way to accommodate without actually breaking the rule.

 

I mean, if Goodell really wants to suspend someone, I guess he could suspend God for the laws of the universe? Or maybe himself for being a moron?

 

In the end, though, what we are finding out is the NFL, like MLB, is pretty much stupid for allowing the teams to be the caretakers of the fundamental piece of equipment needed for the game. Granted, for MLB, you have 2,430 regular season match ups to manage so their decision is somewhat understandable. But the NFL can't figure out that maybe the league should control and prepare the footballs used in their 256 regular season match ups? Hell, why not let the home teams hire and pay the refs, too!?

 

What's more, if the league actually makes that big a deal out of this (other than to change their practices with who preps the game balls), Goodell will.... again.... look like the giant arse he proves himself to be on a regular basis. Remember, this is the league that ignored a star running back cold-cocking his fiancee in a hotel elevator.... that's the culture of the NFL... of course team's try to skirt the rules in the culture of this league!

 

And, one other thing.... the league has stated the less inflated (different than "deflated" balls - there's a good chance no one actually "deflated" them) were only used in the first half. The balls used in the second half were fine. The final score was 45-7. The Patriots were up 17-7 at half. The Patriots outscored the Colts 28-0 in the second half. Translation: It's pretty hard to find a correlation between the less inflated balls and actual impact.

 

From what I've read, the difference in air temperature was not nearly enough to account for a 2psi differential. I concede I'm not an expert, but I've not read an explanation that could account for the difference naturally.

 

Isn't it odd that at least one ref handled those drastically altered balls on every play, and didn't notice anything unusual about them?

 

People get that the balls weren't a) two pounds lighter or b) Nerf-like, right?

 

1. I don't know how odd I would consider it...I haven't felt the difference between footballs at those pressures, and I assume that a QB would be far more attuned to it than others.

 

2. Yes, I get that.

[LedRush]

This stuff is getting more and more hilarious....

 

http://youtu.be/4fw-EOI9WNw

 

That's from 2007, before the Super Bowl, right?

[laughedatbytime]

Oh, wait. Johnson didn't play for the Patriots. We don't care what he did to game balls.

 

You know,

 

There is so much crap that goes on in sports. It's funny how certain players/teams get treated differently.

 

Yeah, it's almost like one team did broke the rules to gain a competitive advantage over the other with a non-compliant ball and the other team didn't.

Ugh.... so tired of hearing/talking about this non-story....

 

The league's rule is so ridiculously vague and their handling of the equipment process is so inept I don't know how Goodell could actually put up any punishment other than just the fine.

 

My prediction: They won't be able to prove any single person deflated the balls because the actual culprit is very likely the creative use of physics.

 

I was happy to see USA Today finally ran a story that I and pretty much any guy who works at a tire shop already theorized: Inflate the balls with warm air (perhaps in a sauna, or using some other method to warm pumped air) just before they are checked. As the balls are used outside in the cold, the air pressure will drop. The same phenomenon causes your tire pressure to increase with heat and decrease with cold.

 

No, the refs would not have noticed the balls as being hot because the air bladder inside the ball would act as a barrier. Yes, the air inside the balls would rapidly cool down and there would be an impact.

 

Is this cheating? No, not technically. It does skirt the intent and spirit of the rule and is definitely not in the interest of sportsmanship.... but is anyone here actually going to suggest the NFL really gives a hoot about sportsmanship? If this is what happened, it seems Tom Brady likes his balls a bit mushy (insert various jokes here) and the team found a creative way to accommodate without actually breaking the rule.

 

I mean, if Goodell really wants to suspend someone, I guess he could suspend God for the laws of the universe? Or maybe himself for being a moron?

 

In the end, though, what we are finding out is the NFL, like MLB, is pretty much stupid for allowing the teams to be the caretakers of the fundamental piece of equipment needed for the game. Granted, for MLB, you have 2,430 regular season match ups to manage so their decision is somewhat understandable. But the NFL can't figure out that maybe the league should control and prepare the footballs used in their 256 regular season match ups? Hell, why not let the home teams hire and pay the refs, too!?

 

What's more, if the league actually makes that big a deal out of this (other than to change their practices with who preps the game balls), Goodell will.... again.... look like the giant arse he proves himself to be on a regular basis. Remember, this is the league that ignored a star running back cold-cocking his fiancee in a hotel elevator.... that's the culture of the NFL... of course team's try to skirt the rules in the culture of this league!

 

And, one other thing.... the league has stated the less inflated (different than "deflated" balls - there's a good chance no one actually "deflated" them) were only used in the first half. The balls used in the second half were fine. The final score was 45-7. The Patriots were up 17-7 at half. The Patriots outscored the Colts 28-0 in the second half. Translation: It's pretty hard to find a correlation between the less inflated balls and actual impact.

 

From what I've read, the difference in air temperature was not nearly enough to account for a 2psi differential. I concede I'm not an expert, but I've not read an explanation that could account for the difference naturally.

 

Isn't it odd that at least one ref handled those drastically altered balls on every play, and didn't notice anything unusual about them?

 

People get that the balls weren't a) two pounds lighter or b) Nerf-like, right?

Yeah, it is kind of strange...why do you think that is, given that the balls were different and measured to be such at halftime?

 

I'd be interested in your answer (in much the same way as I'm interested in Reb's answers about Lois Lerner.)

[Rick N. Backer]

Oh, wait. Johnson didn't play for the Patriots. We don't care what he did to game balls.

 

You know,

 

There is so much crap that goes on in sports. It's funny how certain players/teams get treated differently.

 

Yeah, it's almost like one team did broke the rules to gain a competitive advantage over the other with a non-compliant ball and the other team didn't.

Ugh.... so tired of hearing/talking about this non-story....

 

The league's rule is so ridiculously vague and their handling of the equipment process is so inept I don't know how Goodell could actually put up any punishment other than just the fine.

 

My prediction: They won't be able to prove any single person deflated the balls because the actual culprit is very likely the creative use of physics.

 

I was happy to see USA Today finally ran a story that I and pretty much any guy who works at a tire shop already theorized: Inflate the balls with warm air (perhaps in a sauna, or using some other method to warm pumped air) just before they are checked. As the balls are used outside in the cold, the air pressure will drop. The same phenomenon causes your tire pressure to increase with heat and decrease with cold.

 

No, the refs would not have noticed the balls as being hot because the air bladder inside the ball would act as a barrier. Yes, the air inside the balls would rapidly cool down and there would be an impact.

 

Is this cheating? No, not technically. It does skirt the intent and spirit of the rule and is definitely not in the interest of sportsmanship.... but is anyone here actually going to suggest the NFL really gives a hoot about sportsmanship? If this is what happened, it seems Tom Brady likes his balls a bit mushy (insert various jokes here) and the team found a creative way to accommodate without actually breaking the rule.

 

I mean, if Goodell really wants to suspend someone, I guess he could suspend God for the laws of the universe? Or maybe himself for being a moron?

 

In the end, though, what we are finding out is the NFL, like MLB, is pretty much stupid for allowing the teams to be the caretakers of the fundamental piece of equipment needed for the game. Granted, for MLB, you have 2,430 regular season match ups to manage so their decision is somewhat understandable. But the NFL can't figure out that maybe the league should control and prepare the footballs used in their 256 regular season match ups? Hell, why not let the home teams hire and pay the refs, too!?

 

What's more, if the league actually makes that big a deal out of this (other than to change their practices with who preps the game balls), Goodell will.... again.... look like the giant arse he proves himself to be on a regular basis. Remember, this is the league that ignored a star running back cold-cocking his fiancee in a hotel elevator.... that's the culture of the NFL... of course team's try to skirt the rules in the culture of this league!

 

And, one other thing.... the league has stated the less inflated (different than "deflated" balls - there's a good chance no one actually "deflated" them) were only used in the first half. The balls used in the second half were fine. The final score was 45-7. The Patriots were up 17-7 at half. The Patriots outscored the Colts 28-0 in the second half. Translation: It's pretty hard to find a correlation between the less inflated balls and actual impact.

 

From what I've read, the difference in air temperature was not nearly enough to account for a 2psi differential. I concede I'm not an expert, but I've not read an explanation that could account for the difference naturally.

 

Isn't it odd that at least one ref handled those drastically altered balls on every play, and didn't notice anything unusual about them?

 

People get that the balls weren't a) two pounds lighter or b) Nerf-like, right?

 

1. I don't know how odd I would consider it...I haven't felt the difference between footballs at those pressures, and I assume that a QB would be far more attuned to it than others.

 

2. Yes, I get that.

 

But the refs are the ones who check the balls before the game. And apparently they often do it just on how the ball "feels" without using a pressure gauge.

[g under p]

This stuff is getting more and more hilarious....

 

http://youtu.be/4fw-EOI9WNw

 

That's from 2007, before the Super Bowl, right?

 

I have no idea.....it's all too funny to me.

[LedRush]

Oh, wait. Johnson didn't play for the Patriots. We don't care what he did to game balls.

 

You know,

 

There is so much crap that goes on in sports. It's funny how certain players/teams get treated differently.

 

Yeah, it's almost like one team did broke the rules to gain a competitive advantage over the other with a non-compliant ball and the other team didn't.

Ugh.... so tired of hearing/talking about this non-story....

 

The league's rule is so ridiculously vague and their handling of the equipment process is so inept I don't know how Goodell could actually put up any punishment other than just the fine.

 

My prediction: They won't be able to prove any single person deflated the balls because the actual culprit is very likely the creative use of physics.

 

I was happy to see USA Today finally ran a story that I and pretty much any guy who works at a tire shop already theorized: Inflate the balls with warm air (perhaps in a sauna, or using some other method to warm pumped air) just before they are checked. As the balls are used outside in the cold, the air pressure will drop. The same phenomenon causes your tire pressure to increase with heat and decrease with cold.

 

No, the refs would not have noticed the balls as being hot because the air bladder inside the ball would act as a barrier. Yes, the air inside the balls would rapidly cool down and there would be an impact.

 

Is this cheating? No, not technically. It does skirt the intent and spirit of the rule and is definitely not in the interest of sportsmanship.... but is anyone here actually going to suggest the NFL really gives a hoot about sportsmanship? If this is what happened, it seems Tom Brady likes his balls a bit mushy (insert various jokes here) and the team found a creative way to accommodate without actually breaking the rule.

 

I mean, if Goodell really wants to suspend someone, I guess he could suspend God for the laws of the universe? Or maybe himself for being a moron?

 

In the end, though, what we are finding out is the NFL, like MLB, is pretty much stupid for allowing the teams to be the caretakers of the fundamental piece of equipment needed for the game. Granted, for MLB, you have 2,430 regular season match ups to manage so their decision is somewhat understandable. But the NFL can't figure out that maybe the league should control and prepare the footballs used in their 256 regular season match ups? Hell, why not let the home teams hire and pay the refs, too!?

 

What's more, if the league actually makes that big a deal out of this (other than to change their practices with who preps the game balls), Goodell will.... again.... look like the giant arse he proves himself to be on a regular basis. Remember, this is the league that ignored a star running back cold-cocking his fiancee in a hotel elevator.... that's the culture of the NFL... of course team's try to skirt the rules in the culture of this league!

 

And, one other thing.... the league has stated the less inflated (different than "deflated" balls - there's a good chance no one actually "deflated" them) were only used in the first half. The balls used in the second half were fine. The final score was 45-7. The Patriots were up 17-7 at half. The Patriots outscored the Colts 28-0 in the second half. Translation: It's pretty hard to find a correlation between the less inflated balls and actual impact.

 

From what I've read, the difference in air temperature was not nearly enough to account for a 2psi differential. I concede I'm not an expert, but I've not read an explanation that could account for the difference naturally.

 

Isn't it odd that at least one ref handled those drastically altered balls on every play, and didn't notice anything unusual about them?

 

People get that the balls weren't a) two pounds lighter or b) Nerf-like, right?

 

1. I don't know how odd I would consider it...I haven't felt the difference between footballs at those pressures, and I assume that a QB would be far more attuned to it than others.

 

2. Yes, I get that.

 

But the refs are the ones who check the balls before the game. And apparently they often do it just on how the ball "feels" without using a pressure gauge.

 

If they do it without a gauge, then we don't have to worry as much about the "how did they under inflate the balls" question. They just did it and weren't caught until half-time.