This IS serious allegation regarding the integrity of the game. I can't believe people are downplaying this - it is CHEATING.
The balls were properly inflated and inspected by the refs, then "somehow" the balls were deflated which makes them easier to throw and catch.
Whether or not it had a material impact on the Colts losing or not is irrelevant; the Patriots organization had a responsibility to comply with the rules and they failed to do so.
Forfeiture of draft picks is the minimum I would expect to happen in this case.
Quote:Uh, yes it does matter. Again, please tell me who is gonna get punished and what they are going to be punished for.
The refs are responsible for inspecting all the game balls before each game. They all checked out fine apparently since they were allowed to use them. So what happened after that?
You see, you need a little thing called "evidence " to prosecute someone. And at this time there is nothing but internet stupidity(in abundance).
They got the evidence when they tested the balls.
Just like in nascar, the teams are responsible for the equipment they compete with. It doesn't matter that they get caught after the fact, it is still considered a violation.
Quote:This IS serious allegation regarding the integrity of the game. I can't believe people are downplaying this - it is CHEATING.
The balls were properly inflated and inspected by the refs, then "somehow" the balls were deflated which makes them easier to throw and catch.
Whether or not it had a material impact on the Colts losing or not is irrelevant; the Patriots organization had a responsibility to comply with the rules and they failed to do so.
Forfeiture of draft picks is the minimum I would expect to happen in this case.
everyone does it. teams/players have been doing this for years and no one has ever cared.
its the refs job to notice. if they handle the balls all game and dont notice, thats their problem. too cold? other things on their mind? it was probably too cold for them to pay attention to holding or PI as well then....
if the pats were already accused of it once earlier, why is no one keeping an eye on them? its all crap.
Quote:everyone does it. teams/players have been doing this for years and no one has ever cared.
its the refs job to notice. if they handle the balls all game and dont notice, thats their problem. too cold? other things on their mind? it was probably too cold for them to pay attention to holding or PI as well then....
if the pats were already accused of it once earlier, why is no one keeping an eye on them? its all crap.
The NFL was keeping an eye out:
Quote:According to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports, the NFL already had planned to check the footballs at halftime, based on concerns previously raised by the Colts. It’s unclear whether the Colts noticed that the balls were deflated during the November 16 regular-season game between the two teams or whether the Ravens (as Glazer suggested) shared the information with the franchise that used to be in Baltimore.
Regardless, the pressure gauges were going to be inserted into the balls regardless of whether Jackson or any other Colts player had gotten his hands on one of the Patriots’ 12 footballs.
<a class="bbc_url" href='http://m.nbcsports.com/content/report-nfl-planned-inspect-patriots-football-d%E2%80%99qwell-jackson-interception'>http://m.nbcsports.com/content/report-nfl-planned-inspect-patriots-football-d’qwell-jackson-interception</a>
Quote:Correct, not freezing cold, but some what miserable conditions. It's dropped to upper 40's with rain. Anyways, point being the refs not noticing is not a surprise.
Actually officials
did notice it. After the second half kickoff, Walt Anderson asked for a ball, dried it, threw it back, and asked for another ball several times. Obviously at that point he knew something was wrong with the footballs.
Here's something ESPN hasn't mentioned and that has not been mentioned in The Jungle either... If they cheated in deflating the balls against the clots, how likely is it that the did the same thing against the Ravens?
That game was decided with a TD pass from a WR to another WR... A deflated ball in that situation probably helped significantly more than against the clots.
And I'm pretty sure that if the cheaters cheated this past Sunday, there's no reason to not believe they deflated balls in the divisional round game as well.
The whole thing taints the patriots. It didn't matter against the clots,but a deflated ball against the Ravens would absolutely would have made a difference...
Quote:Goodell don't need no stinkin' evidence. 
It was cheating, on par with (say) a personal foul. It did not affect the outcome of the game and would be less likely to do so than (say) injuring another player. The whole 'easier to throw' thing is probably mental rather than physical. I expect a big fine, but no draft picks.
Actually, it's cheating more on par with using a corked bat in baseball.
The difference is that in baseball the player is responsible for the bat he uses and receives fines and suspensions for using non regulation equipment.
In football, it is the team that is responsible for the equipment they use, and since they generally don't suspend a team, they will most likely receive a fine and forfeit some draft picks.
Quote:everyone does it. teams/players have been doing this for years and no one has ever cared.
its the refs job to notice. if they handle the balls all game and dont notice, thats their problem. too cold? other things on their mind? it was probably too cold for them to pay attention to holding or PI as well then....
if the pats were already accused of it once earlier, why is no one keeping an eye on them? its all crap.
You can't just say everyone does it without any proof. You can't just make up in your head that everyone does it and then start telling everyone that everyone does it.
It's funny all the crap you post about FSU in other threads, but somehow are able to find a pass for this.
Quote:Actually, it's cheating more on par with using a corked bat in baseball.
The difference is that in baseball the player is responsible for the bat he uses and receives fines and suspensions for using non regulation equipment.
In football, it is the team that is responsible for the equipment they use, and since they generally don't suspend a team, they will most likely receive a fine and forfeit some draft picks.
They made a good reference on 1010 this morning and comparing it with using pine tar on your bat.
This post is 100% spot on. People want to say that if they don't have the guy that deflated the balls then you can't fine/punish them. Someone on that team has been doing it for quite some time if the Colts said it happened in November and that is what caused the NFL to look at halftime.
Quote:The patriots organization will be fined, belicheck fined, and draft picks forfeited. That is my guess. Like predator said, Ignorance is not an acceptable defense.
And "thats my guess" is not acceptable to prosecute anyone for anything. My guess is maybe YOU deflated those balls. I guess thats good enough to hand out some punishment now right?
Quote:They got the evidence when they tested the balls.
Just like in nascar, the teams are responsible for the equipment they compete with. It doesn't matter that they get caught after the fact, it is still considered a violation.
No, they dont have any evidence.
You wake up this morning and your neighbors dog is dead on your front lawn. Why did you kill their dog? The dog is on your property so its your responsibility right? We dont need any other "evidence", time to hand out some punishment.
Quote: "thats my guess" is not an acceptable evidence to prosecute anyone for anything. My guess is maybe YOU deflated those balls. I guess thats good enough to hand out some punishment now right?
"That's my guess" is what he believes the punishment will be, not that is what he guessed happened.
He stated it happened, and what he felt the punishment would be.
Quote:No, they dont have any evidence.
You wake up this morning and your neighbors dog is dead on your front lawn. Why did you kill their dog? The dog is on your property so its your responsibility right? We dont need any other "evidence", time to hand out some punishment.
You are comparing something showing up dead in your yard to 12 footballs that after a referee checks them are in sole possession of the team? Really? You tried this? This sounded like a good comparison to you?
Quote:"That's my guess" is what he believes the punishment will be, not that is what he guessed happened.
He stated it happened, and what he felt the punishment would be.
Read slowly, the point was you need evidence to punish someone. There is none.
Quote:You are comparing something showing up dead in your yard to 12 footballs that after a referee checks them are in sole possession of the team? Really? You tried this? This sounded like a good comparison to you?
Im sorry you cant understand the simple analogy. I can explain something to you, but I cant understand it for you.
As per the rule book on this:
The Referee shall be the sole judge as to whether all balls offered for play comply with these specifications.
I'll jump right on that Patriot hate bandwagon as soon as any evidence gets shown. Until then, its innocent until proven guilty...I know thats a weird concept for some of you.
Quote:"if proper protocol is followed, the only opportunity to manipulate the balls is minutes before kickoff or during the game on the sideline, where there's a risk of anyone in the stadium and dozens of TV cameras seeing it."
Quote:Read slowly, the point was you need evidence to punish someone. There is none.
How not? Once the balls are in the Patriots possession you can punish the organization.
Quote:No, they dont have any evidence.
You wake up this morning and your neighbors dog is dead on your front lawn. Why did you kill their dog? The dog is on your property so its your responsibility right? We dont need any other "evidence", time to hand out some punishment.
They tested the balls before the game and then they tested them at halftime. You think they somehow miraculously lost air?
Did you read the Deadspin article? The reason they were checked at halftime is because two intercepted balls in their November game raised suspicions.
Lol at your example.
Quote:Im sorry you cant understand the simple analogy. I can explain something to you, but I cant understand it for you.
It's an absolutely terrible analogy. Said dog was never in possession of the homeowner at any given time like the footballs were. You couldn't have come up with a worse situation.