Quote:I don't know if you ever heard of this concept before, but it's called personal responsibility.

 

Every other major professional league mandates that teams supply their own balls. The teams already have the staffing and info structure in place to manage the equipment and the designated proceeds to cover the costs.

 

Providing the equipment and making sure it complies with NFL regulations is part of the franchise's charter with the league. Teams fully accept this responsibility when they join the league. If they can't handle this responsibility, then they have the option to relinquish their charter and leave the NFL or face the the penalties they are due.

 

Yes this "personal responsibility" concept does seem vaguely familiar to me...

 

All kidding aside, the Patriots personal responsibility has little to do with the league's enforcement of their own rules.  If they want a game ball that is inflated to somewhere between 12.5 and 13.5 PSI, they are the responsible party for ensuring that's what is on the playing field and not creating windows of opportunity in the process.  It doesn't take "info structure", or infrastructure for that matter, for the league to keep an eye on the game balls once they take possession of them prior to the game.  Whether that's a ref or league official wheeling the balls out, or whether it's a league official walking with the ball boys once the balls are returned to the teams.  I'm sure those will be considered as possible solutions going forward.  

 

Patriots are likely guilty of something, but unless there is video evidence of the ball boy releasing air from the game balls in a private room that he side stepped into on his way to the field, I don't think any real punishment will come of this.  I'm sure changes in policy will though.  

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