Quote:My take on Deflategate is a little different. Yes, the softer balls were a little easier to throw and catch, but the whole scheme was hatched to prevent fumbles. The whole focus on Brady is a bit of a red herring to keep the heat off of BB and Ernie Adams.


BB is the most detail oriented coach in the NFL and I don't find it plausible that he had zero knowledge of how the balls were prepped. BB has an extreme disdain for fumbling and nothing happens in that organization without his knowledge.

 

I agree.  I think Brady and Belichick were on the same page here.  Brady wanted softer balls to throw, Belichick knew the softer ball would reduce fumbles, and Brady's lobbying efforts to the NFL brought the rule change where teams provide their own game balls.  It appears the deflation would normally occur in the officials' locker room after the officials went onto the field.  McNally usually had 10-15 minutes between the officials leaving and the kickoff.

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