Pats Possibly Caught Cheating...Again

[Stoked]

https://www.si.com/nfl/2015/01/20/new-england-patriots-deflated-footballs-nfl-investigation

11 of 12 game balls were underinflated by 2 lbs. each. This is after they were tested and fine 2 hours before game time. Tested by the officating crew. At half time those balls were tested again and 11 of 12 were found to have been deflated.

Now the NFL is looking into if they can prove it was intentional.

If so what should happen to the Pats? Keep in mind spygate a couple years back.

In my opinion a huge message needs to be sent by the league. This possibly got the Pats to the Superbowl. It undermines the entire league. More then draft picks need to be removed from the team, but what?

Ban Belichek?
Monetary penalties?
Draft picks removal?
Suspend the Pats organization for next season?

 

[Just Ted]

Make Belichek wear a suit.

 

[Qman]

Large fine for the Coach, team and owner which is used to buy free footballs for underprivileged kids.

 

[fishonjazz]

Why the **** do the two teams use separate football's? Seems that the nfl was just asking for a team to do something like this.

I can understand each team having thier own football's on the sideline to warm up with and stuff, but the ball that is being used on the field should be from one group of football's that both teams use.
Seems like common sense

 

[Stoked]

Why the **** do the two teams use separate football's? Seems that the nfl was just asking for a team to do something like this.

I can understand each team having thier own football's on the sideline to warm up with and stuff, but the ball that is being used on the field should be from one group of football's that both teams use.
Seems like common sense

I absolutely see changes in policy being made after this.

But back to the OP. If this was intentional then Belichek should be banned for all next year and be forbidden from any contact, direct or indirect, with the team on risk of a life time ban.

 

[MVP]

I have no idea what kind of advantage that gives in football, can somebody explain? Aren't both teams playing with the same ball anyway?

 

[sirkickyass]

What was the ambient temperature surrounding the balls at the time of the first test and at the time of the second test?

 

[Stoked]

I have no idea what kind of advantage that gives in football, can somebody explain? Aren't both teams playing with the same ball anyway?

Each team has their own set of balls so no they are not playing with the same ball. In fact there are up to a potential 32 balls in the arena ready for use. Only the Pats balls were deflated after they passed the initial test. A slighty underinflated ball is is easeir to catch and hold on too, especially in colder weather. Liek the kind of weather in New England in late January...

What was the ambient temperature surrounding the balls at the time of the first test and at the time of the second test?

The problem is that only 11 of the Pats 12 balls were deflated after the second test and none of the Indy balls were. Also it says the 11 underinflated balls were each 2lbs lighter. That implies measurement.

 

[nightmare3983]

I don't really know what a good punishment should be. I'd go with some combination of a large fine and the loss of multiple draft picks.

 

[sirkickyass]

The problem is that only 11 of the Pats 12 balls were deflated after the second test and none of the Indy balls were. Also it says the 11 underinflated balls were each 2lbs lighter. That implies measurement.

I don't disagree that they were measured. I'm saying that I'm not certain what the measurement means or if all balls were measured under the same conditions. Keep in mind, this is the NFL, which isn't exactly the best at getting the details right. You know, like having each team play with a different set of balls for no real reason. I'm curious about the temperature issue because, anecdotally, as the temperature gets colder my car tires don't all lose pressure at the same rate either.

I've seen that the Pats balls were deflated but I haven't seen anything indicating that the other balls were measured contemporaneously. I also think it's dubious that each Pats ball was the exact same amount "flatter" than spec.

Is there a verified source for any of these stories by the way? I keep seeing the equivalent of "league sources" and given how public this is that really makes me wonder what the hell is happening.

BTW: I barely even follow football and don't have a "team" so I don't have a rooting interest in this fight.

 

[MVP]

Each team has their own set of balls so no they are not playing with the same ball. In fact there are up to a potential 32 balls in the arena ready for use. Only the Pats balls were deflated after they passed the initial test. A slighty underinflated ball is is easeir to catch and hold on too, especially in colder weather. Liek the kind of weather in New England in late January...



The problem is that only 11 of the Pats 12 balls were deflated after the second test and none of the Indy balls were. Also it says the 11 underinflated balls were each 2lbs lighter. That implies measurement.

So isn't the solution simple? Play with the same ball all the time. Why would you need that many balls again?

 

[Stoked]

So isn't the solution simple? Play with the same ball all the time. Why would you need that many balls again?

A solution is simple and I never hinted at anything different.

But if this was cheating then shouldn't there be a harsh penalty?

@Kicky, good point on were the other balls measured...I'm not sure. But the report is still ong oing and hopefully, for the integrity of the game, they do a full review and are very thorough.

With the way the league handled the Ray Rice incedent it is easy to understand why one would be skeptical. As it is to understand one that thinks the Pats did cheat with spygate.