I'm truly amazed at the hate being spewed out, not only here but on several websites, newspapers, radio and television programs. I would think that most people would wait for some absolute PROOF that the someone from the Patriots organization deliberately and intentionally under inflated the balls.

But no. An allegation has been made and based on that, people want to bounce them from the Super Bowl.

This whole thing is ridiculous. But, among the thousands of articles that have been published on this, I found one that talks about how messing with the ball inflation is common practice in the NFL. All the teams do it and everyone knows about it including the commissioner. The rule is broken all the time and the league looks the other way. It has been going on for years. Now that it has been exposed, the league is going to have to play CYA. They are now looking for some way to handle this from a public relations standpoint.

I'm amazed for how much hatred there is of The Patriots. I guess that it comes with the territory of being on top.

This as been one of the best and classiest organizations in the history of professional sports. From the owner all the way down to the ball boys, this organization has been a model for other sports teams.

But because the league has screwed up over the years, they are going to have to blame someone and The Patriots and their coach will probably take a hit just like they did in that phony spygate case ten years ago.

So go ahead and spew the venom. The Patriots and their fans will embrace it and continue to win football games.

But anyone who thinks that this franchise has won more football games than any other over the past 14 years because they took some video of an opponent from a few yards away from where it's allowed, or a few footballs were under inflated by a couple of pounds is thinking with their hearts and not their heads.
This is one of the greatest teams in the history of the NFL. They have what many believe to be the greatest coach and greatest quarterback in history. All of the players work their tails off to win games and it's a shame that a stupid allegation overshadows that fact with some people.

It's a bigger shame that a great team has to stoop to the antics that the Pats have used over the years. They don't need the extra edge, so why do they consistently go for it? A class act would have kept the balls within the guidelines. A class act wouldn't resort to spying on their opponents. A class act plows the field for both sides, not just their own. Sorry, but you'll never convince me that the Pats have class.

They do have a great team, a great coach and a great quarterback. It's a shame that isn't enough for them.

Totally agree, very well said..:BigApplause:

I find it amazing that all of the experts have commented about what has been alleged here and that there is no mention that only the Pats Coach knows about the way an underinflated football is different. Many Pro and College teams play every season in conditions that such a ball might help their team and this has not come up until the Pats won. With all of the technology that has been introduced I find it interesting that there was no way to detect this while the game was being played especially since the ball is placed at line after each play. BTW, I am not a Pats fan.

Actually, I wonder if it was detected, at least during the Indy game. I remember a ref blowing his whistle before a ball snap and changing the football out for another one. The announcers opined that perhaps they had a punting ball rather than a playing ball. But maybe it was an underinflated ball.

Off topic, but I wonder... are any of those posters who want the Patriots to be kicked out of the super bowl or severely punished the same people who voted to put Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame?

This is going to be the most-watched super bowl ever! So good hype job by the NFL.

Why didn't the person who was inspecting notice?

Really easy the inspection is done then the Balls are returned to the team. Then it is rather easy to alter the inflation rate.

You can't remove any team from the super bowl at this point. It wouldn't be fair to fans who have paid major dollars for tickets, hotel rooms, airfare, etc. Let the investigation begin and see how it plays out. Right now it is an allegation. If they are found guilty come up with a reasonable punishment, if not guilty move on.
The next area of question would how to avoid this in the future. One possible solution is after a team scores check the ball. If their is a violation, the score is nullified and an unsportsmanlike penalty is given. (I don't think it will add time to the game because all scoring plays are reviewed anyway. )

Personally, I wouldn't want them barred from playing in the Super Bowl regardless. Under inflating gives a slight edge. Fine them and change the rules as needed. They're a great team and even I can't take that fact away from them!

I like the idea of checking the ball after a score. Leave the balls in possession of the teams as now. Put in writing minimum/maximum inflation/deflation allowed. Have a hefty fine if guidelines not followed and take away the scored points. Great idea, Mark!

This all falls in the lap of the NFL, There is a rule on acceptable tolerance of ball inflation, if they have this rule then they need to enforce it, if they do not wish to enforce it, then they should eliminate the rule.
The NFL makes an issue if the players are not choir boys they fine them suspend them bar them from any and all future involvement. However they do not supervise and enforce other rules that also impact the integrity of the game.

Consistently gone for it? Consistently cheated? What a load of crap.

First of all, the snowplow incident was found to be completely in line with the NFL rules at the time. Secondly, that was a different coach, different players, different management and different ownership.

The spy gate nonsense was just that. They were allowed to tape the other teams practices, just not from where they did. Had the videographer been a few yards from where he was, there would have been no violation. All the teams film their opponents practices. The fine and penalties were just another instance of Goodell trying to save face. He knew that what the Patriots did was a minor technical violation of the rules, but the media made such a huge deal of it that he felt that he needed to do something.

This last incident is exactly the same thing. He knows all of the teams do it and have done it forever. He knows that the league has been allowing teams to bend the rules and he has to somehow cover that up and make the league look good. Like many people said, if the league had any common sense they would have been supply balls and ball handlers for every game. Instead they allow this to happen.

Now I find out today that Jim Harbaugh, the Raven's coach and perhaps the biggest crybaby in all of sports, alerted the NFL that the Patriots were playing with under inflated balls. That's nothing but being a sore loser. He also embarrassed himself by crying that The Patriots were running illegal plays when they were perfectly legal plays. He should have shut up and he wouldn't have brought so much attention to the fact that he was out coached.

The Patriots have always done everything by the book and with class. Two minor incidents that could have called on every team in the NFL has the media and fans of other teams up in arms.

Like I said, being hated just comes with the territory when you're the best.

Jim Harbaugh, the Baltimore Ravens' coach and well known cry baby reportedly notified the NFL to look out for under inflated balls.

If that's the case, why would the NFL not have made certain that the balls were right at game time?

Pete Rose was convicted and found guilty of violating the rules. The Patriots have been found guilty of nothing. There is simply an allegation. There is not one scintilla of proof that they knowingly and purposely under inflated balls.

Like I said, take away all of the points the the Patriots scored in the first half and the D'Qwell Jackson interception and The Patriots are still going to the Super Bowl.

If Harbaugh believed that balls were under inflated the previous week, why wouldn't he have brought it up then? That game, by the way was played in relatively warm, dry conditions.

Harbaugh can't win big games so he whines.

I think you meant John Harbaugh. I had to watch Jim quarterback the Bears. No fun either.

They couldn't been true Patriots fans not to know that Pete Carrol was the coach before Belichick and that Bill Parcels was before him.

They not remember Dick McPherson who was terrible before Parcells, but they should at least remember Raymond Berry back in the 80s who took the Pats to their first Super Bowl. Hel, I remember Lou Saban and Mike Holovak.

What is the point of that comment anyway?

It's not. And you know what about Boston?

The only factor in the colts /patriots game was the **** poor performance of the colts. I'm lost as how inflation of the ball had to do with the fact Luck got intercepted three times. Every team has either over or under inflated the balls. This has been going on for years. Old news.

Really I believe the only response to this allegation which is appearing more and more to be substantiated is disappointment. A true sports fan must be dismayed learning that in place of sportsman like and fair play conduct that a team or teams have to stooped so low.

I slowly pulled away from watching sports the first time I heard Frank
Gifford comment as he watched a player doing a dance after scoring a touchdown "Don't you think you ought to act like you been there before?"

Frank Gifford was right and not much has been right with this game any longer.

Regarding this allegation if true, then every member of the Pat's team are complicit.

The Super Bowl will go forward as planned if for no other reason than money. Like the police officers did to de Blasio I will also turn my back on the Pats, err turn the channel. If the Pats win the Super Bowl it will be a hollow victory

Most message boards require the poster to provide a links when you quote facts.

Here's a link NFL to interview Bill Belichick's staff NY Daily News

"Multiple reports highlighted Colts linebacker D'Qwell Jackson's interception as the point when Indianapolis suspected the balls used in the title game were deflated. The pick came in the second quarter on a pass intended for tight end Rob Gronkowski.

According to Newsday, Jackson gave the ball to a member of the Colts' equipment staff, who noticed the ball seemed underinflated. The equipment staffer then notified coach Chuck Pagano. General manager Ryan Grigson was notified in the press box, and he contacted Mike Kensil, NFL director of football operations."

First off, the above comments from Newsday indicate that Colts linebacker D'Qwell Jackson was the person who brought out the issue of the deflated balls, not John Harbaugh. Don't confuse him with the coach of Michigan, Jim Harbaugh.

Secondly, the only well known cry-baby in either playoff game is the one everybody knows, Tom Brady. He constantly whines to the officials and has on many occasions gotten a roughing the passer call for an insignicant hit. Something that you almost never see from Joe Flacco or Andrew Luck.

I wouldn't at all be surprised that Brady was the one who paid to have the balls deflated. Just this week former Bucs QB Brad Johnson admitted paying $7500 to have the balls in Super Bowl XXXVII tampered with. Link Ex-NFL QB admits paying people | Las Vegas Review-Journal

Third, Harbaugh can't win the big game? Did you forget the two New England home playoff loses to Baltimore? Had Gary Kubiak not made a blunder of a call, with the Ravens marching down the field and crossing midfield with a minute and a half left on the clock, calling for a deep pass into the endzone was a terrible call. So the Patriots won that game by 4 points, very lucky and was almost their third home playoff loss to the Ravens The team that can't win the big one? Think back now, two years ago, Super Bowl XXXVII who won?

Fourth, John Harbaugh as late as yesterday, said he saw nothing wrong with the balls used in their playoff game. Link Ravens did not notice anything about Patriots footballs, John Harbaugh says - Baltimore Sun

check

To late , Bellicheck, Troy Aiken, John Madden, and the Ball Boy have all thrown Brady under the bus.

Now if Goodell uses his banishment for life Policy ..(Rice ,Peterson etal) BRADY will be banished. (But that won't happen to the Patriots).

So if a ball involved in a turnover was reported to an official to be altered what was done by the NFL at that moment in time? In an imperfect world how can the NFL know who altered the balls? I believe today I read that Aaron Rogers overinflated their balls to make it easier to throw. In officiating games the league needs to enforce the rules fairly.

This is a great marketing tool to get people to watch the Super Bowl.

You totally misinterpreted my point regarding Pete Rose.

And I thought the Ravens DID complain about underinflated balls. They certainly tipped the Colts off about it. I guess maybe it took it happening twice to get the NFL to stand up and take notice.

It's understandable that Patriots fans are going to stand up for their team. It's also possible that this goes on everywhere and they were just too blatant about it. (It was stated today that 11 out of 12 of their game balls were underinflated.) Same thing with the videotaping. Many have said everyone does it but the Patriots were overly blatant about it.

I fault the NFL and the rather spineless Goodell for not ensuring that the game is played without cheating.

There has to be like a gazillion security cameras inside Gillette Stadium, especially in the locker room and ball room, so play the tapes and see who tampered with the footballs.

I remember that game well redwitch since I was living in Miami.....Don Shula refers to the coach as Bill Bella-a-cheat.
It's a fact of life whether you want to believe it or not but when millions are riding on a game whatever the sport, cheating will always be an option if they think they can get away with it.

or not...

Of Course
 

Of course they should be disqualified from the Super Bowl, etc. If you marked the slots on the head of our golf clubs before a tournament you would be disqualified, if you put tar on the bat or marked a basball you would be disqualified, If you used a non regulation racket, etc in tennis you would be disqualified, if you gave a horse an enhancement drug you would be disqualified, if you used non standard ski equipment you would be disqualified or went outside the gates you would be disqualified, if you used a non approved engine in racing you would be disqualified, and many many etc's. So tell me why cheating in pro football would not justify being disqualified. You would be disqualified if you signed a golf score card that did not represent your true score. The fact that they beat them by a large score is not important. They cheated and in fact by scoring as much as they did they mose likely cheated a number football pool and individual bets as they changed the betting spread. OF COURSE they will not be disqualified as money will rule and the courage to do the right thing is not there. Too bad they again lowered the bar on their reputation but they don't care as the money is what is important.:ohdear:

First of all, in order to call this cheating and take action it has to be PROVEN that this was done INTENTIONALLY. That is not even close to the case.

Secondly, if you've been following this, you know that the balls were replaced with legal balls in the second half. If you take away all of the points The Patriots scored in the first half, ( you should also take away the Colts interception by the way, since it was made with an illegal ball) they still would have won the game and beaten the point spread by 15 and a half points.

Even if it is found that this was done intentionally by a member of them team, there have been a number of former quarterbacks who say that it's common practice throughout the league. It is technically a violation of the rules, but the league has been looking the other way for decades. Now, all of a sudden they're going to start enforcing a rule that hasn't been enforced for decades because a whining Baltimore coach brings it up?

Thank you. Another rational mind.

We enjoyed watching most of the game on the cruise ship. Lots of us wearing jerseys from Green Bay, Seattle, New England, and Indianapolis. Televisions all over the ship. You could hear cheering all over the ship during the games but never from the casino.LOL. I want to say the colts fans showed a lot of class taking the loss gracefully. Just a game. On any given sunday!

Fran Tarkinton
 

As we all know Fran was an outstanding NFL quarterback with many many wins and awards. They interviewed him today and his assessment was that not one QB every allowed the crew to control the balls. Not one QB did not know the
feel of the ball and whether it was within limits. He felt that of course NE knew the ball was not legal and the Coach tried to throw the QB under the bus and the QB tried to throw the crew under the bus. This was not NE's first violation and it would be naive to believe they would not violate again to get into the Superbowl. I have great faith in what Fran was saying as he has been there and knows the circumstances. Regarding proof: It is proven the ball(s) were not legal that has been substaniated, it has been recognized that both the Coach, who is respoinsible for the team and QB who directs the plays and has the most knowledge of the ball are responsbile for all aspects of the game. If there has been a violation of the rules who else should be help responsible. Certaintly not the tight end, the center, etc. The QB today admitted the ball(s) were not in
line with the rules. Enough said.:ohdear:

No one has mentioned the referees who place the ball back on the field after every play. Why didn't one of them notice the under-inflated condition.

Go Pats

A violation of the rules would occur only if someone on the the team, knowingly and deliberately deflated the balls. We don't know that that's the case.

Even if that is the case, as I've stated before, several former NFL QBs have come forth and stated that this is standard practice in the NFL. Everyone does it and it has been allowed by the NFL for decades. In fact a Super Bowl winning quarterback admitted he did it in the Super Bowl that he won. For the NFL to suddenly decide that they are going to enforce this rule would be totally unreasonable.

Some QBS have come out and said that they would know the difference immediately and others have said there is no way that anyone could tell a 16% difference in PSI. Who are we to believe. There are many "experts" coming out with different opinions. Until the NFL has done their investigation and come to a conclusion, I think that everyone should cool it and stop jumping to conclusions.

According to Mike Florio from NBC Sports, "as to the fact that the officials didn’t notice anything wrong with the balls while handling them after every play, the [league] source explains that a pressure difference of one or two pounds would not be obvious, if the official is not specifically looking for it."

Source: Footballs were properly checked before Colts-Patriots game | ProFootballTalk

Because they handle the balls all the time and whether the ball had ten or ten and half psi it would have absolutetly nothing to do with the outcome of either teams performance. It's amazing to me people are still obsessing over it.:popcorn:

According to a news reporter, 2# of air weights about the same as a standard white business envelope, that he held in his hand.

Amen. Another reasonable person.

So...we should check the Patriots postal scale? I've had enough of this bologna.

No....you should wait for proof before laying blame on anyone. That's your bolognie.

It's not about the weight of the balls, it's about their hardness or softness. We're talking about 2 lb PSI. Not two pounds of weight. The amount of air necessary to achieve 2 lb PSI varies depending on the size of the object that is inflated.

New england cheaters
 

If you take the time to read my posts you'll learn I haven't blamed anyone. My bologna reference was to the others who have placed blame, and the postal scale reference was done tongue in cheek. (I grew up in MA)