Re: Report: NFL Probing NE for Deflating Balls
 

Aren't the officials supposed to check the pressure on the footballs before the game? If so, then this isn't on the Patriots.

Re: Report: NFL Probing NE for Deflating Balls
 

Mortensen's report indicates referee Walt Anderson inspected the Patriots' footballs two hours and 15 minutes before kickoff and granted them approval. It's unclear how the balls could have been deflated between Anderson's inspection and their use on the field.

Re: Report: NFL Probing NE for Deflating Balls
 

Exactly. I may be in the minority on this, but it's all on the refs. They have the ball and get it tossed and thrown to them to handle and redistribute to the center/snapper on every single play. I would think that part of their responsibility would be to verify that the ball is suitable for play and doesn't have too much/too little air pressure. They can stop the game and stop the clock at any point if they observe that there is something wrong with the game ball(s) and correct the situation. I really don't care what the Pats personnel did or did not do with the balls, as long as the refs validated the usage of the balls throughout the entire game there should be no cheating or no punishment.

And if you don't think there is 'enough time' for refs to inspect the ball during the game, also remember there are possession changes, injuries, timeouts, penalties, reviews, measurements and a million other things that stop the game. And during all of these a referee almost always has possession of the ball in play.

Re: Report: NFL Probing NE for Deflating Balls
 

Do both teams use the same balls?

Re: Report: NFL Probing NE for Deflating Balls
 

According to Graham Gano he ask a ref to check the air pressure in a Panthers game but the ref said they cant.

If it was another team involved I might not think much of it, but the refs checked the balls snd they were fine but during the game and all bar one was under weight. And the Pats love stretching whats legal

Re: Report: NFL Probing NE for Deflating Balls
 

Those are K-balls Gano was talking about though. I would hope that the ref is allowed to check game balls. It would be improbable, but what if a ball became punctured during a game and was completely flat? Wouldn't the ref be allowed to replace the ball?

Re: Report: NFL Probing NE for Deflating Balls
 

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

Hmm
Report: Colts told NFL of inflation concerns after November game vs. Pats | ProFootballTalk

Re: Report: NFL Probing NE for Deflating Balls
 

Bill Belichick and Brady should be suspended. Sick of these cheats. It has no place in a sport where fans are paying a premium for quality. The smugness of both of them should be dealt with immediately. I know that won't happen for the SB but suspensions are in order.

Re: Report: NFL Probing NE for Deflating Balls
 

For sure I wouldn't you're right. Honestly I didn't think there was anything to it. Now that we know I was wrong then I have to think Roger has to do to them what he did to us.

So that's what I think but I'd dance naked if he actually did it. He will fine them 50k and destroy the balls is more likely.

Re: Report: NFL Probing NE for Deflating Balls
 

See that's the thing, the refs let them do it. Just like the Seahawks DB's like to hit the wide receivers early knowing that it won't get called the majority of the time. If the refs are letting you get away with it, it's on the refs.

Edit: After further thought the Patriots should get some discipline, but, the ref in charge of this should be in trouble.