From BB presser this morning:
The moment the nation has been waiting for has arrived.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick addressed the media at Gillette Stadium Wednesday and as you might imagine, was immediately asked about the controversy known as Deflategate.
Belichick said he was shocked to learn about the balls being deflated and has learned a lot in the past few days.
"I had no knowledge of the various steps involved with the game balls," Belichick said.
Belichick suggested quarterback Tom Brady be asked about the pressure in the footballs.
"Quarterbacks, kickers have preferences," Belichick said. "I hear them comment on it. There is never any sympathy from me on that subject. Tom’s personal preferences on footballs are something he can talk about in better detail. [It's more than] I can possibly provide."
"I have never talked to any player, staff member about football air pressure," Belichick said. "To me, the footballs are approved by game officials, and we play with what’s out there."
Belichick said the Patriots game balls are kept at the low end of the 12.5-13.5 (PSI) specifications of the NFL.
"Any deflation would take us under specification limit," Belichick said. "In the future, we will certainly inflate footballs above that low level to account for possible change... we will take steps in future to make sure we don’t put ourselves in that situation again."
Well then, case closed.
Re: Erin Andrews - I find her to be neither underinflated nor overinflated
I don't think that is Erin Andrews, at least not THE Erin Andrews...it doesn't look like her, and I don't think she ever worked for CBS.
Regardless, the woman is annoying, have you heard her talk?
We are merely talking inflation; and whomever is in that picture seems to pe perfectly inflated
"I had no knowledge of the various steps involved with the game balls," Belichick said.
He's been in the League since 1975. Gotta give him credit saying stuff like this. 
LaGarrete Blount steamrolled the Colts defense for 148 yards because of those damned underinflated footballs!
"I had no knowledge of the various steps involved with the game balls," Belichick said.
He's been in the League since 1975. Gotta give him credit saying stuff like this.
he's trying to say in a nice way, "eff off, fine me, take a pick, just get outta my face".
LaGarrete Blount steamrolled the Colts defense for 148 yards because of those damned underinflated footballs!
and they outscored the Dolts, 28-0 in the second half with regular ones.
I live an hour west of Boston and have to say Patriot fans have to be the most cocky, arrogant, obnoxious fans I have ever met. Any time there is an issue with the team cheating the excuse is everybody hates them so are looking for a way to tear them down. And when they lose there is always an excuse and it is never because the other team was better.
I am not a Seattle fan by any means but I will be rooting for the Hawks to kick the Patriots ass just so I don't have to listen to all the Pats fans bragging about how they are the greatest team ever.
"In the event a home team ball does not conform to specifications, or its supply is exhausted, the Referee shall secure a proper ball from the visitors and, failing that, use the best available ball. Any such circumstances must be reported to the Commissioner."
The above is from the rules. By having this in the rules the NFL admits that balls that pass inspection 135 minutes before game time may no longer be in spec during a game, therefore the refs have the ability to use what they determine to be an acceptable ball for play. There is nothing in the rules that mandates that the balls must remain in pre game spec at all times. This leaves LOTS of room for interpretation. As long as the ball passes pre game inspection, it is playable as long as the refs deem it so. Given this, where did the Patriots violate the rule? Did they violate it by understanding that a ball filled to minimum pressure 135 minutes before game time and kept warm would now be at a lower pressure during a game? Did they violate a rule by having balls that when wet have leather that can stretch a bit? Did they violate the rule by letting some air out on purpose, IF in fact anyone did that (guilty until proven innocent). Its all in how you interpret the rules. This is known as a grey area in the legal arena. It is up to the league to determine if they feel the rule was wrongly manipulated or not, and it is shameful that the league has been officially silent on this all week as it blew up to international crisis levels.
[Edited on 1/22/2015 by gondicar]
I live an hour west of Boston and have to say Patriot fans have to be the most cocky, arrogant, obnoxious fans I have ever met.
You know any Cowboy fans?
LaGarrete Blount steamrolled the Colts defense for 148 yards because of those damned underinflated footballs!
and they outscored the Dolts, 28-0 in the second half with regular ones.
Nobody is denying that they are a great team, but why did they need to deflate those balls? Couldn't they just try to win on their own merit?
I live an hour west of Boston and have to say Patriot fans have to be the most cocky, arrogant, obnoxious fans I have ever met.
You know any Cowboy fans?
Yes I do but the ones I know lost their swagger many years ago after rooting for a mediocre team the last decade +. They were excited about this year but were not convinced the teams was the real thing. Patriot fans on the other hand seem to see a trip to the SB as some kind of entitlement.
"In the event a home team ball does not conform to specifications, or its supply is exhausted, the Referee shall secure a proper ball from the visitors and, failing that, use the best available ball. Any such circumstances must be reported to the Commissioner."
The above is from the rules. By having this in the rules the NFL admits that balls that pass inspection 135 minutes before game time may no longer be in spec during a game, therefore the refs have the ability to use what they determine to be an acceptable ball for play. There is nothing in the rules that mandates that the balls must remain in pre game spec at all times. This leaves LOTS of room for interpretation. As long as the ball passes pre game inspection, it is playable as long as the refs deem it so. Given this, where did the Patriots violate the rule? Did they violate it by understanding that a ball filled to minimum pressure 135 minutes before game time and kept warm would now be at a lower pressure during a game? Did they violate a rule by having balls that when wet have leather that can stretch a bit? Did they violate the rule by letting some air out on purpose, IF in fact anyone did that (guilty until proven innocent). Its all in how you interpret the rules. This is known as a grey area in the legal arena. It is up to the league to determine if they feel the rule was wrongly manipulated or not, and it is shameful that the league has been officially silent on this all week as it blew up to international crisis levels.
[Edited on 1/22/2015 by gondicar]
it's the Patriots. Things are magnified.
TB12 on at 345 today.
Here's the scenario: He pleads ignorance, says he casually mentioned to team manager footballs felt "heavy". Walks away (or not 😉 ) TM takes out 2 pounds...or, he falls on the sword to protect Bill, says, "Yup, the footballs felt heavy, I don't have a pressure gauge, sorry."
I'll tell you this, I'll be very surprised if the NFL lays this on crew chief Walt Anderson, who btw, is responsible for the balls being inside regs and had an "oops" moment at halftime, thanks to Pagano, who had no other way to deflate the onslaught his team was suffering (can you say Mangini?) other than to call his GM, and got some reg balls into play and the Patriots put up 28.
I live an hour west of Boston and have to say Patriot fans have to be the most cocky, arrogant, obnoxious fans I have ever met.
You know any Cowboy fans?
Yes I do but the ones I know lost their swagger many years ago after rooting for a mediocre team the last decade +. They were excited about this year but were not convinced the teams was the real thing. Patriot fans on the other hand seem to see a trip to the SB as some kind of entitlement.
we are spoiled, no doubt. I don't see it as an entitlement, I just expect it. Geez man, give us a bit of credit...they are in fact a pretty damn good team.
fret not, haters. The run ends soon and someone else can tattoo the target on their chest.
I live an hour west of Boston and have to say Patriot fans have to be the most cocky, arrogant, obnoxious fans I have ever met.
You know any Cowboy fans?
Yes I do but the ones I know lost their swagger many years ago after rooting for a mediocre team the last decade +. They were excited about this year but were not convinced the teams was the real thing. Patriot fans on the other hand seem to see a trip to the SB as some kind of entitlement.
we are spoiled, no doubt. I don't see it as an entitlement, I just expect it.
fret not, haters. The run ends soon and someone else can tattoo the target on their chest.
No one ever said they weren't a good team we just don't need their fans rubbing it in our faces all the time and then disappearing and not wanting to deal with it when they don't win.
I live an hour west of Boston and have to say Patriot fans have to be the most cocky, arrogant, obnoxious fans I have ever met.
You know any Cowboy fans?
Yes I do but the ones I know lost their swagger many years ago after rooting for a mediocre team the last decade +. They were excited about this year but were not convinced the teams was the real thing. Patriot fans on the other hand seem to see a trip to the SB as some kind of entitlement.
we are spoiled, no doubt. I don't see it as an entitlement, I just expect it.
fret not, haters. The run ends soon and someone else can tattoo the target on their chest.
No one ever said they weren't a good team we just don't need their fans rubbing it in our faces all the time and then disappearing and not wanting to deal with it when they don't win.
Personally, I've taken my fair share of hits. Just ask Sang, MacKenzie or Bhawk.
a reporter asked Bill if he was concerned about his integrity.
???
that's the thing in all this. The media can do, say, ask anything they want to whoever they want and blow anything up (pardon the pun) to monumental proportions, especially if they don't like you and props to Bill for leveling the playing field in the press room.
a reporter asked Bill if he was concerned about his integrity.
I think a better question would be if he was concerned about his legacy. 😉
Two more former NFL QBs weigh in on this nonsense...
Brady Quinn: It’s all a media creation, albeit one that has captured the attentions of football fans nationwide.
http://nesn.com/2015/01/brady-quinn-patriots-deflategate-controversy-a-bunch-of-hot-air/
Drew Bledsoe: Patriots’ ‘DeflateGate’ Controversy ‘Seems Kind Of Silly’
http://nesn.com/2015/01/drew-bledsoe-patriots-deflategate-controversy-seems-kind-of-silly/
[Edited on 1/22/2015 by gondicar]
a reporter asked Bill if he was concerned about his integrity.
I think a better question would be if he was concerned about his legacy. 😉
again, the Patriots.
if this were Jacksonville or Tennessee or Oakland, would anyone give a dang? Even if one of them won their conference championship, there wouldn't be this much coverage. Like I said in the real football thread and not this controversy-driven pile of drivel, it's the price ya gotta pay.
this has become international news, an absolute media frenzy.
people seem to lose sight of the fact the Pats WON THE GAME 45-7.
people love attaching those asterisks. This thread is proof.
...speaking of proof... 😉
"In the event a home team ball does not conform to specifications, or its supply is exhausted, the Referee shall secure a proper ball from the visitors and, failing that, use the best available ball. Any such circumstances must be reported to the Commissioner."
Why are the teams providing the balls? Shouldn't the NFL provide a couple cases of balls for every game?
Tax exempt and can't even buy the balls for the game. Sheesh.
a reporter asked Bill if he was concerned about his integrity.
I think a better question would be if he was concerned about his legacy. 😉
again, the Patriots.
if this were Jacksonville or Tennessee or Oakland, would anyone give a dang? Even if one of them won their conference championship, there wouldn't be this much coverage. Like I said in the real football thread and not this controversy-driven pile of drivel, it's the price ya gotta pay.
this has become international news, an absolute media frenzy.
people seem to lose sight of the fact the Pats WON THE GAME 45-7.
people love attaching those asterisks. This thread is proof.
No "official" asterisk will ever be needed. He'll always have "cheater" hung over his head by some.
Two more former NFL QBs weigh in on this nonsense...
Brady Quinn: It’s all a media creation, albeit one that has captured the attentions of football fans nationwide.
http://nesn.com/2015/01/brady-quinn-patriots-deflategate-controversy-a-bunch-of-hot-air/
Drew Bledsoe: Patriots’ ‘DeflateGate’ Controversy ‘Seems Kind Of Silly’
http://nesn.com/2015/01/drew-bledsoe-patriots-deflategate-controversy-seems-kind-of-silly/
There's ex-players all over the place. Jerry Rice and Hines Ward are on record calling it cheating.
"In the event a home team ball does not conform to specifications, or its supply is exhausted, the Referee shall secure a proper ball from the visitors and, failing that, use the best available ball. Any such circumstances must be reported to the Commissioner."
Why are the teams providing the balls? Shouldn't the NFL provide a couple cases of balls for every game?
Tax exempt and can't even buy the balls for the game. Sheesh.
The NFL does send the balls to the teams, the QBs pick out of a pile of 30 balls that are sent to each team prior to every game. It's what the teams do with them after that...
Let's also not forget that, if, say, the Jets were caught in this situation that Patriot fans would be all cute, cuddly and forgiving.
Two more former NFL QBs weigh in on this nonsense...
Brady Quinn: It’s all a media creation, albeit one that has captured the attentions of football fans nationwide.
http://nesn.com/2015/01/brady-quinn-patriots-deflategate-controversy-a-bunch-of-hot-air/
Drew Bledsoe: Patriots’ ‘DeflateGate’ Controversy ‘Seems Kind Of Silly’
http://nesn.com/2015/01/drew-bledsoe-patriots-deflategate-controversy-seems-kind-of-silly/
There's ex-players all over the place. Jerry Rice and Hines Ward are on record calling it cheating.
Any QBs?
Let's also not forget that, if, say, the Jets were caught in this situation that Patriot fans would be all cute, cuddly and forgiving.
No one would be talking about it if it were any other team. No one.
Two more former NFL QBs weigh in on this nonsense...
Brady Quinn: It’s all a media creation, albeit one that has captured the attentions of football fans nationwide.
http://nesn.com/2015/01/brady-quinn-patriots-deflategate-controversy-a-bunch-of-hot-air/
Drew Bledsoe: Patriots’ ‘DeflateGate’ Controversy ‘Seems Kind Of Silly’
http://nesn.com/2015/01/drew-bledsoe-patriots-deflategate-controversy-seems-kind-of-silly/
There's ex-players all over the place. Jerry Rice and Hines Ward are on record calling it cheating.
Any QBs?
Haven't realy searched. I think the best receiver of all time might have some insight. 😛
Let's also not forget that, if, say, the Jets were caught in this situation that Patriot fans would be all cute, cuddly and forgiving.
No one would be talking about it if it were any other team. No one.
Scott, bro, it's OK. You can't be this surprised. You yourself were just basking in the "haters gonna hate" a few days ago. No one is going to feel sorry for the Patriots and I think you know it has a lot more to do with than just "jealousy."
Tell you what, though. I'll bet the Patriots win the SB in one of the biggest blowouts ever. "The rest of the world thinks we are cheaters that don't deserve it" is one fantastic motivator.
Two more former NFL QBs weigh in on this nonsense...
Brady Quinn: It’s all a media creation, albeit one that has captured the attentions of football fans nationwide.
http://nesn.com/2015/01/brady-quinn-patriots-deflategate-controversy-a-bunch-of-hot-air/
Drew Bledsoe: Patriots’ ‘DeflateGate’ Controversy ‘Seems Kind Of Silly’
http://nesn.com/2015/01/drew-bledsoe-patriots-deflategate-controversy-seems-kind-of-silly/
There's ex-players all over the place. Jerry Rice and Hines Ward are on record calling it cheating.
Any QBs?
LOL, I think you just knew I'd look this up...ok, here's Dan Marino...
"In inclement weather, if the ball is a little deflated, it can help you," Marino said. "It's something that when I played didn't think about it as much, or notice that much. The balls that we'd get before the games, we'd always rough them up."
😛 😛 😛
