The Cobra
01-22-2015, 03:01 AM
(SportsNetwork.com) - A new day brought another wrinkle in the controversy over the balls the New England Patriots used in Sunday's AFC Championship Game.
While the NFL continues to look into the matter, FoxSports.com reported Wednesday that the Indianapolis Colts were tipped off by the Baltimore Ravens that the Patriots might be doctoring the air in their footballs.
The league has been investigating whether the Patriots used underinflated balls during their 45-7 win over Indianapolis in the rain-soaked game at Gillette Stadium, which earned them a berth in the Super Bowl against Seattle.
The Patriots beat the Ravens 35-31 in the divisional round eight days earlier.
It was reported this week that the Colts were alerted to the possibility the Patriots were using underinflated balls after D'Qwell Jackson intercepted New England quarterback Tom Brady in the second quarter.
But according to FoxSports.com, the NFL had already planned to inspect the footballs at halftime. The report did not specify why.
Citing league sources, ESPN.com reported Tuesday night that 11 of the 12 balls used by the Patriots during Sunday's game were underinflated by 2 pounds of air pressure per square inch (PSI).
NFL rules mandate game balls, which are inspected by the referee, be inflated to 12 1/2 to 13 1/2 PSI.
"We are continuing our review and will provide information as soon as possible," NFL spokesman Michael Signora told SportsNetwork.com in an email Wednesday.
A deflated football is said to be easier to throw and catch in inclement weather.
Current and former NFL quarterbacks have weighed in this week, with Green Bay star Aaron Rodgers saying he prefers balls that are inflated on the higher end of the allowable range.
Rodgers, saying officials are more likely to take air out of balls when they are inspected, believes the rules should specify a minimum PSI for game balls but not a maximum.
Ex-NFL quarterback Brad Johnson told the Tampa Bay Times he paid two ballboys a total of $7,500 to scuff up and break in the balls that were used during the Super Bowl in 2003, when he led the Buccaneers to a win over Oakland.
If the Patriots are found to have deflated footballs intentionally, they could be subject to penalties like the ones levied after the team was found to have videotaped defensive signals used by the New York Jets during a game in September 2007.
Those penalties included a $500,000 fine for Patriots coach Bill Belichick, a $250,000 fine for the team and the loss of a draft pick.
A source told ESPN the league was "disappointed ... angry ... distraught" over the underinflated balls.
According to NFL rules, game balls are required to be inspected by the referee two hours and 15 minutes before kickoff and may not be altered after that.
The Patriots say they have cooperated fully with the league's investigation.
While the NFL continues to look into the matter, FoxSports.com reported Wednesday that the Indianapolis Colts were tipped off by the Baltimore Ravens that the Patriots might be doctoring the air in their footballs.
The league has been investigating whether the Patriots used underinflated balls during their 45-7 win over Indianapolis in the rain-soaked game at Gillette Stadium, which earned them a berth in the Super Bowl against Seattle.
The Patriots beat the Ravens 35-31 in the divisional round eight days earlier.
It was reported this week that the Colts were alerted to the possibility the Patriots were using underinflated balls after D'Qwell Jackson intercepted New England quarterback Tom Brady in the second quarter.
But according to FoxSports.com, the NFL had already planned to inspect the footballs at halftime. The report did not specify why.
Citing league sources, ESPN.com reported Tuesday night that 11 of the 12 balls used by the Patriots during Sunday's game were underinflated by 2 pounds of air pressure per square inch (PSI).
NFL rules mandate game balls, which are inspected by the referee, be inflated to 12 1/2 to 13 1/2 PSI.
"We are continuing our review and will provide information as soon as possible," NFL spokesman Michael Signora told SportsNetwork.com in an email Wednesday.
A deflated football is said to be easier to throw and catch in inclement weather.
Current and former NFL quarterbacks have weighed in this week, with Green Bay star Aaron Rodgers saying he prefers balls that are inflated on the higher end of the allowable range.
Rodgers, saying officials are more likely to take air out of balls when they are inspected, believes the rules should specify a minimum PSI for game balls but not a maximum.
Ex-NFL quarterback Brad Johnson told the Tampa Bay Times he paid two ballboys a total of $7,500 to scuff up and break in the balls that were used during the Super Bowl in 2003, when he led the Buccaneers to a win over Oakland.
If the Patriots are found to have deflated footballs intentionally, they could be subject to penalties like the ones levied after the team was found to have videotaped defensive signals used by the New York Jets during a game in September 2007.
Those penalties included a $500,000 fine for Patriots coach Bill Belichick, a $250,000 fine for the team and the loss of a draft pick.
A source told ESPN the league was "disappointed ... angry ... distraught" over the underinflated balls.
According to NFL rules, game balls are required to be inspected by the referee two hours and 15 minutes before kickoff and may not be altered after that.
The Patriots say they have cooperated fully with the league's investigation.