OT: Patriots and Deflate Gate

[Goose85]

I know this is a MU board, but I always like to see the opinions of those on this board on other topics as well.

Ok, it looks like the NFL thinks the Pats knowingly broke the rules. In other situations this year, piped in crowd noise / texting down to the field, there have been NFL penalties levied. I would think the same would happen here, any thoughts on what the penalty should be?

People keep talking about the QB, but any deflating of the ball helps a running back probably more than a QB. Less air in the ball, easier to avoid fumbling.

OT I know, but just thought it would be interesting to hear what other MU hoops fans (different NFL team fans) think.

[MKE_GoldenEagleFan]

I think they will do something, I mean come on, handing down punishment is Goddell's favorite activity. I'd imagine there will be monetary fines for the team, MAYBE a draft pick vacated, and Brady might get a game or two if they felt he was involved enough.

[TheSultan]

I think this is one of the most overblown stories in recent times. Fine them some draft picks and some cash. Move on.

I think the bigger story is MSG hiring back Isiah Thomas as President of a WNBA franchise after being found guilty of creating a hostile work environment for when when he worked for the same company as President of the Knicks. Now *that* is something to be upset about.

[Nukem2]

Yes, I would say this is overblown. In reality, the teams play with the same ball(s). Fine the Patriots and dock some draft picks and suspend Brady for an important game.

[Goose85]

Yes, I would say this is overblown. In reality, the teams play with the same ball(s). Fine the Patriots and dock some draft picks and suspend Brady for an important game.

I don't think there is any level of football where teams play with the same ball(s). Each team brings their own balls to games, and when on offense Patriots use their balls and, for example, when the Colts are on offense the Colts use their footballs. Same is done in college, high school and grade school.

Could also explain why the Patriot fumble stats are so much better than everyone else. The affect on fumbling is the much bigger advantage in my opinion.

[MU/Panther]

I don't watch the NFL can someone explain what this story is about? Joking, I've heard what's been going on.

Story is overblown, Colts got kills. Every team wants some type of edge. Rodgers like the balls overfilled. Brady likes them different. Don't have managers for teams doing this, then it would be avoided.

[Nukem2]

I don't think there is any level of football where teams play with the same ball(s). Each team brings their own balls to games, and when on offense Patriots use their balls and, for example, when the Colts are on offense the Colts use their footballs. Same is done in college, high school and grade school.

Could also explain why the Patriot fumble stats are so much better than everyone else. The affect on fumbling is the much bigger advantage in my opinion.

Did not realize that was so. If so, perhaps the NFL should totally control the supply of (and, inflation of... ) game balls. Baseball controls the supply of balls (with some trickery still going on after that).

PS, a quick google suggests that the home team in the NFL provides the game balls (36 for outdoors or 24 for indoors with additional balls for the kicking game). Not sure you are correct on this.

[Goose85]

Did not realize that was so. If so, perhaps the NFL should totally control the supply of (and, inflation of... ) game balls. Baseball controls the supply of balls (with some trickery still going on after that).

PS, a quick google suggests that the home team in the NFL provides the game balls (36 for outdoors or 24 for indoors with additional balls for the kicking game). Not sure you are correct on this.

Teams have used their own footballs for awhile now. Here are a couple articles that reference it. Not sure if it is like college, where teams actually have their school logo on the ball.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/20...wpL/story.html

http://mmqb.si.com/2015/05/08/nfl-in...pressure-rule/

[Nukem2]

NFL controls everything else, why not control the football(s)? Kind of like MLB allowing pitchers to doctor the ball any way they wish. Given all this, do the Patriots really need to be punished?

[WarriorOMalley82]

Btw the leading proponent in changing the rules and allowing each team to play with their own balls was Tom Brady. He got Payton Manning and a few other QB's to sign his petition and that is when the league changed the rules. I totally disagree with anyone who says this is no big deal, the Patriots have also had the fewest fumbles over the years since the change by a wide margin well outside what would be a statistical norm> Tom Brady has been considered the best bad weather QB in the league for awhile seems strange since he has small hands compared to other qb's. I admire what the team and the QB have done, but I absolutely believe they have cheated every way they can think of if they don't think they will get caught. As far as those that say every QB has done it I have heard many including Troy Aikman, Mark Brunnell, Jim Miller and others say they not only didn't do it, but never heard of anyone else doing it and they also said it would be a huge advantage in bad weather.
HMMMM yea I guess just another coincidence that seems to favor a team that was caught cheating again?