Another Patriot Scandal??

[Bossman641]

Man, keep it in perspective people. The Colts footballs were also down a similar amount of air. The NFL was, as usual, a bunch of witch hunting morons making a mountain out of a molehill.

They are just as at fault that it even came to this given the lax security and lack of league control around footballs.


Anyway, just another reason why Goodell the knucklehead should probably be booted. I am no Pats fan but after giving way to much thought than it deserves, the NFL screwed the pooch here.

My feeling is that this is just the tip of the iceberg in regards to the stunts the Patriots have been pulling. Between Spygate, all the stories of communication cutting out, and now this there is no doubt in my mind the NFL has warned them repeatedly to cut it out.

[Rastak]

It wasn't just the balls' psi that is the issue here. It is the lack of complete cooperation with the investigation that got Kraft and Brady in hot water over what seems to be a venial sin. I'll say this: if we ever hear of the Packers cheating with the balls' psi, a spygate-like situation or another Bountygate I'd have no problem with the league coming down hard on us like they did with NE.

I agree the lack of cooperation made a kick in the ass warranted on some level.

[Rastak]

My feeling is that this is just the tip of the iceberg in regards to the stunts the Patriots have been pulling. Between Spygate, all the stories of communication cutting out, and now this there is no doubt in my mind the NFL has warned them repeatedly to cut it out.

It's probably the tip of the iceberg of what alot of teams try and do. That's why the NFL probably should deal with this stuff behind closed doors.

[Guiness]

It's probably the tip of the iceberg of what alot of teams try and do. That's why the NFL probably should deal with this stuff behind closed doors.

At one time it was the general feeling that the NFL didn't crack down on NE more harshly for their shenanigans because they threatened to get vocal about what everyone else was up to. I'm still not sure that isn't why Belichick was 'exonerated'.

[Guiness]

A new report out by the American Enterprise institute that does a good job of explaining that the Wells report, and pretty much the whole way the NFL officials went about gathering 'information' was crap. The relevant bit:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/06/13/american-enterprise-institute-calls-ted-wells-report-unreliable/

AEI focuses on the conclusion that the Patriots tampered with air pressure in footballs prior to the AFC title game because the footballs used by the Patriots in the first half had a more significant drop in air pressure than the footballs used by the Colts in the first half. AEI rejects that finding based on two factors previously raised here: (1) NFL officials measured only four of the 12 Colts footballs at halftime due to supposed time constraints; and (2) the footballs used by the Colts experienced a likely increase in air pressure while in a warmer environment as the 11 footballs used by the Patriots were tested with two different gauges and then re-inflated.

All hail the ideal gas law!

I'm not saying the Patriots didn't at least try to cheat, just that this shows the evidence gathering was fatally flawed. I still think Brady should get his punishment for not cooperating, but the party who maybe shouldn't be punished is the team itself!

[smuggler]

Patriots operated under the assumption that they are above the 'law'. No one should be surprised when the league gets vindictive. There are 32 teams and they are supposed to be equal in the eyes of the 'law'.