Yes gentlemen and FYS posters, it appears that the New England Patriots likely cheated by deflating footballs, and possibly at the request of Tom Brady. This is not surprising. As I regaled anyone who would listen following the whipping the Patriots put on the Colts in the AFC Championship Game, my elder brother once caught a football thrown into the stands by Al Harris following an interception. It was hard as a rock, and I instantly became more forgiving of dropped passes. It was also during a game with a high temperature of 34 degrees, but the ball was not significantly, it seemed, affected. While Brady is interested in how a ball feels to throw, not catch, it is not hard to see how such inflated balls may present difficulty for some quarterbacks. In any case, since his receivers would also benefit from deflated balls and teams each have their own set, I have little doubt that it was advantages to the Patriots to use less-deflated footballs.
Many will point out that the Indianapolis Colts would have lost in the AFC Championship game anyways. And it is true, they were thoroughly beaten. But we don’t only except punishment for successful crimes, and for the same reasons the Patriots should not be excused here. Moreover, it is impossible to know how many games this tactic has affected. Perhaps Brady’s renowned play in cold weather, and Peyton Manning’s comparative struggles, have an explanation outside of their “clutchiness” in the playoffs.
Obviously, the Patriots will not lose their most recent trophy, or any other team accolades. I do hope, however, that punishment extends beyond fines and to the competitive ability of the team. Here’s hoping they lose at least one first-round pick.