#DFG: Canceling the Noise

[ifmanis5]

Speaking next will be McCourty then Connolly.

 

[DJnVa]

I still think something will come out this weekend.
 
There's no way Goodell can stand on a stage next weekend if the Pats win and extoll the virtues of a team that has won 4 titles and then call them cheaters later in the offseason.
 
Granted, if he calls them cheaters now, it'll still be uncomfortable next weekend, but at least everything will be on the table at that point.

 

[DJnVa]

I do wish someone on that Patriots would at least take the media to task for focusing on such a stupid thing.  

 
"This isn't ISIS."

 

[JohnnyK]

Hahaha, DMac "There we go!" at the first football question.

 

[GregHarris]

Wow, questions about actual football.  When did this shit start?

 

[Leather]

I still think something will come out this weekend.
 
There's no way Goodell can stand on a stage next weekend if the Pats win and extoll the virtues of a team that has won 4 titles and then call them cheaters later in the offseason.
 
Granted, if he calls them cheaters now, it'll still be uncomfortable next weekend, but at least everything will be on the table at that point.

 
Or he somehow ensures that they don't win, by suspending BB or TB, or otherwise.

 

[johnmd20]

 
Or he somehow ensures that they don't win, by suspending BB or TB, or otherwise.

 
I can't see this happening.

 

[Corsi]

The refs:
 
"Every week, I'm supposed to take four hours and do a quality spot-check at the paper mill. And of course the one year I blow it off, this happens."

 

[Jungleland]

Do you trust that Tom isn't lying when he says he had no knowledge?
 
"Does it matter? I'm kind of past that, I want to talk about the Super Bowl."
 
Dqwell Jackson said he didn't notice the ball was underinflated. As someone who might be in that position to intercept the ball, does that make sense to you that he wouldn't notice?
 
"Notice what, that we're going to the Super Bowl?"

 

[Leather]

 
I can't see this happening.

 
I...mostly can't either.  But 4 days ago, I don't think anybody here saw this becoming as big a deal as it has.  

 

[DJnVa]

Sure it matters. Because neither of them said that they checked out these balls to see if they were at 12.5 immediately before handing them to the officials to be weighed.

There are three references to 12.5 in Brady's press conference. None of them stated that they inflate the balls to 12.5 while he's choosing them before the game or immediately before they get handed off to the referee. He says that he likes them at that size.

There are two references to 12.5 in Belichick's press conference. Neither states that the balls are inflated to 12.5 immediately before being handed off to referees before the game.

Neither of the quotes indicate that the balls actually were at 12.5 when they were given to the referees, or that the Patriots knew how much pressure they had before given to the referees.

Look, I know that you're grasping for straws now, because you started with your nonsense "it has been scientifically proven" and "All the NFL has to do is release the measurements," and now the silence on the pregame measurements is becoming deafening. So you're looking for some way to excuse that lack of evidence by making the press conference quotes do more work for you than they actually can.

I like my steaks medium rare. That doesn't mean that the steak I cooked last night wasn't slightly over or under done.

Start linking or quoting things if you want to be taken seriously. And if the things you link or quote don't back up your conclusions, well, that will help everyone else here, too.

 
 

 

[IdiotKicker]

This will be settled by the end of the day.

 

[Corsi]

Linda Cohn ‏@lindacohn  14m14 minutes ago
Innocent till proven guilty. @ESPN_FirstTake #bradybelief #bradylegend

 

[Myt1]

You shouldn't necessarily. Not if you don't want to. They're vegas handicappers? From my emd, I would give the, more credence than say, a NYC bankruptcy lawyer, but that's just me.

Oh my.

 

[weeba]

Cohn is all over the place with her hot takes.

 

[Bob420]

Sure it matters. Because neither of them said that they checked out these balls to see if they were at 12.5 immediately before handing them to the officials to be weighed.

There are three references to 12.5 in Brady's press conference. None of them stated that they inflate the balls to 12.5 while he's choosing them before the game or immediately before they get handed off to the referee. He says that he likes them at that size.

There are two references to 12.5 in Belichick's press conference. Neither states that the balls are inflated to 12.5 immediately before being handed off to referees before the game.

Neither of the quotes indicate that the balls actually were at 12.5 when they were given to the referees, or that the Patriots knew how much pressure they had before given to the referees.

Look, I know that you're grasping for straws now, because you started with your nonsense "it has been scientifically proven" and "All the NFL has to do is release the measurements," and now the silence on the pregame measurements is becoming deafening. So you're looking for some way to excuse that lack of evidence by making the press conference quotes do more work for you than they actually can.

I like my steaks medium rare. That doesn't mean that the steak I cooked last night wasn't slightly over or under done.

Start linking or quoting things if you want to be taken seriously. And if the things you link or quote don't back up your conclusions, well, that will help everyone else here, too.

He said they inflate them to 12.5 range. They don't really need to have the before test.

If the Pats measurements at halftime are in the 10.5 range as has been rumored/leaked,the back up balls were in the acceptable range, and the Colts footballs had a much smaller variation, either BB or Brady is lying and the refular footballs were submitted way below acceptable range while the backups were fine or they were tampered.

I have consistently said that they need to release the halftime and end of game measurements. Those measurements alone can be used to determine if something was done to the rumored 11 of 12 regular footballs.

 

[catomatic]

Only Johnnie Cochran can bring clarity and resolution to this situation: Two footballs, one inflated at 10.5 psi, one at 12.5 psi. Johnnie incants "If the wrong ball is picked, you must not convict." Nancy Grace, blindfolded, squeezes the balls for 72 seconds before rendering a verdict.

 

[CoffeeNerdness]

 
Linda Cohn ‏@lindacohn  14m14 minutes ago
Innocent till proven guilty. @ESPN_FirstTake #bradybelief #bradylegend
 

 
So the complete opposite of what she was saying yesterday?  Cool.

 

[Harry Hooper]

 
Or he somehow ensures that they don't win, by suspending BB or TB, or otherwise.

 
 
The perfect outcome for the Commish is to let the Pats play at full strength and lose the game. Perhaps the officials on the field will help get to that result.

 

[Morning Woodhead]

 
So the complete opposite of what she was saying yesterday?  Cool.

 
Can't you see the meetings at ESPN.  Hey guys, gonna need about 5 of you to be on the other side of this issue.  Any takers?

 

[DJnVa]

 
 
The perfect outcome for the Commish is to let the Pats play at full strength and lose the game. Perhaps the officials on the field will help get to that result.

 
Boy, that game thread is going to be horrific the first time the Pats get hosed.

 

[Madmartigan]

This whole thing is ruining the SB for me.  It's a real bummer. 

 

[Boston Brawler]

 
This is definitely the longest thread in which 85% of the posts are variations on the idea that there's nothing worth talking about here.

You obviously haven't read the wrestling thread in the last 9 months...

 

[H78]

 
 
The perfect outcome for the Commish is to let the Pats play at full strength and lose the game. Perhaps the officials on the field will help get to that result.

 
If Goodell thinks the Pats did it but can't do anything because there's zero proof, people are going to be all over this if it happens.

 

[Silverdude2167]

This whole thing is ruining the SB for me.  It's a real bummer. 

As long as no foolish punishments come out of this I don't really care. The Pats were always going to be the villain and this has made for a really entertaining week, a week that is normally terribly dull.

 

[Myt1]

He said they inflate them to 12.5 range. They don't really need to have the before test.

Really? You think a ball inflated to 12.5 at the beginning of a week of practice is going to be 12.5 at the end of it? Those must be some magic balls.

You don't think it's possible that they undercooked their steak this week? That maybe the balls actually weren't pumped up to 12.5? Or that they were initially and then got adjusted for some because they felt to hard for some reason? You don't think it's possible that the gauges the Pats use are differently calibrated than those the refs used, well, whenever it actually was that they supposedly checked the balls?

If the Pats measurements at halftime are in the 10.5 range as has been rumored/leaked,the back up balls were in the acceptable range, and the Colts footballs had a much smaller variation, either BB or Brady is lying and the refular footballs were submitted way below acceptable range while the backups were fine or they were tampered.

I have consistently said that they need to release the halftime and end of game measurements. Those measurements alone can be used to determine if something was done to the rumored 11 of 12 regular footballs.

No, they don't.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

 
 
The perfect outcome for the Commish is to let the Pats play at full strength and lose the game. Perhaps the officials on the field will help get to that result.

 
Remember that scene in Remember the Titans where the officials are part of a conspiracy to cause the Titans to lose so Boone gets fired, but Yost is wise to it and first warns the refs he's on to them, then gives that inspiring speech to not allow the opposing team another yard, then tells Boone "leave no doubt".  Yeah, that.

 

[PeaceSignMoose]

This whole thing is ruining the SB for me.  It's a real bummer. 

 
It won't be so bad when the team is dousing Belichick in Gatorade and carrying Brady off the field.

 

[Average Reds]

He said they inflate them to 12.5 range. They don't really need to have the before test.

If the Pats measurements at halftime are in the 10.5 range as has been rumored/leaked,the back up balls were in the acceptable range, and the Colts footballs had a much smaller variation, either BB or Brady is lying and the refular footballs were submitted way below acceptable range while the backups were fine or they were tampered.

I have consistently said that they need to release the halftime and end of game measurements. Those measurements alone can be used to determine if something was done to the rumored 11 of 12 regular footballs.

 
After long and careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that you suck at basic logic.

 

[aksoxfan]

 
 
The perfect outcome for the Commish is to let the Pats play at full strength and lose the game. Perhaps the officials on the field will help get to that result.

I've been called crazy for impling such an outcome.

 

[Ed Hillel]

One of my best friends is from Foxboro and used to work for the Pats in the Pro Shop. He knew one of the ball boys and asked him about this controversy. The answer will shock you. More later.

 

[OCST]

Funny to ask Wilfork about this.
 
In an 11-year career, encompassing 158 regular season games, Wilfork has:
 
3 interceptions, with a total of 48 yards gained on those 3 interception returns;
25 passes defensed;
5 forced fumbles;
12 fumble recoveries, with a total of 2 yards gained on those 12 fumble returns (including 1 TD).
 
So he has averaged .28 ball touches, or .29/game, even giving him credit for fleeting contacts with the ball. 
 
Which is actually a lot more than I would have thought for a DL.
 
But re: the idea that he can opine on football pressure:
 
LOL.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

One of my best friends is from Foxboro and used to work for the Pats in the Pro Shop. He knew one of the ball boys and asked him about this controversy. The answer will shock you. More later.

 
:bravo: :bravo: :bravo:

 

[Marciano490]

 
It won't be so bad when the team is dousing Belichick in Gatorade and carrying Brady off the field.

 
Yeah, I'm starting to dig this.  Us vs. them.  Circle the wagons and kiss the rings.  Go Pats.

 

[loshjott]

One of my best friends is from Foxboro and used to work for the Pats in the Pro Shop. He knew one of the ball boys and asked him about this controversy. The answer will shock you. More later.

 
Thanks Geraldo.

 

[Catcher Block]

One of my best friends is from Foxboro and used to work for the Pats in the Pro Shop. He knew one of the ball boys and asked him about this controversy. The answer will shock you. More later.

 
Are you test-writing article titles for Buzzfeed?

 

[Silverdude2167]

No one cares about linemen. He only got one Ballghazi question.

 

[Ed Hillel]

 
:bravo: :bravo: :bravo:

 
It's actually true is the thing. I have news. I will reveal it at Noon, and this actually did come from an ex-Pats ballboy.

 

[Corsi]

Ben Volin ‏@BenVolin  20s20 seconds ago
Source: All 48 footballs (yes, 48) were properly inspected with a pressure gauge before Sunday's game

 

[Steve Dillard]

 
 
The perfect outcome for the Commish is to let the Pats play at full strength and lose the game. Perhaps the officials on the field will help get to that result.

 
No.  The fair thing to do is because they played the first half last week with a ball 2 psi under the limit, that they play the first half of the super bowl with a ball at 15.5 psi (2 psi over).

 

[bakahump]

Really? You think a ball inflated to 12.5 at the beginning of a week of practice is going to be 12.5 at the end of it? Those must be some magic balls.

You don't think it's possible that they undercooked their steak this week? That maybe the balls actually weren't pumped up to 12.5? You don't think it's possible that the gauges the Pats use are differently calibrated than those the refs used, well, whenever it actually was that they supposedly checked the balls?


No, they don't.

It doesnt say the pats need to submit them at 12.5
 
It says the balls need to be 12.5
 
Thats the Job of the Refs to ensure this.
 
Pats dont call holds, PI or Roughing the passer penalties to ensure fair game play.
 
 
"These are the 12 balls we want to use"
"Ok let us make sure they are at the right PSI...."
 
 
Now there are 2 things.
1.  If you want them Low you better put them at 12.5 or..
2. if you dont give a damn you submit them....and the Refs blow them up to whatever the hell they want if they are not already in the range.

 

[brandonchristensen]

 
Ben Volin ‏@BenVolin  20s20 seconds ago
Source: All 48 footballs (yes, 48) were properly inspected with a pressure gauge before Sunday's game
 

This is big news. What were they tested at?

 

[Corsi]

According to an NFL source with direct knowledge of the situation, referee Walt Anderson inspected all 24 of the Patriots’ footballs with a pressure gauge supplied by the league, as well as all 24 footballs from the Colts. All 48 footballs were found to be within the allowable range of 12.5-13.5 pounds per square inch.
 
Anderson and the officiating crew are not allowed to comment publicly unless given express permission from the NFL, which has not been granted. The NFL has been investigating the matter since Monday, and spokesman Greg Aiello said “We are not commenting on the details of the review at this point.”
 
While the NFL investigators had not questioned Patriots quarterback Tom Brady prior to his media session on Thursday afternoon, they have spoken with Anderson and his crew about the matter, the source said.
 
Once the footballs were approved for game use, they remained in the locker room until about 10 minutes prior to kickoff, at which point the officials handed the footballs to the ballboys on each team.
 
The 12 backup balls for each team were stored in the officials’ locker room during the first half. According to a report from WEEI, the officials swapped out the Patriots’ footballs at halftime and used the backups, which were properly inflated, in the second half.
 
The game was held up for a minute right after the third quarter opening kickoff. The source said the officials had spotted the specialized kicking ball at the line of scrimmage, and it took them extra time to find an acceptable Patriots ball to use.
 
The NFL sent a letter to the Patriots on Monday informing the team that it discovered underinflated footballs in Sunday’s 45-7 win in the AFC Championship Game, and are conducting a review of the situation to determine how it happened. The Patriots are practicing this weekend in Foxborough and will travel to Arizona on Monday to face the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/01/23/patriots-footballs-were-inspected-approved-before-afc-title-game/FxnyFsD2KjSEWETZKLTqeL/story.html

 

[wiffleballhero]

Funny to ask Wilfork about this.
 
In an 11-year career, encompassing 158 regular season games, Wilfork has:
 
3 interceptions, with a total of 48 yards gained on those 3 interception returns;
25 passes defensed;
5 forced fumbles;
12 fumble recoveries, with a total of 2 yards gained on those 12 fumble returns (including 1 TD).
 
So he has averaged .28 ball touches, or .29/game, even giving him credit for fleeting contacts with the ball. 
 
Which is actually a lot more than I would have thought for a DL.
 
But re: the idea that he can opine on football pressure:
 
LOL.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVjSI0O2na0

 

[nolasoxfan]

 
It's actually true is the thing. I have news. I will reveal it at Noon, and this actually did come from an ex-Pats ballboy.

High noon?

 

[shepard50]

 
It's actually true is the thing. I have news. I will reveal it at Noon, and this actually did come from an ex-Pats ballboy.

 
I am looking forward to the big reveal. Will it be in this thread? (Do I need a code word?)

 

[RSN Diaspora]

LOL BOO HOO, former Panthers General Manager Marty Hurney:
 
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/23/former-panthers-g-m-blasts-patriots-for-culture-of-cheating/
 

 
“There isn’t a day that goes by since 2003 that I haven’t questioned … that there were some things done that might have been beyond the rules that may have given them a three-point advantage,” Hurney said, via ESPN.com. “This isn’t about deflating balls. . . . It’s an issue of if there is a culture of cheating at the organization that most people look at as the gold standard in this league. Is there a culture of cheating and breaking the rules?
 
“And I can’t prove anything and that’s why I’m very angry. And the anger has come back over the last couple of days that commissioner Roger Goodell decided to shred all of the evidence after ‘Spygate,’ because I think there were a lot of things in there that would bring closure to a lot of people.”

 
Carolina? But didn't they...oh, yeah, they did. PFT kind buried this one:
 

 
Hurney also acknowledged that his team’s hands weren’t clean that year, after three of their starting offensive linemen were named in a steroid investigation in South Carolina.

 

 

[WayBackVazquez]

 
Ben Volin ‏@BenVolin  20s20 seconds ago
Source: All 48 footballs (yes, 48) were properly inspected with a pressure gauge before Sunday's game
 

 
Who is this Ben Volin, and why should we trust his twitter account? SharksofVegas has three times as many followers.

 

[Salem's Lot]

 
Ben Volin ‏@BenVolin  20s20 seconds ago
Source: All 48 footballs (yes, 48) were properly inspected with a pressure gauge before Sunday's game
 

 
Of course the refs are saying that they did there jobs properly. Where is the official report signed by the ref that documents the readings? If there isn't one how do we really know that the refs aren't covering their asses.

 

[Bob420]

Based on rumor/leaked info/Mort/Peter King this is what we have

Halftime

NE 12 regular footballs 10.5 range
NE 12 backup footballs 12.5-13.5 range
IND 12 regular footballs 12.5-13.5 range

End of Game

NE 12 backup footballs 12.5-13.5 range
IND 12 regular footballs 12.5-13.5 range

If these numbers are true, a pre game measurement is not needed. Either the Pats inflated the back up balls correctly and willingly inflated the regular balls much less or they submitted properly submitted footballs and let air out. There is no way an equipment guy would have such a discrepancy between regular and back up fotbalss without someone telling him to do so.

Its a big IF at this point but I don't see how one can conclude anything different. As I have said, I think those numbers are all that are needed to make a determination but they need to release that info.