The New England Patriots were accused of deflating their footballs against the Indianapolis Colts on Jan 18.
In every NFL game, each team brings 12 balls and every team uses their own balls while on offense. Each ball can have between 12.5 and 13.5lbs of pressure. Some quarterbacks prefer 12.4lbs of pressure whereas others may prefer 13.3lbs of pressure. Footballs with lower pressure can be easier to catch and throw because players can get a better grip on the ball.
This allegation, as absurd as it is, doesn’t surprise many people because the Patriots are “known felons”. The Patriots were involved in a scandal called Spygate, which refers to the videotaping of the opposing team’s signals on the sidelines during games.
According to the Constitution and Bylaws of the NFL, “No employee of the League shall use at any time, from the start to the finish of the game, videotaping machines or any electronic device that might aid a team during the playing of the game.”
Bill Belichick claims he misinterpreted the rule and thought what he was doing was legal. Belichick said that because he wasn’t using the footage he was recording until after the game, what he was doing was not against the rules. The league then sent out a memo clarifying the rule, but that didn’t stop Belichick. He deliberately told his camera men to continue filming the sidelines of the opposing team, which he now says was a mistake. After the memo, he said he should have taken it to the league to make sure what he was doing was legal.
Not only were the Pats videoing the opposition’s signals, they jammed the frequency of their opponents’ headsets, terminating communication between coaches and the quarterback. Also, Tom Brady had a second frequency in his helmet allowing him unfiltered communication with Belichick until the snap, as opposed to communication shutting off 15 seconds before the snap.
The Patriots are always being accused of something; every time they win, they were “cheating.” Yes, the Pats don’t mind “playing in the gray area”, but people have a lack of respect for the Patriots. Their records are undeniable. Since 2006, they went 12-4, 16-0, 11-5, 10-6, 14-2, 13-3, and then 12-4 three seasons in a row. If the Pats were relying on cheating to win, an immense amount of cheating would have to be going on, and if that were the case, they would have been caught for more than just Spygate.
In the end, all of these allegations will not likely be remembered for deflated balls or illegal taping, but for it’s impact on the legacy of the three time Super Bowl champion coach and how his team achieved greatness.
