Several members of the Baltimore Ravens believe the New England Patriots used under-inflated footballs during the AFC Divisional Round.
While the Indianapolis Colts can’t make much of an argument that properly inflated footballs would have made a difference in their 45-7 loss to the New England Patriots in last week’s AFC title game, several members of the Baltimore Ravens can regarding their divisional round defeat at Foxboro a week earlier.
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A report suggests that several unnamed Ravens believe the Patriots used slightly under-inflated kicking balls during New England’s 35-31 win over Baltimore on January 1o. The players on both the Ravens’ kicking and punting teams feel the balls did not get their usual depth and distance on some of the kicks.
The NFL is continuing its investigation regarding the fact the Patriots had 11 of 12 footballs they provided for the game were under-inflated by at least two pounds per square inch of pressure. The league is expected to provide the results of their search as early as Thursday.
Whether coach Bill Belichick had knowledge of the under-inflated footballs remains to be learned, yet a Yahoo Sports column on Wednesday suggests that quarterback Tom Brady should be front and center in the midst of the growing controversy.
“There is no equipment man, sideline attendant or anyone at all in Foxborough (not even Belichick) who would mess with Brady’s footballs without his knowledge, if not active participation,” according to Yahoo Sports columnist Dan Wetzel. “That’s just how it works. You don’t go rogue on the greatest player in team history, particularly with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. And if they did, Brady would order them to fix it immediately.”
While Wetzel’s column also suggests that tinkering with the weight of footballs is an open secret, the fact the Patriots already have a checkered history with playing within the rules is a violation and that “wishing it away is silly.”
“And Tom Brady looked happy with the footballs Sunday – the footballs the NFL has deemed outside acceptable standards,” Wetzel added.
Don’t be shocked if the League puts out the decision on Thursday, as the issue is the latest in what has been a brutal season for the NFL both on and off the field. The last thing commissioner Roger Goodell wants heading into Super Bowl week is a cheating scandal involving one of the greatest coaches and quarterbacks of all-time.
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