#DFG: Canceling the Noise

[Corsi]

Curt Schilling ‏@gehrig38  7s8 seconds ago
Wow, the media has created 99.9% of this football story. Listening to the press conference was hard. Embarrassed at the questions.
 
first reasonable thing this guy has said in years

 

[Shelterdog]

 
WTF IS HE EVEN TALKING ABOUT LEGAL CONCEPTS FOR. THIS ISN'T IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM.

 
Because people-like every single person who says OMG how could they not have spoken to him yet- think it is some kind of legal system.  People have goofy expectations about the world and about how an institution as prominent as the NFL is (and should be) run.  You're way smarter than that but that doesn't mean that everybody is.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Kenny, during a game no one is concerned with the feel of the football unless something is dramatically wrong with it.  10.5 and 12.5 is NOT I REPEAT NOT a big difference in the feel.  Brady is thinking about much more important things than whether a football is slightly off.  He throws the ball around before the half starts and if it's good it's good.
 
When a QB works with an equipment guy for the first time, Brady would get the footballs and say this is too hard, too soft, not rubbed up enough, whatever it may be.  They get it to Brady's liking and he could ask what the PSI is  The equipment guys tell him  that 12.5 PSI is where the balls are inflated to and he says OK thanks.  Then, for as long as the equipment guy is there for he does it exactly the same every time. 
 
During the game, he assumes that the balls are to what he wants.  Unless the ball is at something like 9 PSI where you would say Oh this might be flat a QB is not going to say anything.  He is focused on way too many other things that have to do with the game.
 
Same goes with the head coach. 
 
That's how it works.
 

 

 

[snowmanny]

The press conference we need is the one with the referees.  What is their process for checking the psi before the game?

 

[PayrodsFirstClutchHit]

So many people desperate for their opinion of the Patriots to be validated today. You can taste the anger and disappointment that Brady did not give it to them.

 

[Reverend]

 
WTF IS HE EVEN TALKING ABOUT LEGAL CONCEPTS FOR. THIS ISN'T IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM.

 
No.
 
It's something much, much more important.

 

[Ed Hillel]

 
Because people-like every single person who says OMG how could they not have spoken to him yet- think it is some kind of legal system. 

 
I don't think it's a legal system, and I'm still pretty stunned they haven't reached out to him yet. It's nearly four days after the fact, what is there left to do?

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

So who was the clown that asked Brady if he was going to apologize?

 
Not sure, but I'm guessing they watch Frost/Nixon on repeat every day and fistpump like Cervelli whenever Nixon apologizes.

 

[Harry Hooper]

FWIW, Francesca's take in not interviewing Brady yet is that the league wants to drag this into the offseason where they can hammer the pats without taking the Super Bowl away from them

 
That's sort of embedded in Peter King's writeup from yesterday:the NFL has time (until the draft) to proceed thoroughly.

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

 
So, just wondering...If it turns out that Tom Brady did ask the ballboys to deflate the balls, that wouldn't fall under the "I don't know how this happened" line of his? You realize he's getting railed right now across the country for saying he wasn't responsible for this. Yet you're caught up on something about he didn't deny one specific thing that could have happened, which he clearly would have been aware of? If you think that Brady didn't implicitly deny he didn't ask ballboys to do this on his behalf, you're apparently the only one. He may have explicitly, too, it was difficult to hear exact phrasing of some questions.

Ed, the ref's said the balls were accurate until they gave them to the ball boys. Him telling/not telling the ball boys to deflate the ball isn't "one specific thing." It's the only way he could have been involved.

So, yeah, I want to hear the answer to that exact question.

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

Kenny, during a game no one is concerned with the feel of the football unless something is dramatically wrong with it.  10.5 and 12.5 is NOT I REPEAT NOT a big difference in the feel.  Brady is thinking about much more important things than whether a football is slightly off.  He throws the ball around before the half starts and if it's good it's good.
 
When a QB works with an equipment guy for the first time, Brady would get the footballs and say this is too hard, too soft, not rubbed up enough, whatever it may be.  They get it to Brady's liking and he could ask what the PSI is  The equipment guys tell him  that 12.5 PSI is where the balls are inflated to and he says OK thanks.  Then, for as long as the equipment guy is there for he does it exactly the same every time. 
 
During the game, he assumes that the balls are to what he wants.  Unless the ball is at something like 9 PSI where you would say Oh this might be flat a QB is not going to say anything.  He is focused on way too many other things that have to do with the game.
 
Same goes with the head coach. 
 
That's how it works.
 

 

Uh...I didn't argue with any of this?

 

[H78]

I wish a reporter would have asked, "When are you guys going to start losing so we can give this kind of story the lack of attention it deserves?"

 

[fairlee76]

Oh, and.... I'm still waiting for the first shred of evidence of any wrongdoing on anyone's part.

Well, someone fucked up.  Either the refs did not properly check the balls pre-game or someone in the employ of the Pats monkeyed with them.  Maybe we'll find out what happened, more than likely, we won't.  Another one of life's great mysteries that will torment us forever!  Or for another day or two.

 

[GlenMorangie]

.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

Rex Huppke @RexHuppke
MSNBC: Tom Brady denies deflating balls
CNN: Tom Brady denies deflating balls
Fox News: Did radical Islamists deflate balls? Yes, probably

 

[Marciano490]

 
Because people-like every single person who says OMG how could they not have spoken to him yet- think it is some kind of legal system.  People have goofy expectations about the world and about how an institution as prominent as the NFL is (and should be) run.  You're way smarter than that but that doesn't mean that everybody is.

 
Yeah, the legal system reference is important only regarding whether Brady has spoken or refused to speak with the NFL.  Nobody and no entity needs a subpoena to request a conversation with someone or ask a question.  If you come to my house and the next day I notice my favorite bottle of whisky is missing, I don't need a subpoena to call you up and ask if you took it, and that's a criminal matter.

 

[DJnVa]

Jemelle Hill tweeted: Has anyone wondered if the NFL official that checked the balls before game did his job correctly?

 

[rodderick]

This thing is so fucking stupid that the Reddit thread about it is more reasonable than everything I've heard from journalists and ex players.

 

[PeaceSignMoose]

https://twitter.com/ochocinco/status/558387821434916864

 

[Harry Hooper]

 
I don't think it's a legal system, and I'm still pretty stunned they haven't reached out to him yet. It's nearly four days after the fact, what is there left to do?

 
The NFL guy who handled the Rice elevator video request has made contacting the Pats and CBS for their stuff his top priority.

 

[RIrooter09]

Jemelle Hill tweeted: Has anyone wondered if the NFL official that checked the balls before game did his job correctly?

 
The first intelligent thing I've ever heard her say.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

The real tragedy here is that it's taking the focus off the important stuff this week......the Aaron Hernandez' jury selection.

 

[LogansDad]

Reporter: "Tom would you like to apologize to Patriot fans?"
 
Tom:  "Actually, I would.  I am truly sorry that you have to watch us play in the Super Bowl in two weeks. I know this league and the media reporting around it is a farce, but just hang on a little longer and you can enjoy us kicking the shit out of the Seahawks.  I would also like to apologize to the Colts and the Ravens in advance, for all the running up of the score that will be taking place next season."

 

[Two Youks]

Ed, the ref's said the balls were accurate until they gave them to the ball boys. Him telling/not telling the ball boys to deflate the ball isn't "one specific thing." It's the only way he could have been involved.

So, yeah, I want to hear the answer to that exact question.

 
He gave it.  Paraphrase: "I don't know what happens to the balls after I finish my process of selecting them.  I'm too busy finishing my preparation in other areas.  I assume they're the same as what I chose, because I would kill someone for changing them."  It was spread across multiple questions/answers, but that's what the answer obviously is if you can separate the signal from the noise of him needing to repeat the same things because the media are idiots.
 
If he's lying, that's a big deal.  But there's no evidence of that.  The narrative presented by Belichick and Brady are consistent - they're too busy with important matters to care about the footballs beyond them 'feeling right' initially.

 

[Laser Show]

So who was the clown that asked Brady if he was going to apologize?

Someone said the White House correspondent, Pete Alexander, upthread but I have no idea for sure.

 

[DJnVa]

Well, someone fucked up.  Either the refs did not properly check the balls pre-game or someone in the employ o...

Or, Mort fucked up his initial tweet, balls were not 2 lbs lower and it's all accounted for in the fact that Pats inflate to lowest level and any loss puts it under that.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Ed, the ref's said the balls were accurate until they gave them to the ball boys. Him telling/not telling the ball boys to deflate the ball isn't "one specific thing." It's the only way he could have been involved.

So, yeah, I want to hear the answer to that exact question.

 
Well, we still don't have anything from the league outside of something from Florio on the measuring, who has already reported like 3 things about this that were changed. But if he's denying involvement and also said that he had spoken to the ball boys and they said they hadn't altered anything, I think that pretty much covers the point. Brady denied all involvement with this, as has Belichick. If the league finds otherwise, either one or both are in probably more trouble than anyone in the history of the league (well as far as league punishment.) If the league doesn't have anything, then who knows? I'd also still like to get those exact inflation numbers, because I still have a hard time belieiving all 11 balls were 2 PSI under consistently.
 

Well, someone fucked up. Either the refs did not properly check the balls pre-game or someone in the employ of the Pats monkeyed with them. Maybe we'll find out what happened, more than likely, we won't. Another one of life's great mysteries that will torment us forever! Or for another day or two.

 
Referencing what I said above, it's still possible the temperature change did this. I don't believe Mort's 11 balls were 2 PSI under report.

 

[Leather]

Nearly 4 days later, and the NFL has yet to say anything of substance on this.  
 
Jesus, Dick Cheney was more assertive after 9/11 than Goodell is on this stupid issue.

 

[Mystic Merlin]

I do love how the embattled officials are suddenly beyond reproach.

 

[snowmanny]

Jemelle Hill tweeted: Has anyone wondered if the NFL official that checked the balls before game did his job correctly?

Do the refs actually measure the psi of each ball?

 

[singaporesoxfan]

 
Yeah, the legal system reference is important only regarding whether Brady has spoken or refused to speak with the NFL.  Nobody and no entity needs a subpoena to request a conversation with someone or ask a question.  If you come to my house and the next day I notice my favorite bottle of whisky is missing, I don't need a subpoena to call you up and ask if you took it, and that's a criminal matter.

 
Oh, that reminds me:
 
I have drunk
the whisky
that was in
the liquor cabinet

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
it was delicious
so sweet
and so cold

 

[OCST]

Jemelle Hill tweeted: Has anyone wondered if the NFL official that checked the balls before game did his job correctly?

Good question. Can they be press-conferenced next?

 

[The_Powa_of_Seiji_Ozawa]

so when do we get a Gronk press conference on this issue? I'd buy tickets to that.

 

[H78]

Or, Mort fucked up his initial tweet, balls were not 2 lbs lower and it's all accounted for in the fact that Pats inflate to lowest level and any loss puts it under that.

This whole thing is stupid.

But, if they were off by only .2 PSI, don't you think the NFL would have mentioned this by now and not dragged one of their SB contenders through all of this?

I'm sure the Tweet is accurate.

 

[Bob420]

Why is everyone asking if the refs did their jobs and tested correctly before the game? It doesn't matter. They had to be 12.5 because Brady and BB both said that's what they pump them to.

 

[moondog80]

I get the feeling that people think a difference of 2 PSI actually means the ball weighs 2 pounds less.

 

[Leather]

I do love how the embattled officials are suddenly beyond reproach.

 
Seriously.
 
Is it more likely that BB and TB conspired to deflate a bunch of footballs after they were checked by a minute amount and are now engaged in a coordinated coverup...or...
 
The officials didn't go by the book about checking each ball with a gauge. 

 

[Comfortably Lomb]

Do the refs actually measure the psi of each ball?

 
I'm guessing no. Because people are lazy and no one cared so long as they were close enough before this fiasco.

 

[Curt S Loew]

Now I'm convinced that it was Harbaugh with a fake mustache in Pats gear who deflated the balls to create the whole sideshow.

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

 
Well, we still don't have anything from the league outside of something from Florio on the measuring, who has already reported like 3 things about this that were changed. But if he's denying involvement and also said that he had spoken to the ball boys and they said they hadn't altered anything, I think that pretty much covers the point. Brady denied all involvement with this, as has Belichick. If the league finds otherwise, either one or both are in probably more trouble than anyone in the history of the league (well as far as league punishment.) If the league doesn't have anything, then who knows? I'd also still like to get those exact inflation numbers, because I still have a hard time belieiving all 11 balls were 2 PSI under consistently.
 
 
Referencing what I said above, it's still possible the temperature change did this. I don't believe Mort's 11 balls were 2 PSI under report.

Fair enough.

I really hope it comes out that the ref's fucked this up. Watching all the mediots pretend they didn't treat Brady/BB like criminals will be highly entertaining.

 

[Al Zarilla]

 
Isn't that always true with that show?
 
This whole thing leaves me with a feeling similar to when I realized there is no Santa Claus, and Christmas was never quite the same.  I almost don't know if I can ever watch sports media cover anything again.  Their soap-boxing and preconceived moral high-grounding is more than just silly and disproportionate to the event, it's flat out surprising.  I need to find a bastion of reason.  Some website, show, or magazine.  Any ideas?

Absolutely. Around the Horn sucks. Not knowing if or how much things would get delayed, I recorded a couple of ESPNs, early, on schedule, and late, to make sure I got Tom, then looked at everything before deleting stuff. I'm keeping Tom, at least for now. He handled it so well. I would have turned into the Tasmanian Devil about 5 minutes in.

 

[ifmanis5]

I do love how the embattled officials are suddenly beyond reproach.

And that the Colts (Ravens, the rest of the league) accusations are taken as gospel and beyond reproach.
Not sure what bothers me most- the absurd witch hunt aspect or the moral relativism on display.

 

[H78]

 
Seriously.
 
Is it more likely that BB and TB conspired to deflate a bunch of footballs after they were checked by a minute amount and are now engaged in a coordinated coverup...or...
 
The officials didn't go by the book about checking each ball with a gauge. 

This is where I'm at, too. I don't think Walt actually checked them before the game and was trying to save his job by saying that he did check them, probably not thinking the whole story would get this far out of control.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Nearly 4 days later, and the NFL has yet to say anything of substance on this.  
 
Jesus, Dick Cheney was more assertive after 9/11 than Goodell is on this stupid issue.

 
Maybe he's trolling the media just to see how crazy they get and then open up a can of exoneration as his payback for the scrutiny after Ray Rice.
 
As much as I'd like this to be true, I do find it unlikely.

 

[Leather]

I'm concerned that the NFL didn't contact Brady because it's just trying to hang this on BB.

 

[Al Zarilla]

 
The first intelligent thing I've ever heard her say.

She's still making up for calling the Celtics Nazis once. 

 

[OCST]

Now I'm convinced that it was Harbaugh with a fake mustache in Pats gear who deflated the balls to create the whole sideshow.

 

[Harry Hooper]

This whole thing is stupid.

But, if they were off by only .2 PSI, don't you think the NFL would have mentioned this by now and not dragged one of their SB contenders through all of this?

I'm sure the Tweet is accurate.

 
I believe that's what he was told. Whether that is truly accurate is another matter. Your assumption of simple competence in NFL HQ is foolhardy.

 

[Leather]

 
BV is a total dink but that was really funny.

 

[snowmanny]

 
I'm guessing no. Because people are lazy and no one cared so long as they were close enough before this fiasco.

If the refs don't actually check the ball pressure before the game then I don't understand this story.