MarcSullivaFan said:Let's be clear here: There is no report anywhere indicating that the Colts are behind this. Bob Kravitz does not work for the Colts.
Do you think his 'sources' (assuming they're real) were part of the Patriots' organization?
MarcSullivaFan said:Let's be clear here: There is no report anywhere indicating that the Colts are behind this. Bob Kravitz does not work for the Colts.
Proof is never a requirement when accusations are made against the Patriots.MarcSullivaFan said:Let's be clear here: There is no report anywhere indicating that the Colts are behind this. Bob Kravitz does not work for the Colts.
H78 said:
Do you think his 'sources' (assuming they're real) were part of the Patriots' organization?
MarcSullivaFan said:Let's be clear here: There is no report anywhere indicating that the Colts are behind this. Bob Kravitz does not work for the Colts.
DrewDawg said:At some point, I would hope Kraft throws his weight around with Goodell and tells the NFL to VERY STRONGLY refute this.
I was thinking about this too. I can't remember what the details were exactly, but there was definitely some mention about how Rodgers liked his balls. I scanned the game and GOAT threads but can't seem to find what was said.Chuck Z said:Wasn't there a whole thing discussed by announcers during the GB game about how Rodgers likes harder balls that are more inflated? Or am I misremembering this? It seems like teams have some ability to tweak things on the balls, it's not a secret.
bluefenderstrat said:From Reiss--yet Kravitz said the Pats could "lose picks":
The NFL's game operations manual states: "Once the balls have left the locker room, no one, including players, equipment managers, ball boys, and coaches, is allowed to alter the footballs in any way. If any individual alters the footballs, or if a non-approved ball is used in the game, the person responsible and, if appropriate, the head coach or other club personnel will be subject to discipline, including but not limited to, a fine of $25,000."
Sure, and he probably got it from the Colts. What he got, though, was that the investigation was happening, which the NFL has since confirmed. Considering the refs stopped the game for a minute for this, I'm not so sure the Colts instigated it.rodderick said:
He's a lifetime Colts writer, what do you think are his sources?
rodderick said:
I'd guess the "including, but not limited to" part would authorize docking draft picks.
I have no idea. He called them "league sources," whatever that means. Could be somebody from the league, official ball washer, whatever. It's unfair to attribute it to the Colts purely on the basis of speculation.H78 said:
Do you think his 'sources' (assuming they're real) were part of the Patriots' organization?
Because, like the wrong headed substitution complaints last week, if the balls were deflated it would be up to the officials to police them by taking them out if play. Which they did.bluefenderstrat said:
Right, but a $25K fine seems to indicate it's a minor infraction.
TheMoralBully said:It's a story on ESPN now, being reported by Mike Reiss. The NFL is legitimately investigating this, it was going to come out regardless of how irresponsible this Kravitz guy was reporting it so early. I doubt it has anything to do with the Colts.
Marbleheader said:Can anyone remember, in any sport, a team so many people worked so hard to discredit? It's a weekly occurrence now. Dynasties like the Yankees and Spurs are fellated. The Patriots are scorned. I'll admit, all the hate in 2007 took some of the joy of that run away from me. Now, I'm embracing the role of rooting for NFL villains. May the Dark Lord and his army of Uruk-hai bring the ring back to Mordor.
So if this is the case and they do they ever week. This is not a story, but a writer taking a normal event and blowing it out of proportion...MarcSullivaFan said:https://twitter.com/davidwade/status/557185903396151296
nattysez said:
He was irresponsible for accurately reporting the story first? I mean, you guys can kill the messenger all you want, but the fact is that he got the facts right -- the NFL IS investigating this. Now, it will likely turn out that this is standard procedure, or that there's actually nothing to see here (quite likely), but saying that the Colts and Kravitz are to blame here seems pretty unfair.
Chuck Z said:Does anyone know how a deflated football would affect the nearly 200 yards of rushing offense?
My thoughts exactly.rodderick said:
Maybe the NFL "investigates" this shit every single time a football is taken out of the field of play and no ever hears about it. Not every investigation is made public, there's a very deliberate intention in running this angle.
The " loss of draft picks" line was inflammatory bullshit and reveals Kravitz agenda.nattysez said:He was irresponsible for accurately reporting the story first? I mean, you guys can kill the messenger all you want, but the fact is that he got the facts right -- the NFL IS investigating this. Now, it will likely turn out that this is standard procedure, or that there's actually nothing to see here (quite likely), but saying that the Colts and Kravitz are to blame here seems pretty unfair.
nattysez said:
He was irresponsible for accurately reporting the story first? I mean, you guys can kill the messenger all you want, but the fact is that he got the facts right -- the NFL IS investigating this. Now, it will likely turn out that this is standard procedure, or that there's actually nothing to see here (quite likely), but saying that the Colts and Kravitz are to blame here seems pretty unfair.
Exactly. The air in the football doesn't addess the Colts biggest problem, which was an inability to even marginally contain the running game.DrewDawg said:
It wouldn't.
They are complaining because Brady still passed well and Luck didn't.
It's totally beside the point.Chuck Z said:Exactly. The air in the football doesn't addess the Colts biggest problem, which was an inability to even marginally contain the running game.
You forgot Pats might lose draft pickdrleather2001 said:It's totally beside the point.
The story is now:
"PATRIOTS MAY HAVE CHEATED in a blowout game that they won and the allegation makes no sense."
Chuck Z said:Exactly. The air in the football doesn't addess the Colts biggest problem, which was an inability to even marginally contain the running game.
One of Kravitz's tweets said the Colts were manhandled and this isn't why they lost.Chuck Z said:Exactly. The air in the football doesn't addess the Colts biggest problem, which was an inability to even marginally contain the running game.
I guess Booked Esiason is being pretty unfair as well since he called sour grapes and insinuated it came from the Colts.nattysez said:
He was irresponsible for accurately reporting the story first? I mean, you guys can kill the messenger all you want, but the fact is that he got the facts right -- the NFL IS investigating this. Now, it will likely turn out that this is standard procedure, or that there's actually nothing to see here (quite likely), but saying that the Colts and Kravitz are to blame here seems pretty unfair.
wiffleballhero said:It seems to me that this would have helped the Colts more. Soft balls would be easier to hold but, more importantly, easier to catch.
Ahhhhh, so you're not saying the Pats didnt do it, you're saying no one could PROVE they did it.soxfan121 said:
Why? I hope there is a one-line press release "The NFL has investigated claims of deflated balls and found no proof."
Maybe lugging that extra gram is just too much for the 250-pound Blount.Chuck Z said:Does anyone know how a deflated football would affect the nearly 200 yards of rushing offense?
Ed Hillel said:Didn't Seattle get fined like 300k and lose practices next year for illegally practicing? That story lasted maybe an hour.
Should make him easier to tackle. Which would you rather hit? A 250 pound man or a 250-1gram pound man?Eddie Jurak said:Maybe lugging that extra gram is just too much for the 250-pound Blount.
PaulinMyrBch said:It's more likely that all that is going on here is a ball or two were taken out of play, and as a routine course of action, the NFL spends the following day determining why from a quality control standpoint. And since we're the home team, the investigation involves our stadium, ball attendants, and pregame storage area, etc. I'm sure there are lots of things that can lead to a deflated ball, the prime reason would be temperature of room where they were inflated, when, and the game temperature outdoors. Store a basketball in a cold garage for half a day, and it doesn't bounce as high. We're talking about 1 pound of pressure, wouldn't take much.
This is interesting, though not surprising. One would think this testing, to be meaningful, is done soon after the game rather than a leisurely "during the week." I suspect they may be testing as we write and that every single game ball will be tested.So if this is the case and they do they ever week. This is not a story, but a writer taking a normal event and blowing it out of proportion...
Marbleheader said:Can anyone remember, in any sport, a team so many people worked so hard to discredit? It's a weekly occurrence now. Dynasties like the Yankees and Spurs are fellated. The Patriots are scorned. I'll admit, all the hate in 2007 took some of the joy of that run away from me. Now, I'm embracing the role of rooting for NFL villains. May the Dark Lord and his army of Uruk-hai bring the ring back to Mordor.