#DFG: Canceling the Noise
- Thread starter nattysez
- Start date
How has a news organization not conducted this experiment yet? It would cost like $50 plus whatever you charge some kid to rub up a football for half an hour or whatever. I'm sure there are labs that would be happy to do this for free for the exposure, as well.
kartvelo said:
Well, he did say that 90 degree air would be "more accessible" and also noted the Patriots would have won the game wherever played. He was up front about it, and that's good. He's taking the "2 psi" thing as a known fact, and not recognizing any other factors, but I'm glad he responded.
I wonder what the temperature is of air that comes out of an air compressor? In the video showing them inflating the K balls, they are using an air compressor, and I would have to believe that the air does not come out at room temperature. If the Patriots' balls, as submitted, needed to be inflated in order to come up to spec, and the Colts' balls did not, and a compressor was used, this would be an interesting fact.
So Kensil paid off the Pats ballboy to deflate the footballs, probably told him to go to the bathroom right under the surveilance camera. Problem was, ballboy was either a hero and didn't actually go through with it, or a failure and didn't deflate them enough
Right now, I chalk up the Kensil story to just another one of the wild rumors that have been flying around since last Sunday.
Handicapping the most likely outcome of all this: Wells & Co. interview some of the Patriots and Colts players (and maybe Ravens) after the Super Bowl. This will take a few weeks alone, as players do tend to travel during that time to various far-flung locations. After that, Wells puts together a comprehensive report, referencing the Patriots own experimental data. Wells may even solicit the services of a high-priced scientific consulting firm to attempt to validate those experiments if they're motivated. Goodell will then have his CYA report so that he can absolve the Patriots of wrong doing, while at the same time issue some clarifying regulations regarding the proper condition and handling of the footballs. The press release will come out some time in late March or early April, a time that is normally quiet by NFL standards (the big name free agents are usually off the board by then). Kraft will issue a short press release saying the NFL's response is satisfactory, and all will be good.
Some mediots will say "I don't believe it; those balls were tampered with...", but there will be other news to follow. Shank, Borges, Bob Ryan and Volin will bring up DeflateGate from time to time when they need to support some weak narrative. Mazz will of course bring it up any chance he can get when he needs to criticize the Pats after they trounce some random opponent 49-0 next year on their way to a true 19-0 season.
Unfortunately, it will never go away, much like Spygate. The best we can hope for is Belichick's and/or Brady's post-retirement tell-all book.
Handicapping the most likely outcome of all this: Wells & Co. interview some of the Patriots and Colts players (and maybe Ravens) after the Super Bowl. This will take a few weeks alone, as players do tend to travel during that time to various far-flung locations. After that, Wells puts together a comprehensive report, referencing the Patriots own experimental data. Wells may even solicit the services of a high-priced scientific consulting firm to attempt to validate those experiments if they're motivated. Goodell will then have his CYA report so that he can absolve the Patriots of wrong doing, while at the same time issue some clarifying regulations regarding the proper condition and handling of the footballs. The press release will come out some time in late March or early April, a time that is normally quiet by NFL standards (the big name free agents are usually off the board by then). Kraft will issue a short press release saying the NFL's response is satisfactory, and all will be good.
Some mediots will say "I don't believe it; those balls were tampered with...", but there will be other news to follow. Shank, Borges, Bob Ryan and Volin will bring up DeflateGate from time to time when they need to support some weak narrative. Mazz will of course bring it up any chance he can get when he needs to criticize the Pats after they trounce some random opponent 49-0 next year on their way to a true 19-0 season.
Unfortunately, it will never go away, much like Spygate. The best we can hope for is Belichick's and/or Brady's post-retirement tell-all book.
Papelbon's Poutine said:
I know this is probably a typo, but I got a kick out of it. This is just about the most accurate description of the league officials I can think of - a bunch of uninformed guys.
Schefter on Sportscenter (I'm in the hotel gym, give a guy a break) reporting that league is entrenched in its belief that the NEP deflated 11 of 12 balls. Nothing more specific; no mention of any evidence.
They started at guilty and don't want to look foolish (a few years too late but hey), meanwhile an "all-star" officiating crew is sweating bullets.MarcSullivaFan said:
Wells will charge a markup on the scientific testing done by some consulting firm. Guaranteed.lexrageorge said:
Source?BimblemansLight said:
Let's not start our own witch hunt here. There is nothing on Kensil at this point other than the fact that he's heading the investigation.
DrewDawg said:
You can change the @name. Various reporters/personalities will change theirs based on where they are employed. Off the top of my head, Jenny Dell was @jennydellNESN but now she's @jennydell_.
What else can Wells find at this point unless it has to do with the involvement of the Raven and Colts? All the video evidence has been submitted, staff interviewed, phones checked, etc. Brady has made a public statement that I can't believe would be any different than he would make to the league if they ever get around to interviewing him.
What am I missing?
What am I missing?
My earlier post did assume that the NFL is a rational actor.MarcSullivaFan said:
Of course, we may be dealing with N. Korea, in which case all bets are off. Goodell could try to double down on the witch hunt, or could just arbitrarily decide that without "proof of evidence beyond a reasonable doubt", the Pats are guilty and attempt to swing the hammer after the Super Bowl. Kraft then brings in his high priced legal team, and things get real ugly....
twibnotes said:
I think that motivation has been there from the start anyway. The NFL desperately wants something here, given all of the media coverage, even if it's just "circumstantial proof" that would allow them to fine the Pats and dock them a draft pick.
In which case, Kraft's reaction would be quite interesting, especially given how other teams who were 100% known to have been doctoring balls were "punished."
Scriblerus said:
Texts, phone calls, emails, etc. Which, if I am innocent, I welcome with open arms.
I was impressed with the manner in which Wells conducted, or at least presented, his Incognito findings. I'm hoping we'll find something similar here, although I think the one difference is that I don't think the league was invested in the results of the Miami investigation.
One wonders: if someone is leaking info to begin with, why would wells's comments make a speck of difference? None of these reporters is going to give up his source. Only way a guy gets busted is if he's known to be the only source of a particular piece of info.riboflav said:
The NFL runs an investigation, concludes that the balls were deflated and while some of the pressure loss could be attributed to atmospheric variables, these do not fully explain how low the psis were in the tested balls.....although no specific evidence of human tampering could be determined we will tighten protocols and testing...no fine.
Then Roger tells all the anti-Pats owners hell we put them through the ringer, we harassed them before the Super Bowl, they know we're on to them and are watching them blah blah blah don't tell Kraft any of this though...then tells Kraft privately oh I'm sorry but I can't publicly apologize because you know strong shield blah blah.
Then Roger tells all the anti-Pats owners hell we put them through the ringer, we harassed them before the Super Bowl, they know we're on to them and are watching them blah blah blah don't tell Kraft any of this though...then tells Kraft privately oh I'm sorry but I can't publicly apologize because you know strong shield blah blah.
I think it's important not assume that Schefter, Glazer, and Florio's sources are speaking for the NFL. With this much leakage, it seems pretty obvious that someone(s) is doing this strategically. For all we know, there may be multiple factions in the league who are leaking for various strategic purposes. That's what's so frustrating about all these reporters and their single anonymous sources. They're just megaphones for whomever wants to get a message out.
Scriblerus said:
Phone records? Texts? You look at lots of shit when you're doing an investigation.
That's what they spent Mon-Thur of last week doing until the media storm and the BB/TB press conferences forced them bring in Wells. Wells probably tells them what they have (mid-game PSI numbers, locker room attendant tape) is not definitive enough for a quick fine because there are plausible explanations for their evidence and enough gaps in the story before bringing in the science (lack of PSI record keeping, refs not noticing any issue with the balls during the game, ball attendant could be using bathroom) that would likely trigger a lawsuit from the Pats or the NFLPA.Ed Hillel said:
Another great example of the fundamental disconnect between the media and what players actually say, FTFA:RedOctober3829 said:
Title of the article doesn't reflect the quotes, how typical.
Great. So, now we've entered the stage of proceedings analogous to the district attorney who won't be a fucking man about it and admit that the officers simply made a mistake but instead continues to prosecute and legally harass an innocent party.MarcSullivaFan said:
Can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm almost surprised that people are still giving any credence to the league or sources within on this matter, and I'm saying that without hyperbole. The on-field product may be more popular than it's ever been, and the tv deals more lucrative, but when it comes to peripheral issues, they've shown no ability whatsoever to properly assess or deal with them. I scoffed at the notion of some sort of sting when it first emerged, but thinking about it now, there's almost more reason to assume that the NFL would attempt a stupid undertaking like that and fuck it up entirely than to believe they'd dismiss such a silly idea outright.
The NFL been a shining beacon of incompetence for awhile now, and when you examine possible outcomes here, there's about a 99% chance they've fucked this up too. The Patriots have addressed this multiple times, while the league has allowed this farcical shitshow to continue unabated, generating a confrontational situation with one of its franchises heading into the biggest game of the season, in which that franchise is a participant. My best guess at this point is the league's stance is being driven by Goodell or an equally underqualified minion basically taking an "I don't care what we have, fuck those guys, they're going down" stance.
I still stand by the idea that they have Glazer and Florio have no sources. Until they reveal evidence of a transcript (de-identified of course), I call fabrication.MarcSullivaFan said:
I also suspect that such fabrications made be impeding wells' investigation. A leak occurs, Wells has to investigate it, and turns up that the leak never occurred. Coming to such a conclusion requires an exhuastive investigation, which should take awhile.
Regarding schefter's claim. I don't get this. The NFL is an organization comprised of 32 teams that ceded some authority to a central organization; "the league" comprises lots of members. We've already seen some owners (e.g. Irsay), coaches (e.g. harbaugh), and players congratulate the Patriots publicly. Given the relationship between Kraft and Goodell, I'd be surprised if this has to do with Goodell. When he reports that the "league" is entrenched in their belief, what exactly is he referring to? Are his sources saying that the league is entrenched in their belief, or is this an inference from what his sources said?
I thought that they already had all of that information from the Patriots.DennyDoyle'sBoil said:
I sense a palace coup that went horribly wrong. The palace (Republican) guards and army are fully loaded and ready to fire at each other.EricFeczko said:
Think about the outcome for a minute. If someone conspired behind the scene, either Kraft (a strong Goodell supporter) will be significantly weakened, or Goodell will be brought down by his incompetency. Either way, the conspirator accomplished one of the objectives. Call me crazy, but I have seen this played out in politics and businesses many many times.
DennyDoyle'sBoil said:
a recently filled air compressor could easily have 90F air in it or higher. Go run one and touch it...carefully.
njnesportsfan said:
Maybe league Ops hatched some crappy plan to go after the Pats, and the Commish reluctantly let it go forward since it was the Pats and he didn't want to be accused of protecting Kraft & Co.
Have we determined if the ball attendant was taking a shit? Because that would probably be more than 90 seconds.DennyDoyle'sBoil said:
I think someone in the league office is trying to get rid of Goodell or decimate Kraft, it would be ideal to kill 2 birds with 1 stone. But killing either bird will be good enough.Harry Hooper said:
OnWisc said:
I still find it unfathomable Goodell would destroy his relationship with Kraft over this. Kraft is one of the three most influential owners, is at least partly responsible for some of those mega television deals the NFL has, and was his most vocal supporter during the Rice debacle. If Goodell wants to fuck the Patriots just because, then I am simply stunned.
EDIT: IOW, it's simply not something that can only be explained by incompetence.
That may or may not have happened earlier. Hard to tell really. There was also a Louis Farrakhan reference. Maybe a Joan of Arc?TomTerrific said: