2025-2026 NFL Season Thread

[sycro]

Originally Posted by twinkie

how did BB kept his composure talking about handling balls, dozen of balls, rubbing to get a good feel, stimulation and shining it? i couldn't stop laughing

You're talking about a man without a sense of humor. He probably doesn't even know that he said anything that could be interpreted as funny.

[Tony208]

Pats should be pissed. Like 40 plus members of the organization have already been interviewed about this thing? Lot of time wasted that could've been spent on prepping for the game.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Tony208

Pats should be pissed. Like 40 plus members of the organization has already been interviewed about this thing? Lot of time wasted that could've been spent on prepping for the game.

If the person responsible (cough... Belichick and Brady) would admit his wrongdoing and apologize no more interviews would be necessary. But we all know that won't happen.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

If the person responsible (cough... Belichick and Brady) would admit his wrongdoing and apologize no more interviews would be necessary. But we all know that won't happen.

So...guilty until proven innocent?

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by rickah88

So...guilty until proven innocent?

Yes. That's the case in the court of public opinion. This isn't a court of law. It's inconceivable that a control freak like Belichick would now know something as critical to the game as whether or not the game ball is inflated properly. Same with the superstar QB.

[Hatter]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

11/12 balls don't magically lose that much air.

If the refs thought something was wrong, they would have said something. More likely that it's a common occurrence of lost air pressure in cold weather when teams min inflate balls.

Why is this still an issue anyway? You even have Jerome Bettis calling the Pats felons because of spygate. If you want to continue with calling them cheaters like a loser then fine but to compare them to felons? Just sad.

[Tony208]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Yes. That's the case in the court of public opinion. This isn't a court of law. It's inconceivable that a control freak like Belichick would now know something as critical to the game as whether or not the game ball is inflated properly. Same with the superstar QB.

The lynch mob has already decided they're guilty. Saying they know about PSI would just make it look more so. If they said they know about PSI, but didn't tamper with them, do people believe them? I thought so.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Hatter

If the refs thought something was wrong, they would have said something. More likely that it's a common occurrence of lost air pressure in cold weather when teams min inflate balls.

Why is this still an issue anyway? You even have Jerome Bettis calling the Pats felons because of spygate. If you want to continue with calling them cheaters like a loser then fine but to compare them to felons? Just sad.

But this occurrence just happened to occur only to the footballs used by the Patriots - 11/12 of them, while none of the Colts footballs were affected. Amazing coincidence.

As far as Spygate was the finding was that they did in fact cheat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Na...alty_and_fines

[Hatter]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

But this occurrence just happened to occur only to the footballs used by the Patriots - 11/12 of them, while none of the Colts footballs were affected. Amazing coincidence.

As far as Spygate was the finding was that they did in fact cheat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Na...alty_and_fines

Did they go to jail? No so then why are they felons?

Former nfl official Gery Austin said that when balls are found to be deflated at halftime, standard procedure is to have them re-inflated. The Patriots torched the Colts in the second half.
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-e...ed-at-halftime

[Tony208]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

But this occurrence just happened to occur only to the footballs used by the Patriots - 11/12 of them, while none of the Colts footballs were affected. Amazing coincidence.

As far as Spygate was the finding was that they did in fact cheat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Na...alty_and_fines

Those are all from anonymous sources. The league has said nothing on how many balls were under-inflated and by how much. Even then, each team prepares their footballs differently.

Quoting Wikipedia for anything other than general information is

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Tony208

Those are all from anonymous sources. The league has said nothing on how many balls were under-inflated and by how much. Even then, each team prepares their footballs differently.

Quoting Wikipedia for anything other than very generic information is

That was my point - to post the "generic information" regarding the Patriots punishment for Spygate.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Hatter

Did they go to jail? No so then why are they felons?

Former nfl official Gery Austin said that when balls are found to be deflated at halftime, standard procedure is to have them re-inflated. The Patriots torched the Colts in the second half.
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-e...ed-at-halftime

Umm... figure of speech bro. Ever heard of it? I doubt he seriously thinks anyone should go to prison over Spygate or Deflategate. I'm pretty sure even Patriots most fans admit the Patriots cheated with regard to Spygate.

[FrodoBagginz]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-cl=84503534&v=jsKkN6VfuHM&x-yt-ts=1421914688

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt0h66Vcnjg

Something was being done with the Colts balls if they weren't losing PSI.

[sycro]

Originally Posted by Hatter

Did they go to jail? No so then why are they felons?

Former nfl official Gery Austin said that when balls are found to be deflated at halftime, standard procedure is to have them re-inflated. The Patriots torched the Colts in the second half.
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-e...ed-at-halftime

Nobody is claiming the Pats won because of the cheating, the same way nobody is claiming the Pats won their Super Bowls because of the cheating. But the fact that they have and continue to cheat isn't excused because they would have had success without it; it makes it that much worse. They clearly have felt on multiple occasions now that they needed to do something to get an advantage.

[Tony208]

BallBowl XLIX

Pats deflated balls vs. Seahawks ball grabs

Who has the edge?

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by sycro

Nobody is claiming the Pats won because of the cheating, the same way nobody is claiming the Pats won their Super Bowls because of the cheating. But the fact that they have and continue to cheat isn't excused because they would have had success without it; it makes it that much worse. They clearly have felt on multiple occasions now that they needed to do something to get an advantage.

I agree with most of that you say but in the last second Super Bowl win against the Rams (who were a 14 point favorite) I believe cheating probably played a role in the outcome.

[BLMN]

Originally Posted by Brady_2_Moss

8 days baby

Let's go pats!!! Unis are ready.

[sycro]

Are the balls ready? Have Brady and Bellichick personally squeezed each ball?

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by sycro

Are the balls ready? Have Brady and Bellichick personally squeezed each ball?

You can be sure they will try to have each ball nice and small before the game starts.

[R3P0]

You guys crack me up calling the Pats guilty of cheating. The NFL refs tested the balls 2.5 hours before the game, they all passed. At that point the NFL is in charge of the equipment as they hold on to the game balls and no one can modify them.