New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady both held news conferences today denying their role in the Deflategate scandal. Similar to Watergate – the scandal that put the “gate” in scandals – it is not the crime itself, it is the cover-up that gets people in the worst trouble.
In the past four days since the Patriots soundly beat the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship game 45-7, the scandal has intensified mandating the need for Belichick and Brady to address the issue publicly. The molehill began to increase in size with each new development.
First, on Monday, reports surfaced that the NFL was investigating whether the footballs used by the Patriots were under inflated during the AFC Championship game. During a Monday morning radio appearance on WEEI, Brady laughed at the deflated football controversy and called the claim “ridiculous.”
Note, Brady could have nipped this issue in the bud that first day by confessing and taking full responsibility. The penalty for altering previously approved balls is a fine of $25,000 and potential discipline. Immediately owning the act and expressing contrition likely would lean more towards a fine that Brady can easily afford and minimal punishment.
Tuesday, the investigation thickened when the NFL reported that 11 of 12 footballs approved by the referee for the Patriots for the game against the Colts were under-inflated by two pounds each. NFL mandates that game-ready balls be inflated between 12.5 and 13.5 pounds per square inch (psi) of air. That means the footballs used by the Patriots in the game were 16% less inflated than the rules mandate.
In contrast, all 12 of the Colts’ footballs were inflated within proper limits. This fact negated the claim that the weather caused the deflation in the balls during the game. Instead, it looked more like the Patriots intentionally deflated the balls after they were approved by the referee two hours and 15 minutes prior to game time. A Patriots equipment manager would typically possess the balls until the game started.
Mike Florio reported that Brady had been known for his preference for a “deflated ball” since at least 2011. In fact, in 2006, Brady with quarterback Peyton Manning successfully lobbied the NFL to change the rule requiring the home team to supply all of the footballs for both teams. The NFL obliged Brady and Manning and issued the current rule allowing for each team to supply its own 12 footballs for each game. This rule change set the stage for manipulation of the footballs by teams.
The week continued with lots of discussion about Belichick and his previous cheating scandal referred to as Spygate. The Patriots under Belichick were caught videotaping the New York Jets’ defensive coaches’ signals during a 2007 game.
Many speculated that Spygate and Deflategate would possibly tarnish the reputations of both Brady and Belichick…especially Belichick. Spygate resulted in Belichick being fined the maximum $500,000, the Patriots being fined $250,000 and a loss of a first-round pick in 2008 draft.
Today Belichick, dressed somewhat nicely, i.e., no hoodie, read from a prepared statement and said that he was “shocked” to learn about the accusations. Belichick added that “[i]n his entire coaching career, never talked to any player or staff member about football air pressure.”
Notably, Belichick also stated that “the balls we practice with are as bad as they can be: wet, sticky, cold, slippery, however bad we can make them, I make them.” So which is it? Belichick never talked about air pressure in footballs or he makes them hard in practice? To make them hard in practice don’t you have to discuss air pressure? These two sentences seem mutually exclusive.
Belichick then surprisingly said that they should talk to Brady who knew more about the issue and can discuss his preference on footballs. Belichick throwing Brady under the bus was shocking to most observers of the normally recalcitrant coach.
However, if Brady were to take complete responsibility, Belichick and the Patriots could be absolved from blame potentially avoiding the loss of a draft pick or two as a penalty.
But Brady didn’t play ball. In his news conference later in the day, Brady continued to build the molehill into a large mountain. Brady stated that he doesn’t “want anyone touching the balls after” he has picked the 12 out for the game. Brady added that he doesn’t “want anyone rubbing them, putting air in them, taking any air out. To me, those balls are perfect, and that’s what I expect when I show up on the field.”
Brady also stated that he prefers the footballs be inflated to the league minimum pressure of exactly 12.5 psi. But, then later said that he didn’t notice a difference when the under-inflated balls were re-inflated in the second half of the Colts game. Those two sentences seem contradictory and only keep the scandal building.
The main problem with Brady’s claims is that he indicates that he has specific requirements for the game footballs and directs exactly how the footballs should be prepared. If Brady had nothing to do with the deflation of the game balls after the referee approval two hours before game time, then who deflated the 11 of 12 balls?
It seems inconceivable that an equipment ball man or boy would take it upon himself to change the footballs inflation. To go against the express direction of a multiple Super Bowl champion and future Hall of Fame quarterback seems the quickest way to become unemployed.
Notably, former NFL players including several quarterbacks questioned the veracity of Brady’s statements. The names included: Troy Airman, Mark Brunell, Jerome Bettis, and Brian Dawkins. Baltimore Ravens defensive end Chris Canty said that the “Patriots are habitual line-steppers.”
The molehill that could have been dealt with Monday when Brady first addressed the issue has now grown into a huge mountain of a scandal on the eve of the NFL’s biggest showcase game of the year, the Super Bowl.
Clearly, the NFL will have to address the allegations, possibly issue punishment and review the pre-game football handling procedures. Why do teams get to possess their own footballs anyway? That seems a recipe for disaster, especially for teams that may be “habitual line-steppers.”
The Deflategate scandal is a perfect way to end this season of NFL scandals and disasters that ranged from Ray Rice, to Adrian Peterson, to domestic abusers and even to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell himself.
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