Were deflated balls an issue in the #AFC championship game?

Tom Brady
New England’s hottie QB Tom Brady.

Fox News reports on a developing story regarding the New England Patriots – decisive 45-7 winners over the Indianapolis Colts last night in the AFC championship battle – and allegations that deflated balls were in use during the game:

The NFL has confirmed it is looking Β into charges the New England Patriots cheated Sunday night when they clinched a trip to the Super Bowl Sunday night by using deflated footballs.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed the probe Monday, following the AFC championship game, in which the Patriots demolished the Indianapolis Colts, 45-7. The charge was first made Sunday night, when an Indianapolis reporter that the NFL had seized at least one game ball from the AFC championship game to examine whether pigskins were intentionally deflated to make them easier to throw and catch.

β€œThe NFL is investigating the possibility,” Bob Kravitz, of WTHR, tweeted, adding that, β€œat one point the officials took a ball out of play and weighed it.”

If the Patriots did cheat, it would not be the first time. The team was penalized a first-round draft pick, fined $250,000 and head coachΒ Belichick was personally fined $500,000 after an investigation by the NFL determined the team had illegally videotaped their opponents hand signals during a 2007 game.

NE QB Tom Brady said the allegations of deflated balls were “ridiculous”

Tom Brady dismissed allegations that the New England Patriots under-inflated footballs in a morning interview with Boston radio station WEEI, calling the accusations β€œridiculous”.

When asked if he had heard the story, Brady said: β€œNo.”

The radio hosts then asked if he felt like the Patriots had an easier time gripping their footballs than the Colts did on Sunday night.

β€œI think I’ve heard it all at this point,” he said on the Dennis and Callahan Morning Show.

β€œThat’s the least of my worries,” he added later. β€œI don’t even respond to stuff like this.”

My observations:

1) It’s highly unlikelyΒ “properly inflated balls” would have changed the outcome of the game. In other words, deflated balls or not, the Colts played a bad game all around and still would have lost – in my humble opinion. Β Whether you like the Patriots or not – and I know there is a lot of Patriot dislike out there, for various reasons – I don’t think saying they still would have won is disputable.

2) It’ll be interesting to see what the results are of the investigation – and whether they will be announced before or after the Super Bowl, assuming the investigation is completed before the big game, which will be played on February 1st in Glendale, AZ, with defending champs the Seattle Seahawks as the Patriots’ opposition.

3) I dunno about “deflated balls” at this point, but I know a lot of egos are deflated this morning – like within the entire Green Bay Packers organization. Β Out of respect for Packers fans, I won’t rehash what happened yesterday outside of declaring it one of the biggest “WTH HAPPENED??” moments in NFC championship game history.

What say you?

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