NFL 2014 Thread

[dsheinem]

I am a bit of what you might call an amateur NFL scholar, so you best back off!

I see what you did there:



This came up via Google: http://thesportspost.com/blogs/view/all ... nderscored

I retract my critique of the importance of the draft, but retain my disdain for the spectacle around it.

[Luke]

Cheating is, and always will be a trademark of professional sports. And when you lose 45-7 you can expect excuses. Surely the refereeing staff would have been notified if indeed they did believe the Patriots were using illegal balls.

This isn't on Bill, this is on the NFL. Kickers have their own balls, teams have their own balls, and there is not a specifically regulated ball. It's like golf, not like the MLB. Though balls are doctored as well in the MLB in about every game.

As for the NHL, they used to really have their stuff together. Equipment could be called out during the game and lead to penalties as Marty McSorely and others learned how cheating was not tolerated.

I can't blame the Pat's for taking every advantage they can, as every team does the same. Blame the NFL for lack of regulations. The Pats are just ahead of the curve.

[Stark]

Cheating is, and always will be a trademark of professional sports. And when you lose 45-7 you can expect excuses.

The Patriots were the better team and that is evident by the score and deflating footballs is not what won them that game. They didn't need an advantage, so it's dumb that they cheated.

Surely the refereeing staff would have been notified if indeed they did believe the Patriots were using illegal balls.

Pretty sure they were, during the game, and that's why it was looked into.

Blame the NFL for lack of regulations.

What? There is a regulation, the balls need to be between two numbers for inflation.

[Luke]

"League sources have confirmed that the footballs were properly inspected and approved by referee Walt Anderson 2 hours and 15 minutes before kickoff, before they were returned to each team" - ESPN

Under inflated balls are as common as pine tar in baseball.

Quoth a Colt:

Dwayne Allen:
@NFLonFOX not a story. They could have played with soap for balls and beat us. Simply the better team. We have to continue to build! #BTM

The only reason this is a story is because the Patriots are a polarizing team and reporters are reaching for any story possible.

[DonSilvestre]

"League sources have confirmed that the footballs were properly inspected and approved by referee Walt Anderson 2 hours and 15 minutes before kickoff, before they were returned to each team" - ESPN

Under inflated balls are as common as pine tar in baseball.

Quoth a Colt:

Dwayne Allen:
@NFLonFOX not a story. They could have played with soap for balls and beat us. Simply the better team. We have to continue to build! #BTM

The only reason this is a story is because the Patriots are a polarizing team and reporters are reaching for any story possible.

Actually I think the fact that they were inspected by the officials prior to the game adds even more suspicion that the Patriots were cheating. Not sure how they would have accomplished getting them deflated on the sideline after inspection, but 11 of the 12 were a full 2 lbs of pressure less than allowed.

Patriots would have won this game handily either way no doubt - but it's the principle of the matter. What if the game had been close? Is this the first time they've done it (highly unlikely) - and if not, how close were other games where they were deflated to give them an advantage? It just opens too many doors and questions. I have a feeling the NFL is gonna hand out some seriously heavy handed discipline here.

[Luke]

11 of the 12 were a full 2 lbs of pressure less than allowed.

What if the game had been close? Is this the first time they've done it (highly unlikely) - and if not, how close were other games where they were deflated to give them an advantage? .

2 lbs. per square inch. Big difference.

What if frogs had wings?

If rules aren't enforced, they aren't rules.

Remember 8th grade Algebra? Almost every book had the answer to the odd numbered problems in the back of the book. When given an assignment, most kids would always work on the even numbered problems and simply skip to the back of the book for the odd problems. My point is that when someone hands you an advantage, it's not really cheating, and it is folly to not take advantage when you can.

[Jmustang1968]

http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/23 ... -footballs

[Jmustang1968]

Well it is technically cheating as it broke the rules. Obviously there are varying degrees of rule breaking and I think this one is minor on the scale. All sports teams do look for every advantage and practice a degree of gamesmanship. There is a fine line with that and rule breaking, and too often those actions lead to new rules.

[stickem]

I just want to know who fucked up getting that 12th ball worked

[Luke]

Well it is technically cheating as it broke the rules. Obviously there are varying degrees of rule breaking and I think this one is minor on the scale.

If rules aren't being enforced, that aren't rules. Just "who gives a shit?" guidelines.

I'd bet every cold weather team deflates balls, and that every hot weathered team over inflates them. Not only that, but kickers get their own special ball to use. Teams get their own balls as well.

Balls.

Going back to my statement about golf, everyone should have a standard, inspected ball that should only be handled by players and refs. The NFL has to prove that tampering was involved. It has not. They are "looking into it".

The NFL is rampant with players who constantly stomp on QB's, and the league has it's fair share of rapists and thugs. All this fuss about the condition of footballs in what was nothing but a demolition of a rival is as Colt's player have said; not a story.

We'll wait and see, but were the balls inspected? Yes. Were the refs asked to inspect the balls during play? No. Are there hundreds of cameramen zooming in on the sidelines at all times? Yes. Are there tens of thousands of fans also recording every facet of the game? Yes. Is their proof of someone tampering with the footballs? No. Or maybe not yet. But I doubt it.