Super Bowl XLIX is only 11 days away, but most of America is fixated on another pressing topic in the NFL: deflated balls. Yep. The biggest game of the year has taken a backseat to squishy footballs.
, the NFL found that 11 of the Patriots’ 12 game balls in their AFC Championship victory over the Colts were inflated “2 pounds per square inch below what’s required by NFL regulations.” The footballs, according to ESPN’s sources, were inspected and approved 2 hours and 15 minutes before kickoff. Any alteration to the footballs during that time is prohibited by the league.
Per ESPN:
Part of the investigation that needs further vetting is how the 11 footballs became underinflated.
The balls are required to be inflated between 12.5 and 13.5 pounds per square inch and weigh between 14 and 15 ounces. Once approved by the referee, the balls are then put into ball bags and are set on the sideline for each team. The ball bags are not guarded or watched in any way. When an official calls for a new football, a team’s designated ball boy will get a new football from the ball bag and give it to the official.
Tom Brady initially dismissed allegations that the Patriots deflated the footballs, saying they’re “the least of my worries” and “I don’t even respond to stuff like this,” while on .
Bill Belichick on Tuesday refused to discuss the investigation, but said on Monday the team would “cooperate fully with whatever the league wants us to.”
But the story has since blown up (pun intended), and players across the league (including Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton) have weighed in on the situation.
Here’s what Broncos Terrance Knighton says about deflated footballs.
— Pro Football on ESPN (@ESPNNFL)
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Whoops lol
— Rob Gronkowski (@RobGronkowski)
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not a story. They could have played with soap for balls and beat us. Simply the better team. We have to continue to build!
— Dwayne Allen (@Dallen83)
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For my 2cents Blount scored 3 rushing touchdowns. He could’ve carried a beach ball. Also doesn’t hurt we only gave up 7 points
— Brandon Browner (@bbrowner27)
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If New England was to be DQ’d.. We’d be their replacements right??… I should probably lay off these strawberry margs
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow)
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So we get to play the game again or nah?
— Darius Butler (@DariusJButler)
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11 of 12 balls under-inflated can anyone spell cheating!!! Saying
— Jerry Rice (@JerryRice)
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Those footballs don’t make the biggest impact on the game folks are going crazy because of the ethics behind it
— Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR)
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You can’t say you lost because their football had less air haha
— Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR)
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I’m noticing a misconception about the use of NFL footballs. There’s a whole system employed before they’re ever used in a practice or game.
— Donté Stallworth (@DonteStallworth)
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A fresh and new NFL football will never be used in a game. Players strongly dislike even playing catch with them because they’re so slick.
— Donté Stallworth (@DonteStallworth)
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(1/4)When checking the game balls, the refs check the psi indoors. This is frustrating bc the ball loses some pressure in cold weather…
— Graham Gano (@GrahamGano)
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(2/4)… During our home playoff game this year I asked the official if he could check the psi outside again bc the ball felt flat and he…
— Graham Gano (@GrahamGano)
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(3/4)…said he could not. I guess you can’t blame the official for that. Rules are rules. Maybe the league will make some changes this…
— Graham Gano (@GrahamGano)
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(4/4)…offseason. Sucks kicking a flat ball tho.
— Graham Gano (@GrahamGano)
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I’ll say this..Though deflating balls are an advantage balls can’t play pass defense or run themselves. Pass D & run Game was too strong!!
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25)
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This is just an issue because it’s the Patriots. They won by 38. This doesn’t change the outcome of the game
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz)
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Speaking strictly from a def. minded stance right now. If my defense only allowed 7 pts. I’d be pissed that it’s being overshadowed now.
— Spencer Paysinger (@SpittyP)
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. sums up his feelings on .
— The Players’ Tribune (@PlayersTribune)
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