Local Experts Weigh in on “Deflategate”
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The NFL is investigating allegations that the New England Patriots cheated during the AFC Championship game last weekend, by deflating their footballs. So how can under inflating footballs give a team the upper hand? And should the Patriots be superbowl bound with #DEFLATEGATE hanging over their heads?
New England Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady told reporters Thursday afternoon that he did not alter any footballs during the teams matchup against the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship game. After the Patriots beat the Colts 45-7, the NFL’s initial findings found that the Patriots’ 12 footballs were under inflated.
“They can stick a needle in there and let the air out,” Mike Washington said. “An air needle is about this size and you could keep an air needle in your pocket.”
Washington played football in both college (Alabama) and the NFL and after, officiated SEC football games for 15 years.
“I would have control of the ball until the game starts,” he said. “We test the weight of the balls and everything.”
Sports analyst John Longshore says he believes “”Deflategate” is a big deal because of the timing of the whole thing.
“I do think with the SuperBowl a week away, it’s magnified this story,” he said. “I think if the Superbowl was this Sunday, this would not have been this big of a story. I’m not sold there’s really that big of an advantage if a ball is slightly under inflated.”
Washington says while it’s not common, there are some benefits to weaker footballs.
“If they’re playing in a cold stadium, your hands are going to be cold and if you’re catching a hard ball with all the air in it, it’s going to be tougher to catch it than it would when having a ball with less air in it.”
Several NFL players and coaches including Hines Ward and John Madden have come out against Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady, saying they don’t believe that he knew nothing about the alleged cheating.
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The NFL released a statement Friday saying it will soon look at video and forensic evidence in an attempt to resolve this.
