2014-2015 NFL Regular Season Thread

[godfather]

If a team provides their own footballs, then why does it matter if it is underinflated or overinflated? Why is this even a rule? Guys can put a bunch of gunk on their hands and use gloves that stick like Spiderman but slightly deflating the ball to make it easier to catch is anathema? Also this whole issue is funny because some players, including Aaron Rodgers, prefer it overinflated. Which is it?

Frankly if it turns out to be true then I can understand a fine. Folks wanting suspensions though are absurd. This sounds like more of a psychological edge than anything.

I think he should be suspended because he's a repeated offender. I don't think it had any outcome on the game, but integrity has to count for something, still.

I still blame the NFL, why in the WORLD are teams allowed to bring their own footballs to the game? I honestly didn't even know that, and to me, it's not a real stunner a team tried to take advantage of this.

I think its a little silly personally, but still if its a known rule, and they broke it, they should be/Belichick, penalized. But nothing drastic like DQ from the Super Bowl, like some people want.

Colts fans want that, obviously, but they deserved to lose either way, because they clearly stunk it up, and it had nothing to do with a deflated football.

 

[godfather]

You missed my point entirely- why is it even a rule in the first place? Unless a team is who underinflating the ball that it is like a pancake why does it matter in the first place? Silly rule. why is this illegal but using sticky gloves that act like a fly trap is ok? Absurd double standard.

It's a rule, because it either devalues, or gives a team a "supposed" advantage. How much? I have no clue.

The rule itself might be silly, but still, I don't think that's the point. The point is, that Belichick again, abused the rules, and seems to not have learned from the first time. Even if he had no idea about this (which someone as smart as him I find it hard to believe).

He should at least be fined, and maybe a suspension even. If you don't penalize him, when is he going to learn? Is he ever?

I don't think this seriously taints anything (except the guys integrity obviously), but the guy clearly has a habit of abusing the rules though.

 

[godfather]

By the way, call me silly, but what advantage does a deflated ball really do? Makes it easier to throw, and catch? I really don't get that, wouldn't it make it harder to throw in bad weather though? Technically if the ball is lighter, its willing to float more.

The way Brady was throwing the ball in first half, the ball was sailing high, a lot on him! I noticed that too, thinking damn, Brady is playing like garbage, all this throws are sailing high on him.

If anything, it probably hurt them.

 

[macbdog]

You continue to condemn someone with no proof though- what proof do you have that Belicheck knew anything about this? Is there video of Bill on the sidelines doing this? The more likely culprit is Brady, since Aaron Rodgers and Brad Johnson have both admitted to doctoring the football in a similar fashion? Again, I don't see how you can call for this suspension of Belixheck- or anyone- when you have no actual evidence if his involvement other than your animosity towards him.

If the NFL finds that the Pats wer in violation then you fine the team. But singling out Belicheck, As if his pregame and halftime routine should include an airgage, is just silly. I say as long as the ball maintains its shape who cares how inflated it is.

 

[godfather]

You continue to condemn someone with no proof though- what proof do you have that Belicheck knew anything about this? Is there video of Bill on the sidelines doing this? The more likely culprit is Brady, since Aaron Rodgers and Brad Johnson have both admitted to doctoring the football in a similar fashion? Again, I don't see how you can call for this suspension of Belixheck- or anyone- when you have no actual evidence if his involvement other than your animosity towards him.

If the NFL finds that the Pats wer in violation then you fine the team. But singling out Belicheck, As if his pregame and halftime routine should include an airgage, is just silly. I say as long as the ball maintains its shape who cares how inflated it is.

Well, I think that's what I was inferring to, if the NFL found out they did this, then yeah, they should be. But the proof seems pretty telling, from everything I've read. The officials check the balls before the game, they're good, then they're given back to each team. The footballs are under their control, then they become deflated. I mean, did the ballboy do it? Seriously? Someone did, and it was in the Patriots control at that point. So it'd be pretty hard to sit here and think someone in the organization wasn't clearly responsible for this.

You don't really think Belichick had no idea about this? I mean come on, man. This is the same guy that leaves no leaf unturned, you damn right he knew about it, if the Patriots did this.


Belichick is the head coach, he's not responsible for his own team? Even if it was Brady that actually did it, and maybe we'll never know who did it specifically, but the coach is responsible for the team. And if they're infraction of breaking a rule, how is he not responsible?

Belichick and cheating has a history.

 

[godfather]

I really don't give a shit if the balls were deflated or not. I agree, the rule is pretty petty. Don't lose sight of the bigger picture. I have a problem with Belichick, specifically, going out of his way to continue to bend/break the rules as much as possible.

That's the bigger issue here. If you continue to look the other way, then where does he stop? If he's responsible for breaking a rule, even a pretty dumb one, you got to penalize him.

I don't know, I wouldn't be against suspending him personally, but at least a fine. The guy does not learn! He has a history of breaking rules. That's the bottom line.

He's willing to do whatever it takes to win, even if that means cheating. Even if the act itself is pretty insignificant, Belichick I am sure knew full ware he's cheating, but like usual, he doesn't really care. The guy is willing to break the rules, he should be penalized and made an example of. Especially since this is not the first.

 

[macbdog]

It is irrelevant who you think did it- this isn't Islamic State or North Korea, if you want to suspend Belicheck you need actual proof that he knew, condoned, and or ordered it. And Yes it probably was a ballboy, that is kind of dumb. But who ordered him to do it? Belicheck is not the only one who could have ordered it. As previously noted, two qbs are on record having ordered the ball be doctored. How do we know it wasn't McDaniel? Brady? Garopollo? The guy on the grassy knoll? Point is you can't just convict Belicheck without something other than your past bias.

 

[godfather]

It is irrelevant who you think did it- this isn't Islamic State or North Korea, if you want to suspend Belicheck you need actual proof that he knew, condoned, and or ordered it. And Yes it probably was a ballboy, that is kind of dumb. But who ordered him to do it? Belicheck is not the only one who could have ordered it. As previously noted, two qbs are on record having ordered the ball be doctored. How do we know it wasn't McDaniel? Brady? Garopollo? The guy on the grassy knoll? Point is you can't just convict Belicheck without something other than your past bias.

The NFL doesn't work that way, this isn't court, you don't need Belichick's finger prints. If his TEAM is responsible, regardless of whether he knew, or didn't know, he will be held accountable, and should be. I doubt it, some ballboy went and took air out of a football on his own doing. Maybe Brady did it, and Belichick didn't know. It's possible, but I don't believe it. I think Belichick, as smart as he is, knows everything, to even the weight of the footballs. He's that detailed in his approach.

Sean Payton, for all we know had no clue about the bounty gate, but he was suspended for a year, because it all happen under his watch. This is how the NFL operates, man, they suspend guys for getting arrested, even before they had a day in court.

It's going to be nearly impossible to prove "who actually did it" but does that mean just because they're clearly guilty, no one should be penalized?

Not even a fine? Nothing, because that would send the message "hey everyone, you can now cheat".

I've read enough on this, how are they not guilty? They clearly did this!
Even though it laughably didn't help them at all, in fact, probably hurt their performance on the field more than anything!

Someone in the Patriots organization doctored the footballs. I know the rule is stupid! Just because they are shitty cheaters, doesn't make it justified.

 

[Jack Brickman]

You missed my point entirely- why is it even a rule in the first place? Unless a team is who underinflating the ball that it is like a pancake why does it matter in the first place? Silly rule. why is this illegal but using sticky gloves that act like a fly trap is ok? Absurd double standard.

The league sets a standard for a reason, and it's to make things fair for both teams. If one team doesn't adhere to it and the other does, the team that doesn't could have an advantage in that their ball is easier to throw and catch.

I can't answer your second question because it is stupid that those gloves are allowed. Still, doing one is violating a rule and wearing the other is not. The Patriots clearly broke the rules and should suffer the consequences. Breaking a rule intentionally, however dumb you might perceive the rule to be, is still cheating.

Again, though, the NFL should just supply the damn game balls and both teams should use the same footballs. That would basically ensure this never happens again without the refs being the ones to take the fall for it.

By the way, I read that this would likely result in lost draft picks, not suspensions.

 

[godfather]

I don't hate the Patriots because they cheat, I hate them because they are good. The same way I hate the Lakers, Yankees, etc, you're supposed to hate the best teams.

But cheating is wrong. I'd be saying this if it were the Browns. Seriously, I would.

I don't think their cheating, has seriously benefited them much, if at all, from what we know. That doesn't matter. There are rules put in place, and they refuse to follow them.

At the same token, let's be realistic here too, they've not been this good because of cheating. Because if they have, then all 31 franchises would do this in a second.

For all we know, the Browns probably cheat and they still suck this much.

I don't pretend that there are honest ethics in sports, I know there's not. Any team out there will do whatever they can to get an advantage. The Patriots have been the team that's been caught though, once again.

You want both teams to have a fair advantage, that's all you ask for. I want to see the best of a product, not a watered down/tampered one out there.

 

[davedugan43]

I don't hate the Patriots because they cheat, I hate them because they are good. The same way I hate the Lakers, Yankees, etc, you're supposed to hate the best teams.

But cheating is wrong. I'd be saying this if it were the Browns. Seriously, I would.

I don't think their cheating, has seriously benefited them much, if at all, from what we know. That doesn't matter. There are rules put in place, and they refuse to follow them.

At the same token, let's be realistic here too, they've not been this good because of cheating. Because if they have, then all 31 franchises would do this in a second.

For all we know, the Browns probably cheat and they still suck this much.

I don't pretend that there are honest ethics in sports, I know there's not. Any team out there will do whatever they can to get an advantage. The Patriots have been the team that's been caught though, once again.

You want both teams to have a fair advantage, that's all you ask for. I want to see the best of a product, not a watered down/tampered one out there.

7-9 isn't awful. And I'm the board's resident Steelers fan. But that being said. I'm sick of New England. They've been caught twice in nonconsecutive years. Time to pay for it. Go Seahawks (that was painful to say).

 

[godfather]

Just for the record, Rodgers stated deflating the football is actually a disadvantage for the QB. Just like I thought, this was not only an advantage, but a clear disadvantage if they did this.

So let's move on and just focus on the SB.

 

[Jack Brickman]

Just for the record, Rodgers stated deflating the football is actually a disadvantage for the QB. Just like I thought, this was not only an advantage, but a clear disadvantage if they did this.

So let's move on and just focus on the SB.

Well, Rodgers prefers a more heavily inflated ball because he has huge hands, so it benefits him. However, it seems most other QBs prefer an underinflated ball because it's easier to grip and throw, especially in bad weather.

Also, my buddy posted his Tom Brady signed game ball on Facebook:

 

[godfather]

I don't even get why this is a rule, at all, it's the dumbest rule ever. QB's scruff up the football to their preference, all the time. The NFL has some really weird and dumb rules.

Most QB's agree, there can be some advantage for throwing the ball in bad weather like this, but most are in agreement it doesn't have a serious advantage, its all about preference. Basically, the football is easier to grip, there's no serious advantage to throwing it, just grip wise. And why is that bad? Should QB's not be allowed to wear gloves now? Is that not an advantage? Peyton wears special gloves to help him grip the football better. It's just where do you stop now?

It seems like Tom Brady alone was responsible for this. I really don't care. Come to think of it, this is the most silly story that's becoming bigger than what it should be. ESPN makes this out to be the cry of the century.

Every QB would be in trouble, they all doctor the football. This isn't like baseball, where there's a serious advantage. It's all about grip, who cares?

 

[Randolphkeys]

Ermagherd Bad Lip Reading is finally back!

http://youtu.be/OTRmyXX6ipU