Oh, don’t take offense. Up until a few days ago, when the Deflategate “scandal” broke, we were all dummies when it came to the esoterica of NFL ball rules.
Hell, let’s be honest; we were imbeciles.
Now, we’re learning all sorts of fancy things about the league’s regulations and how teams and referees handle footballs prior to and during a game. For instance, did you know the ball must be a “prolate spheroid”? And did you know that before today, the term “prolate spheroid” had appeared on CNN.com only four times in its history?
Perhaps that’s for the better.
Anyway, you’ve got questions, and as so often is the case, we have answers. Let’s get pumped up! (Sorry, it’s tough for writers to resist a play on words, no matter how terrible.)
What on Earth is going on?
The NFL is investigating the New England Patriots to determine why 11 of the 12 game balls they provided for Sunday’s AFC Championship game were under-inflated by about 2 pounds per square inch each.
The Pats supplied their own balls? Isn’t that letting the fox watch the hen house?
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Several Patriots have called the controversy “stupid” and accused the media of fueling the controversy. (For what it’s worth, this writer is willing to bet his pinkies no journalist is responsible for deflating the balls.)
Do the Pats forfeit the win if they’re found guilty?
Ridiculously unlikely (sorry, Indianapolis), but they could be fined and docked a draft pick. After Spygate, the league took away a Patriots’ first-round draft pick, fined the team $250,000 and fined Belichik $500,000, but don’t expect anything that serious in Deflategate.
Could the ball pressure really have played that large a factor?
Similarly unlikely. The Pats won 45-7, and 28 of their points came in the second half — after the game officials had pumped the balls back up to their regulation pressure. You make the call.
Then why is this such a big deal?
See earlier remark regarding Belichik and Bulger. Also, there’s this game coming up two Sundays from now called the Super Bowl…
