What is your opinion on "Deflategate"?

[Hovershy 3,812]

What do you think about this whole thing? Do you think the patriots cheated by deflating the footballs in last Sunday's game against the Colts? Or do you think its a bunch of baloney vilifying the Patriots for the sake of the Media. 

 

I think this "deflategate" is ridiculous and it's distracting the team from preparing for the Superbowl.

 

Edited January 25, 2015 by Hovershy

[Mr Underhill 219]

I think it won't matter, the Seahawks will *crush* the Patriots!

 

karma is a b*tch.

[Lisa 5,552]

The third option should be altered. :s I don't hate American football; in fact, I've played it a bit and enjoyed it back in Primary School. I just have no clue how it works, regarding rules, points and aims.

Edited January 25, 2015 by Kyo

[Frostgage 7,972]

In short, I think it's absolutely ridiculous. People are going to lambast the Patriots regardless of if it's deserved or not so I don't even pay attention to this stuff anymore. I can't help but feel if this happened to any other team no one would care, but it is what it is. I'm sure someone will reply to this telling me I'm a homer and we're a team of cheaters. I find it interesting that most of the former players that were criticizing us have past grudges with Patriots, like Brian Dawkins and Jerome Bettis. I just hope we use this as a source of motivation.

 

We're on to Seattle.

 

P.S. Let me just mention the NFL has produced ZERO evidence that the Patriots intentionally deflated the footballs. This is one of the most sketchy scenarios I've ever seen yet everyone seems to have decided we're already guilty.

Edited January 25, 2015 by Frostgage

[Nuke87654 1,849]

An over blown sham that is made a much bigger deal because it is the patriots that alot of people have a bone to pick against them. If it were done by any other team like how Minnesota was caught doing this football year, nobody would care. Frankly, I pray goodel screws up so that way New England can sue the NFL for libel and have the little napoleon tossed out.

 

Heck, as frostgage pointed out, there's still no evidence the pats did it, and Adam Schefter, the nfl reporter with tons of sources inside the NFL, says the NFL is not only struggling to find the pats doing anything wrong but are in fact trying to save face by trying to find a fall guy as they're believing they've screwed up the investigation badly.

Edited January 25, 2015 by Nuke87654

[Banul 3,831]

I don't know. I don't really follow sports, so I'm just sitting over here giggling to myself that deflated balls became such a big deal.

[Justin_Case001 4,855]

Thank you for including the "I don't know" option.  I always hated it when I'd take multiple choice student surveys in high school, and the question would be "How often do you smoke pot?", and the answers would be "once a day, several times a day, every hour, or I'm high right now."  It's like, dude...seriously?  Come on.  I would always write in my own option and then circle that.

[Akemi Homura 7,680]

The Patriots are the only team where they would measure the football and try to say they're cheating.

 

Really, this small issue-turned-national infamy is so preposterous it makes me forget how sad this situation is.

[Fhaolan 4,468]

Hrmmmm.

 

1) How does using a floppy football help?

2) Why the heck don't they use a ref-supplied ball? Why are they having the teams bring their own balls? Do other sports do that? I'm having trouble envisioning a basketball game where each team bring their own balls...

[MechanicalDoom 300]

I honestly could care less if they cheated or not. I don't like sports.

[Hovershy 3,812]

Hrmmmm.

 

1) How does using a floppy football help?

2) Why the heck don't they use a ref-supplied ball? Why are they having the teams bring their own balls? Do other sports do that? I'm having trouble envisioning a basketball game where each team bring their own balls...

 

1) A ball that is somewhat deflated is easier to deform and grip. Plus in rainy weather, it's supposedly easier to catch since the ball can be gripped tighter despite the slipperiness

 

2) Honestly I have no idea why the refs don't supply the balls. I guess it's cause each team likes them a little differently. But it is the refs responsibility to watch the balls and make sure they are properly inflated during the game.

[zombienixon 330]

I didn't even know there were really any rules regarding what pressure the balls had to be inflated to, but it wouldn't surprise me if there were.  I thought it would be like corking a bat in baseball, not technically illegal, just frowned upon.  Also, calling it "Deflategate" is stupid as hell.

[HeroSparks 232]

I think it's a giant time waster and smear campaign. People already don't like the Pats for whatever reason and this just gave them an opportunity to throw stuff around at them. Anyways, I don't think it would have made any difference anyways. A few psi, probably, sure, that would have made a difference, but 1 psi? I don't see it. If it would have made a difference to the feel of the balls the refs would have noticed since they were constantly handling both teams balls and were able to compare. Hehe, handling and comparing their balls
 

2) Honestly I have no idea why the refs don't supply the balls. I guess it's cause each team likes them a little differently. But it is the refs responsibility to watch the balls and make sure they are properly inflated during the game.

I heard that they apparently used to until Peyton Manning and a group of other quarterbacks petitioned the league to change the rule so that teams provided the balls

[King Sejong 858]

I am of the opinion, football is fine, NFL is not. The NFL has become increasingly corrupt, using political slander and gullible sports fans, to push something into the public that is irreverent, the fact that deflated footballs have been blamed on everything, from the opposite team to President Obama, it is making the public more prone to ridicule the sport, rather than spend money on an NFL publicity stunt. I don't watch American football, I like Rugby a lot more, it does not have politics, unless there were some high profile events, they at least keep the spirit of the sport, and play for the love of Rugby, not the love of the histrionic attention, if pro-football wants to be taken seriously again, it has to behave like sportsmen and gentlemen.

Edited January 25, 2015 by King Charles

[SilverStarApple 849]

Didn't we already know these major sports things were faked and cheated?

 

Besides, there are bigger scandals out there. Likegamergate.

[Yoshi89 5,290]

This is a team that has been tainted by scandal before, namely the Tuck Rule which doesn't exist anymore and Spygate which was going on during their quest for their perfect season.The fact that they're going after the Patriots again doesn't surprise me and it's too bad their legacy and this Super Bowl is going to be tainted by this.

[Nuke87654 1,849]

This is a team that has been tainted by scandal before, namely the Tuck Rule which doesn't exist anymore and Spygate which was going on during their quest for their perfect season.The fact that they're going after the Patriots again doesn't surprise me and it's too bad their legacy and this Super Bowl is going to be tainted by this.

 

They were caught with the cameras in the wrong place at the first game of the NFL season. That means they went the whole way under intense scrutiny and nearly achieved 19-0 without using that method. Because the media wishes to blow this up when there is no evidence to show the patriots have done anything wrong. 

 

Heck BB himself retorted when a reporter tried to bring up Spygate by pointing out that many teams have done that as well, which can be supported by the fact the Jets and Broncos have done it as well.

Edited January 26, 2015 by Nuke87654

[Cerulean Wings 176]

An over blown sham that is made a much bigger deal because it is the patriots that alot of people have a bone to pick against them. If it were done by any other team like how Minnesota was caught doing this football year, nobody would care. Frankly, I pray goodel screws up so that way New England can sue the NFL for libel and have the little napoleon tossed out.

 

Heck, as frostgage pointed out, there's still no evidence the pats did it, and Adam Schefter, the nfl reporter with tons of sources inside the NFL, says the NFL is not only struggling to find the pats doing anything wrong but are in fact trying to save face by trying to find a fall guy as they're believing they've screwed up the investigation badly.

I highly doubt no one would care if it were a different team. The Patriots have a history therefore they shouldnt cry about being berated. Furthermore I dont think this investigation was botched. I think someone is lying.

[Nuke87654 1,849]

I highly doubt no one would care if it were a different team. The Patriots have a history therefore they shouldnt cry about being berated. Furthermore I dont think this investigation was botched. I think someone is lying.

 

I just pointed out Minnensota was caught doing the same thing when they were heating the balls up, Rodgers admitted to liking to over inflate his footballs and getting pissed if the refs deflate it, and Brad Johnson admits to paying 7,500 dollars to a ball boy to allow him to tamper the ball to his preference in his time with Tampa Bay. As soon as New England's name is attached to it, the media goes nuts because primarily of envy for a team that has consistently been a winning team for 15 years and counting in a league that prides itself on being a parity league and of how they dislike Bill Belicheck for his treatment of the media and for good reason after how they've publicly crucified him and Brady as liers and cheaters . 

 

If it wasn't botched, how come they haven't found any evidence to prove New England of wrong doing yet and why there are reports from Adam Schefter that they're trying to find a fall guy to get out of this mess?

 

Sorry but seeing my team get accused as cheaters and their legacy tainted because some deflated footballs that show no evidence whatsoever that New England is responsible is getting me irate.

Edited January 26, 2015 by Nuke87654

[Mirror Silver Spoon 125]

I just want this topic to end, sorry. Who really cares? I don't.

[ghostfacekiller39 23,857]

This is a ridiculous marketing ploy by the NFL Front Office, in my opinion. They want to create a good guy-bad guy scenario to create hype. The referees themselves touched both the Colts regulation weight footballs as well as the Pats purportedly deflated footballs hundreds of times that night, yet it takes some no-name ballboy on the Colts sidelines to notice that over professional referee. This just reeks of bullshit in so many ways, and I hope the Seahawks get stomped just to spite the NFL front office.

[Moved to Elsewhere 11,329]

Wait wait wait, this what this is all over? A freaking suspicion that the Patriots cheated? That sounds like the Colts were just bitter little kids that are angry that the lost. Do they have any evidence that it was deflated? You know, besides claims.

 

This is one of the most pointless gates in the world.

[Cerulean Wings 176]

Then you should probably chill. no one knows exactly whats happening. I do mean NONE. not even the guy that did the report knows anything. Its his opinion that they are looking for a fall guy. He has no proof of that like they have no proof the Patriots cheated. Furthermore I never liked them as individuals. Ive seen their conduct and I havent liked it at all ever since I started watching football at 15. that was over a decade ago. I still see the same arrogant crap from them. So what they win? So do the Steelers. frankly They dont conduct themselves like the Patriots at all which allows me to respect the team. The Patriots may win games but I dont see them as champions in the least. Just my opinion.

Wait wait wait, this what this is all over? A freaking suspicion that the Patriots cheated? That sounds like the Colts were just bitter little kids that are angry that the lost. Do they have any evidence that it was deflated? You know, besides claims.

 

This is one of the most pointless gates in the world.

I don't think anything questioning the integrity of a team is pointless. If they prove the Patriots innocent good for them but none can deny the balls were tampered with. That's why this investigation is so controversial. The balls didn't lie. So who is?

[555 53]

I have problems with this left, right and sideways. The Pats scored the majority of their points in the second half, when the balls were changed to the back up, normally inflated balls. And why now? The teams need their focus for the Super Bowl.

 

Also... this...

 

[Overdrive 5,366]

Here's the thing: it's hard not to believe the Patriots are guilty, given their track record of "manipulation" of the rules in years past. I wouldn't be surprised if they did, but at the same time, it could just be a charade, or a gimmick that someone proposed. Either way, I'm sick of hearing it.