Should The Patriots Be Disqualified From The Super Bowl?

[YardRat]

http://static.nfl.com/static/content..._2013_Ball.pdf

Note: It is the responsibility of the home team to furnish playable balls at all times by attendants from either side of the playing

field.

[CommissarSpartacus]

Not only were your overly complicated theories wrong, but you've managed to acquire an unnecessary taint.

Hopefully this whole subject matter has been fun for you (in a very theoretical, and as it turns out, purely fictional way), but it hasn't served you well.

Patti

Your concern trolling is duly noted.

I'll have to live with the stigma...

[CommissarSpartacus]

Oh, BTW Patti...

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12...-art-rooney-sr

NFL award in honor of Art Rooney Sr.
Updated: January 22, 2015,

The NFL will name an annual award recognizing outstanding sportsmanship on the field in honor of the founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Art Rooney Sr.

The winner selected by the vote of the players will be announced at the "NFL Honors" show on Jan. 31 on NBC, the night before the Super Bowl.

The award established this year is determined by a vote of NFL players. The award will be presented each year to an NFL player who demonstrates on the field the qualities of sportsmanship, respect for opponents, and integrity in competition. He will receive a $25,000 donation from the NFL Foundation to a charity of his choice.

Each NFL team nominated one player during the season.

The finalists, featuring four players from each conference, were Carolina linebacker Thomas Davis, Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Minnesota linebacker Chad Greenway, Detroit wide receiver Calvin Johnson, Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu, New England wide receiver-special teamer Matthew Slater, Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith and Denver defensive end DeMarcus Ware. Current players voted on the finalists on the 2015 Pro Bowl ballot on Dec. 19.

Rooney founded the Steelers in 1933 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1964.



Gee, it's not like this is a blatant PR move or anything.

After all, the NFL's rep is above reproach and all....

[Discotrish]

Your concern trolling is duly noted.

I'll have to live with the stigma...

I'm not concerned for you. You can take care of yourself.

You ARE proving something with your limp arguments, just not what you think you're proving.

Patti

[CommissarSpartacus]

I'm not concerned for you. You can take care of yourself.

You ARE proving something with your limp arguments, just not what you think you're proving.

Patti

Oh, I am proving something, but it may not be what you think I'm trying to prove.

There's a larger issue here that you, like so many of your fellow Americans, don't recogni2e.

So I illustrate it.

Why do you think I don't whine about you like my fellow American lefties?

You guys keep forgetting where I come from. We're different.

[gebobs]

Sportsmanship? I don't see anything unsporting about this. Anyone with a brain can figure that if you fill balls with warm air to the minimum, then take them outside into colder air, THEY WILL DEFLATE and thus be LESS than the minimum PSI.

Right. And such a ball is against the rules. Knowingly pressurizing such that it will fall out of spec is contrary to the rules and sportsmanship.

If the NFL didn't write a rule saying that the balls MUST test at 12.5 minimum at the beginning, half time and ends of games, then it ceases to be a problem. Don't hate them for figuring out a way to get an edge that ISN'T AGAINST THE RULES.

The rule states the ball must be 12.5 - 13.5 psi. Ity doesn't say just at testing before the game. It doesn't specify anything. As such, you can assume that they mean the ball is to be within spec ALL the time.

[coastal]

Oh, I am proving something, but it may not be what you think I'm trying to prove.

There's a larger issue here that you, like so many of your fellow Americans, don't recogni2e.

So I illustrate it.

Why do you think I don't whine about you like my fellow American lefties?

You guys keep forgetting where I come from. We're different.

get a new lesson old man.

[CommissarSpartacus]

Right. And such a ball is against the rules. Knowingly pressurizing such that it will fall out of spec is contrary to the rules and sportsmanship.

No, such a ball is NOT against the rules. Period. Ther rule is the ball has to be 12.5 to 13.5 WHEN TESTED before the game. Any moron writing the rules should know that a ball filled INSIDE and measured INSIDE, if taken out and played with in colder temperatures, will LOSE PRESSURE and thus be under the 12.5 bottom limit. So, for sure the NFL knew that all their cold weather games stood a good chance of being played with balls below spec. But, they didn't care until now. Why? Because they didn't think it was a big deal PLUS watching people fumble, drop passes and miss receivers IS BORING. I for one, am in favor of making the ball easier to throw and hang on to...

The rule states the ball must be 12.5 - 13.5 psi. Ity doesn't say just at testing before the game. It doesn't specify anything. As such, you can assume that they mean the ball is to be within spec ALL the time.

Link please.

[CommissarSpartacus]

get a new lesson old man.

Why? What's wrong with this one? Am I blocking the sun from beating down on the shining house on the hill?

[gebobs]

No, such a ball is NOT against the rules. Period. Ther rule is the ball has to be 12.5 to 13.5 WHEN TESTED before the game. Any moron writing the rules should know that a ball filled INSIDE and measured INSIDE, if taken out and played with in colder temperatures, will LOSE PRESSURE and thus be under the 12.5 bottom limit. So, for sure the NFL knew that all their cold weather games stood a good chance of being played with balls below spec. But, they didn't care until now. Why? Because they didn't think it was a big deal PLUS watching people fumble, drop passes and miss receivers IS BORING. I for one, am in favor of making the ball easier to throw and hang on to...

Link please.

http://static.nfl.com/static/content..._2013_Ball.pdf

The ball shall be made up of an inflated (12 1/2 to 13 1/2 pounds) urethane bladder enclosed in a pebble grained, leather case
(natural tan color) without corrugations of any kind. It shall have the form of a prolate spheroid and the size and weight
shall be: long axis, 11 to 11 1/4 inches; long circumference, 28 to 28 1/2 inches; short circumference, 21 to 21 1/4 inches;
weight, 14 to 15 ounces.

Nothing about "when tested".

Regarding this: "Any moron writing the rules should know that a ball filled INSIDE and measured INSIDE, if taken out and played with in colder temperatures, will LOSE PRESSURE and thus be under the 12.5 bottom limit. So, for sure the NFL knew that all their cold weather games stood a good chance of being played with balls below spec."

The officials should account for temperature differences, if any. If they don't, the measurements are worthless.

the balls shall remain under the supervision of the Referee until they are delivered to the
ball attendant just prior to the start of the game.

This certainly wasn't followed.

[CommissarSpartacus]

Nothing about "when tested".

That's a given as the only way to confirm the balls conform are to test them.

And the teams have no control over the balls after they've been turned over. If they want to institute half time or even random checks, if they find a ball has lost pressure, they should just top it up.

Also the fact that there is no penalty mentioned for balls that non-conform indicates that the rule was more for uniformity rather than to prevent a competitive advantage.

Here's another question - if one ball is noticed as being underinflated, who was the bright boy that had the suspicion All the balls were underinflated. At that point, they had no reason to suspect they were....

[gebobs]

That's a given as the only way to confirm the balls conform are to test them.

OK, then deflating them is legal. No need for any crazy hot air hypothesis.

And the teams have no control over the balls after they've been turned over.

Except that wasn't the way this was handled. The Patriots ball guy had control of the balls after testing.

Also the fact that there is no penalty mentioned for balls that non-conform indicates that the rule was more for uniformity rather than to prevent a competitive advantage.

Is it ok then if the intent is uniformity but a team abuses it for competitive advantage?

Anyhoo, it's a $25,000 fine. Fines likely have their own section in the book since they are changed more frequently.

[Discotrish]

Maybe next year we'll have teams trying to blind the opposition with laser pointers.

If there isn't a rule against that, I mean.



Patti

[harmonkoz]

You guys keep forgetting where I come from. We're different.

The van down by the river? You are different alright, in a troll sort of way.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

No, such a ball is NOT against the rules. Period..

So why did the refs remove the under inflated balls when they were checked at halftime?

[CommissarSpartacus]

OK, then deflating them is legal. No need for any crazy hot air hypothesis.

Jim Rome had Jay Feeley on this morning and he said the NFL policy for years was to let the qbs do whatever they want to their own game balls. They were only concerned with pressure with the kicking balls. Personally, as I said before, if the league is going to allow wonder gloves to help receivers catch the ball, I have no problem letting qbs that like a softer ball use one. Sure, drops and fumbles are part of the game, but they'd be part of the game if you used a greased pig for a ball. But no one would watch it, because people won't pay big bux to watch a parade of incompetent boo boos?

Except that wasn't the way this was handled. The Patriots ball guy had control of the balls after testing.

So? Did he take control of them at gunpoint?

Is it ok then if the intent is uniformity but a team abuses it for competitive advantage?

"Abuse" is your word. I see nothing abusive in what they did and I see nothing wrong in seeking a competitive advantage if everyone else has the same opportunity to do it.

Anyhoo, it's a $25,000 fine. Fines likely have their own section in the book since they are changed more frequently.

What's a $25,000 dollar fine?

[CommissarSpartacus]

So why did the refs remove the under inflated balls when they were checked at halftime?

Because they were under. Duh.

Now, do the refs check the ball pressures of every teams game balls at halftime? Or were they tipped off by someone WHO HAS YET TO BE IDENTIFIED?

Why is it that you guys are so nonchalant about the tip factor? Why are none of the haters concerned about who blew the whistle? It's a completely relevant question.

Of course, the reason you are unconcerned about it is because you have absolutely no desire to see the Pats get off, even if they are totally innocent.

[better days]

What's a $25,000 dollar fine?

Well, that fine is for first offenses. As repeat CHEATING offenders, the Pats* should receive much harsher punishment.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

Because they were under. Duh.

You just said being under pressure during the game wasn't against the rules.

No, such a ball is NOT against the rules. Period. Ther rule is the ball has to be 12.5 to 13.5 WHEN TESTED before the game.

Now, do the refs check the ball pressures of every teams game balls at halftime?

No

Or were they tipped off by someone WHO HAS YET TO BE IDENTIFIED?

They were tipped off, supposedly by the Colts equipment manager.

Again, why would it matter if the balls being below 12.5 psi was legal under the rules?

[YardRat]

I already posted this once, but I'll do it again...

http://static.nfl.com/static/content..._2013_Ball.pdf

It is the responsibility of the home team to furnish playable balls at all times by attendants from either side of the playing field.