For many NFL fans, the Patriots are like the “Cobra Kai” team from Karate Kid and coach Bill Belichick could well be sensei, John Kreese, screaming “sweep the leg” at NFL games to Tom Brady. That image was reaffirmed this week with the reported finding that the Patriots, again, cheated in the game against the Indianapolis Colts to secure a position in the Superbowl. The NFL has reportedly claimed that the Patriots under inflated 11 out of 12 balls in clear violation of NFL rules to give Brady and his receivers an edge. If there was intentional deflation, it warrants punishment since the team is responsible under the rules. However, there is an even more serious question of intentional deception, particularly after the deflation was noticed in the course of the game. The question is whether Belichick and Brady were aware of the violations, particularly after Brady called the accusations “ridiculous.” If the Colts and the refs immediately could tell the difference, it is hard to believe that Brady could not. After all, it was Brady who once said that he preferred under-inflated balls.
The Patriots have reportedly received a letter with the initial findings that 11 of 12 games used by the Patriots were under-inflated. Since the balls are checked at the beginning of the game and virtually all of the balls showed under inflation (it is intriguing to think whether the last ball was kept fully inflated in case of an inspection), it is hard to argue that this is a weird coincidence. All balls must be inflated to a range of 12½ to 13½ pounds. Each team provides game officials with 12 footballs before the game and the inspecting ref places a special marking on each ball that passes inspection. The respective team is then given back the balls.
What appears clear is that such deflation is not accidental. The New York Times includes a quote from Kevin Murphy, who runs the American football division at Wilson that such deflation could not be the result of colder weather or spiking the ball. Of course, when 11 out of 12 balls show the deflation you are even less likely to believe such defenses. Belichick is viewed by many as something of a recidivist on rule violations with what has been described (charitably) as a “checkered” history. Likewise, if Brady was aware of the deflation, I believe that he should also be suspended as much for his later denials of knowledge (and calling the allegations ridiculous). There has been be some sanction for dishonesty not only in such acts but their aftermath if we are to deter such conduct and assure fans that these games are played fairly. As often discussed in criminal law and torts, deterrence is accomplished through the relative adjustments between detection rates and sanctions. The lower the detection rate, the higher sanctions must be to achieve deterrence.
The question is what to do about “deflategate.” No one is seriously thinking of negating the win since the Patriots crushed the Colts and it was not due to under-inflation unless that is a reference to the Colts offensive line. Indeed, even a Colts Cornerback appears to agree with that assessment. However, the Patriots have been regularly accused of wrongdoing and there is a serious question about a culture of dishonesty under Belichick. In 2007, Belichick was fined $500,000 and his team lost a first-round draft pick after determining the team had spied on an opponent’s signals. It was amazing that he was not suspended for the violation, but many will now argue that the team did not get the message (or that it got the message that it could treat violations of a cost of doing business). One possible sanction is to suspend Belichick or other coaches from the Superbowl if they knew or should have known about the deflation.
Under the rules, the organization could be fined $25,000. Even if you multiply that by the balls, it would still only be $275,000 — a small fine for giving Brady his preferred under-inflated balls. The most serious penalty could be the loss again of a draft pick, which would seem more than justified in this circumstance. However, since the team denied any knowledge of under-inflation with players like Brady mocking the notion, there is a serious question of dishonesty and unsportsmanship conduct in the aftermath as well as the game. In the real world, lying to investigators is treated as itself a separate crime as under 18 U.S.C. 10001. This is obviously not a criminal investigation but the NFL at least claims to hold players and coaches to higher standards than just avoiding criminal acts.
The under-inflation of the balls would have been tempting in the rainy game and the obvious difference was immediately noted by Colts linebacker D’Qwell Jackson when he intercepted Tom Brady late in the second quarter.
The Patriots were already under fire by the Ravens coach and others for what John Harbaugh called “deceptive practices” in its game with his team (notably, the Ravens also raised concerns in the game over what they thought were under-inflated balls). I was less convinced of the merits of that allegation. This however is different.
To me, this is a serious violation of the code that governs all sporting events. As many on this blog know, I am an avid football fan. I enjoy the game even when the Bears are not playing, which for the playoffs has meant most of the time in the last ten years. However, this type of conduct degrades the entire game and creates a suspicion that teams like the Patriots are using shady means to gain an advantage, even when they have no real need to do so against an inferior team. It undermines the integrity of the game and, for a team that was made infamous by past violations, it suggests a culture of indifference at best and dishonesty at worst. The question in my view is not the under inflation but the knowledge of the coaches and players. If there was knowledge, there should be serious consideration given to suspension and certainly a draft pick loss.
What do you think?
Who cares? The only point of pro sports is advertising. I say to punish the Patriots, they disband the NFL entirely and force them to go get real jobs.
@Nick: ” Old Style is a popular blue collar beer in Chicago.”
As a point of interest is Old Style still independent of is it just Busch or whatever by any other name.
And is there still a regional still brewed in Wisconsin?
BFM…and four legs do not require a stool in which to take a dump. Of course, neither do two legs in much of Asia. Really sucks in February when you have to squat over a hole in the tile to relive yourself 🙂
Over a tile, huh??? Hush your whining. You were obviously indoors. Indoor plumbing is such a luxury. Old age must be making you soft, Ari.
BFM…I’ll agree, it has nothing to do with law per se…but let’s be serious, the NFL can declare unicorns real and demand we believe it. Repeated often enough, our neighbors will begin seeing unicorn herds in their back yards. It is a clown show, at best…like tell me how a multi-millionplus dollar operation can’t handle a couple dozen footballs securely? How they can not get all anal retentive until after the game?
And…like who cares, really, who does care about a 1 psi or so difference in game ball inflation? This is nothing but hype for the upcoming Super Bowl…most of which have been sad at best lately. Ow, ah, oh my, one guy’s football is slightly less tactile than the others’…wait, stop the game, shut the place down, etc…never going to happen. Why? Because it is all BS. And that was Professor Turley’s sole point in the post…but I may have that wrong. I figure I am wrong a lot.
I promise I shall not sleep soundly until QB Brady is found guilty of intentionally deflating footballs….which will happen with the probability of that of those unicorns I spoke of earlier. All hail the NFL…then go take a dump…it is really the same thing.
@Aridog: “I promise I shall not sleep soundly until QB Brady is found guilty of intentionally deflating footballs….which will happen with the probability of that of those unicorns I spoke of earlier.”
Well each to his own. I waitin’ to see Brady quarterback sneak past those unicorns. I suspect he may be walking a little differently after that.
Two legs good, four legs better!
Was this article written by the same Jonathan Turley who’s alleged to be a law professor? Lots of guilty-until-proven-innocent assumptions going on here… We only know that the balls were under the minimum pressure limit when checked. It’s a huge leap to conclude that we know they were deliberately and deviously deflated.
Mr. Turley, do we know that the refs ever actually checked the balls beforehand with a gauge, or just feel ’em and give them their blessing? If they did check the pressure, and someone did actively deflate them, without any evidence of who, does that automatically point to Belichick’s guilt? Do past allegations exempt one from any presumption of innocence without proof of guilt?
If this exemplifies your understanding of the law, I pity your clients.
“If this exemplifies your understanding of the law, I pity your clients.”
The problem with this statement is that, while interesting, this incident is unlikely to have anything to do with law.
Unless there is something else going on in this incident not mentioned in the article, it will be evaluated in accordance with the rules and regulations of the NFL not the law of any jurisdiction.
The NFL has no obligation to assume innocence. The NFL, at its discretion can also reach back to consider previous events – if it chooses.
My liver hurts already.
For folks outside the upper Midwest, Old Style is a popular blue collar beer in Chicago.
Old Style tumor.
I mean I can understand if I posted photos of your typical Bear’s fans
http://images.japemonster.com/2012/10/2012-10-25-13-38-39-www.flickr.jpg
LOL! I am CONSTANTLY embarrassed by Cheeseheads. When people ask me where I’m from I tell them San Diego. Seriously.
There has to be an explanation, Trooper. Did I miss something?
http://www.roemerphotoblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/1-Packers-fans-in-costume.jpg
Is there a force field or something?
https://usatftw.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/usatsi_7539486.jpg?w=1000&h=666
I guess the Packer Fans are in charge of deletions.
https://usatftw.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/usatsi_7539486.jpg?w=1000&h=666
WTF just happened to that great Lombardi photo??
I love those Lombardi coats. I was @ a St. Vincent DePaul store back in the 70’s and found some beautiful overcoats like that in superb condition for like $10/each. I bought 3 of them and wore them for ~15 years. A friend of mine would call me “Vince” whenever I wore one.
NFL is a billion dollar business and they still use part-time officials. You know, lawyers, school teachers and what ever else. These refs should be full time year round and bring up the level of their work to a billion dollar business. It’s plan nuts that this goes on. Also remember we (Mr. and Mrs. Taxpayers) pay for each and every stadium.
They seem to check everything but your balls in pro football.
All footballs from both teams were tested and passed spec about two hours before the game. All balls from both teams were tested again at halftime.
All of the balls from the Colts were still within specs at the half; 11 of 12 balls from the Pats were deflated.
http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/12202450/nfl-says-new-england-patriots-had-inflated-footballs-afc-championship-game
While the ESPN Boston report doesn’t specifically say so, it is likely that the weather was similar on both sidelines.
Oops. Belichick busted… again.