News: NFL making changes to game ball security procedures

[LandryFan]

There was a show where they followed some NFL refs around in both their professional and personal lives. I was somewhat disturbed by how much attitude they have and how much their personalities appear to affect their judgement on making calls. They really really don't like to be called out for being wrong and have somewhat built into their mindset a resistance to admitting fault. It really seemed that they were more focused on themselves and their career and reputation and not that focused on what is best for the game.

I guess when you're at the top of your profession like they are, it would be fairly easy to develop a "how dare you question me" attitude. Not saying it's right, but I can see how it could easily happen.

 

[xwalker]

I guess when you're at the top of your profession like they are, it would be fairly easy to develop a "how dare you question me" attitude. Not saying it's right, but I can see how it could easily happen.

Back when they went on strike, I was hopeful that the NFL would just bust the union and use college refs. It would have been bad for 1 season, but after that the NFL could have trained them correctly without all of he politics that are involved with the union.

 

[pancakeman]

Problem with vague and overcomplicated completion rules that defy common sense (see Dez Bryant "catch")? Make the rule more complicated.

Problem with abuse-prone and overcomplicated game ball rules that defy common sense? Make the rule more complicated.

Why the heck don't they do it this way: the NFL provides the game balls, and both teams use the same ones?!?!

 

[LandryFan]

Back when they went on strike, I was hopeful that the NFL would just bust the union and use college refs. It would have been bad for 1 season, but after that the NFL could have trained them correctly without all of he politics that are involved with the union.

One play at the end of the Seattle-Green Bay game removed any possibility of that (not that it would have happened anyways, but that fiasco squashed any possibility of proceeding without the striking refs).

 

[hornitosmonster]

Tom Brady rule #...how many rule does he have now?

 

[burmafrd]

One play at the end of the Seattle-Green Bay game removed any possibility of that (not that it would have happened anyways, but that fiasco squashed any possibility of proceeding without the striking refs).

and its not like the regular refs have not stunk it up just as bad. But the media wanted to support the union refs and therefore there you are. and that play as I recall was reviewed by a regular ref right?

 

[LandryFan]

and its not like the regular refs have not stunk it up just as bad. But the media wanted to support the union refs and therefore there you are. and that play as I recall was reviewed by a regular ref right?

Yep the regular guys have done a fine job of stinking it up. As to whether that played was reviewed by the league office, I don't recall with any certainty, but I think it was

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Like I said in the other thread, anyone truly interested in a fair outcome to this whole deflategate nonsense would want to see the halftime readings which will be taken randomly this upcoming season in a wide variety of weather conditions.

They just said they were going to be systematically checking the inflation level throughout the game. If you are saying they should make it public, then get over yourself.

 

[Galian Beast]

Not sure why they have the teams produce any of the balls.... Not sure why the NFL can't do that...

 

[Rogah]

They just said they were going to be systematically checking the inflation level throughout the game.

Well, they will be doing so randomly and only "during the game" at halftime, but your errors in the above statement are not relevant so I digress....

If you are saying they should make it public, then get over yourself.

Why shouldn't they make it public? Are you afraid of the results? Don't you want to know what the readings show about this issue of paramount importance to the integrity of the game?

Sure sounds to me like you're in the camp of people terrified that future testing will show there was absolutely nothing unusual about the readings for New England's footballs from the AFCCG.

 

[Rogah]

Not sure why they have the teams produce any of the balls.... Not sure why the NFL can't do that...

The reason why is because every QB likes his balls prepared a different way (insert joke here). The process of preparing gameday balls is not some half-***, whatever works situation. It is literally a weeks (if not months) long process that teams start doing in training camp. The QB wants them properly broken in. He wants to be able to get the feel of them in advance. He wants to be able to pick and choose which ones are gameday ready.

 

[Nav22]

Anyone who believes the Patriots were innocent have to also believe the ball-boy referred to himself as "the Deflator" because he was trying to lose weight, and if you're that gullible I feel sorry for you.

Read the texts/phone records in the Wells Report and it's clear as day that they broke the rules regularly. Why did Brady feel the need to speak with a ball-boy for HOURS after this story broke?

 

[WoodysGirl]

I lol'd

 

[conner01]

Well, Brady certainly didn't deflate the balls, but the 2 relevant questions are "Did anyone else deflate the balls?" and "Did Brady know about it?"

When the situation first broke I said "they probably did it, but I can't believe how big of a deal is being made of the whole thing."
Then a bunch of stringent denials came and I said "I think they're innocent, but I cannot believe how big of a deal is being made of the whole thing."
Then the Wells Report came out and I accepted those results and went back to "they probably did it, but I can't believe how big of a deal is being made of the whole thing."

Then I saw the AEI Institute Report and learned how to properly apply the Ideal Gas Law which proves the balls were in range of where science says they should be, and so now I've just thrown up my hands and say "Maybe they did it, maybe they didn't, but I cannot believe how big of a deal is being made of the whole thing."

It will be very interesting to see how other balls measure up this season. It will also be very interested to see the public reaction when some team's balls are well under 12.5 at halftime of a cold weather game.

The problem with the weather excuse is the weather didn't change the air pressure on the colts balls
I find it a bit of a reach to say the weather affected 11 of the 12 pats balls and none of the colts balls
Can the weather affect the air pressure? Sure but the weather would not be significantly different on one side of the field or the other

 

[conner01]

I guess nobody here enjoys math as much as I do.

Anyone???

I don't think anyone doesn't get the temp argument
The part that's a bit harder to explain is why all the colts balls were correct and the pats balls were not
I would assume although I'm no scientist, that the weather would have the same effect on balls on each side of the field

 

[Rogah]

The problem with the weather excuse is the weather didn't change the air pressure on the colts balls

Yes it did. I showed the infographic which proved the Colts balls decreased. They did not decrease as much as New England's because they had the chance to warm up prior to when their measurements were taken.

I find it a bit of a reach to say the weather affected 11 of the 12 pats balls and none of the colts balls

So do I. However, nobody is saying that.

 

[Craig]

Does this remove the broken system of needing to measure them at half time? The responsibility now falls on the league where it belongs? Sounds good.

 

[Rogah]

I don't think anyone doesn't get the temp argument
The part that's a bit harder to explain is why all the colts balls were correct and the pats balls were not

FACT: Even after warming up, 3 of the 4 Colts balls still measured below the legal limit of 12.5 on at least 1 of the gauges - despite their initial pressure being 0.5 PSI higher.

The Colts balls did decrease, but had time to warm up at halftime before they were measured. Check out the infographic on the previous page to see what I mean.

 

[Craig]

The problem with the weather excuse is the weather didn't change the air pressure on the colts balls
I find it a bit of a reach to say the weather affected 11 of the 12 pats balls and none of the colts balls
Can the weather affect the air pressure? Sure but the weather would not be significantly different on one side of the field or the other

Would it be different indoors and out?

Hint: yes.

 

[Rogah]

Does this remove the broken system of needing to measure them at half time? The responsibility now falls on the league where it belongs? Sounds good.

The league will be measuring the balls at halftime of randomly selected games. It is not clear what number of games will be randomly selected (i.e. 1 a week, 3 a week, etc...)