The first article I read said the refs checked the balls at halftime because the Colts told the league the one intercepted was soft. And that all were replaced before the second half.
So the score was close while they were supposedly cheating, and the blowout happened using balls the refs knew were just fine.
Somehow it seems silly to make an issue of what's basically a non-factor.
In fact, without the deflation maybe the interception never happens and the blowout is 7 points worse......Or maybe the Colts magically figure out how to stop a running play and it's not a blowout? Should the check Blounts shoes to see if they're special in some way? Maybe like Dorothys red ones ? click three times and say "take me to the end zone" (Heck, Gray must have had a couple pairs of those on a few weeks ago)
Among the rest of the "cheating" claims it's being blown up just like the taping thing. It wasn't actually defensive signals, nor that the taping was done. it was that the taping was done from an area forbidden by the NFL. If the camera guy had been on the sidelines it would have been ok. In fact, the Jets had been taping the Patriots practice from a similar location a few weeks before and it was handled by simply telling the camera person they had to tape from the right area. The Jets didn't do that but instead went straight to the league. The big penalty really wasn't for the taping, but for doing it essentially right after the league sent a memo outlining the allowable taping locations. A memo which was sent to ALL teams since taping what practices are available is standard practice.
But of course controversy sells. As if the Superbowl needs more publicity.
Steve B
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