Quote:
Originally Posted by Runscott
I can't sleep either 
The wet towel thing wasn't a quick process - saturating an entire football multiple times with belly sweat is kind of scary.
I hope you are right about it just being a story to hype the game, but my thinking is that if everyone is doing it (deflating balls by as much as 2 pounds), then even if current quarterbacks and personnel aren't willing to admit it, there are plenty of ex-NFL quarterbacks and equipment managers who would come forward to get their moment in the spotlight just prior to the SuperBowl. |
Haha, I slept eventually, but posted after a little bit of a bender.. Was actually in Seattle with the buddy that works for the Hawks, though I forgot to ask him about fate of last Sunday's NFC Champ game balls!!
I still have a handful of footballs, and always preferred them to be slightly under inflated when I was playing (also used belly/forehead sweat, spit, dew, etc to better grip). I have no idea what psi I was filling to since the cheap little pumps I've used don't have a gauge. That said, I'd be curious to feel footballs at 13 vs 10 and 11 psi. I'm guessing you would feel the difference if conscious of it, but am also guessing many, especially those who don't handle the ball on a regular basis, would not notice.
I doubt this has ever been considered a "point of emphasis" for refs, and doubt they or the league really cares unless someone complains. I think it was probably a free for all until they put out the K ball, but still doubt they really focused much on offensive game balls. I also doubt QBs taking some air out, or putting more in really feel they are cheating. My guess is Brady and other QBs have been able to do this since HS, college with no problem.. And then again in the NFL, since no one really cared to enforce the rule.
Again, if the league had been serious about enforcing this, they would (as has been suggested in these threads) just supply one group of game balls to be used by both teams, rather than allowing teams to supply them.