Lena's Mud and Goodell's Balls - A Brief Commentary

[frankbmd]

The ability of each team in the NFL to coddle, fondle, inflate or deflate and rub their own balls before a game seems like a problem with a simple solution.

In baseball Lena's Mud has been used for decades to prep the game balls which I believe remain in control of the umpires before and during the game. Both teams' pitchers are presented with balls from the same box(es) during the game and the balls become an issue only when a pitcher doctors the ball in some manner, such as formerly with a hocker of spit and more recently with a concealed foreign substance or cut.

In football putting game balls under the control of each team seems to invite skullduggery, in which the Patriots seem inclined to participate.

I say "level the playing field", and let the NFL and officials prepare the balls for both teams. If Goodell had the balls to do it, the problem would be solved.

[Bocabirdman]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

The ability of each team in the NFL to coddle, fondle, inflate or deflate and rub their own balls before a game seems like a problem with a simple solution.

In baseball Lena's Mud has been used for decades to prep the game balls which I believe remain in control of the umpires before and during the game. Both teams' pitchers are presented with balls from the same box(es) during the game and the balls become an issue only when a pitcher doctors the ball in some manner, such as formerly with a hocker of spit and more recently with a concealed foreign substance or cut.

In football putting game balls under the control of each team seems to invite skullduggery, in which the Patriots seem inclined to participate.

I say "level the playing field", and let the NFL and officials prepare the balls for both teams. If Goodell had the balls to do it, the problem would be solved.

If Goodell had the Balls before the game then nobody could get their hands on them for the purpose of manually manipulating their hardness.

[steve B]

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

[frankbmd]

Well I've learned from all this that

Brady likes soft balls

Rodgers likes hard balls

and Goldilocks likes bear (or is it bare) balls that are just right.

[steve B]

Here's a newer article with better details.

http://www.boston.com/sports/footbal...ls_for_af.html

The key part about the problem being fixed at halftime.

"ESPN Sports Radio 810 in Kansas City reported that the Patriots footballs were tested during halftme, re-inflated after when they were found to be under-inflated, then the balls put back in play for the second half and then tested again after the game."

Even disallowing all the first half points leaves the Colts down 28-7

Steve B

This whole controversy is completely overblown, a lot of hot air from blustery windbags....

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by steve B

Here's a newer article with better details.

http://www.boston.com/sports/footbal...ls_for_af.html

The key part about the problem being fixed at halftime.

"ESPN Sports Radio 810 in Kansas City reported that the Patriots footballs were tested during halftme, re-inflated after when they were found to be under-inflated, then the balls put back in play for the second half and then tested again after the game."

Even disallowing all the first half points leaves the Colts down 28-7

Steve B

How many times did the referees handle the balls in the first half and not notice anything? This is so much ado about nothing.