50yrpatsfan":37pozzx5 said:
Pats called a pc today. Belichick detailed a series of experiments the team performed the past couple of days. The main news was that the prepping/rubbing of the footballs, which occurs just prior to turning them over the ref for measurement, causes the psi to go up by 1 full psi. So if they do that and turn it over the ref at 12.5 psi, after a while of sitting, the balls will lose that 1 psi down to 11.5. The diff in temps from indoors to outdoors accounts for additional .5 psi change. So the psi went down in their experiments by a total of 1.5 psi. They were able to duplicate this for multiple footballs.
Very convincing, and I'm sure they documented the crap out of everything they did. It's over, the league will have to back off, though I won't hold my breath for the apology they owe.
Where's the last 0.5 psi?
Even if this were true, it's arguably just a more devious way to skirt the rule. "Prep" the ball in a way that temporarily raises the pressure just enough for just long enough to pass inspection, then let them deflate by game time. Not that I believe the explanation (what the hell kind of prep would raise the pressure that much? heat it much?), but even if I did it doesn't really help your case.
What I do believe is this: Belichick had absolutely nothing to do with it, and he's decided that, whether or not someone in the organization did something wrong, he's not going to be taken down for something he didn't do. Hence the vigorous defense of his team, with all these "experiments" and alternate explanations, which any sufficiently motivated person could probably concoct.
Given how much of a distraction this thing had become for him and his team one week from the Super Bowl, it was probably the right move on his part. The league is going to do whatever it's going to do, but not until AFTER the Super Bowl. In the meantime, this press conference gives him, the team, and the fans the assurances they need to shut out all the noise and focus on the upcoming game. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if this had more to do with getting himself and his team focused and motivated than it did with convincing the league there was no wrongdoing.
