Pats Cheating Comfirmed

[PizzaDoughz]

According to the report, the league sources say the NFL determined 11 of the 12 footballs used by the Patriots were under-inflated by two pounds per square inch each. Per NFL rules, footballs are required to be inflated between 12.5 and 13.5 PSI and weigh between 14 and 15 ounces.

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/1/2...bill-belichick

Discuss.

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by Katipan

Now I don't have a whole lot of confidence in the NFL, but they must have better compressors. For sure Kraft does.

The "better" compressors are the ones that get hot. The compressor to inflate an air mattress or a ball pit doesn't have a very high max PSI on purpose. The compressor used to inflate sports equipment usually has a MUCH higher max PSI. That requires a much bigger motor that gives off more heat.

This is all generality though, as I said every compressor is different and will be more or less efficient (heat is a result of motor inefficiency). When i say every compressor I mean EVERY compressor, not just every different model or brand. The efficiency can vary wildly between two units that appear to be the exact same. So, unless we can get our hands on the exact compressor used and measure temps we really have no clue.

Of course, one thing we can safely assume. The air coming out of the compressor was hotter than the ambient air by some degree. How much is a guess. Could be anywhere from a few degrees to 30+. (I'd lean heavily toward it being significantly hotter after the compressor warms up to its equilibrium point)

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by Katipan

And the world would be saying SEE YOU CANT WIN WITHOUT CHEATING.

yay. winners all around.

The pats push the envelope all the time, yes they do... and spygate? now that was some genuine bullshit.

But just because that happened, it doesnt turn a slightly underinflated ball into the freaking Kennedy assassination.... anyone saying the pats cheated their way to all of these winning seasons and championships is quite simply being naive.

Teams might get away with occasional chicanery... but build a dynasty on it in this day and age?

Impossible.

[Katipan]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

The "better" compressors are the ones that get hot. The compressor to inflate an air mattress or a ball pit doesn't have a very high max PSI on purpose. The compressor used to inflate sports equipment usually has a MUCH higher max PSI. That requires a much bigger motor that gives off more heat.

This is all generality though, as I said every compressor is different and will be more or less efficient (heat is a result of motor inefficiency). When i say every compressor I mean EVERY compressor, not just every different model or brand. The efficiency can vary wildly between two units that appear to be the exact same. So, unless we can get our hands on the exact compressor used and measure temps we really have no clue.

Of course, one thing we can safely assume. The air coming out of the compressor was hotter than the ambient air by some degree. How much is a guess. Could be anywhere from a few degrees to 30+. (I'd lean heavily toward it being significantly hotter after the compressor warms up to its equilibrium point)

It just doesn't fit any narrative I can come up with. If something is consistently blowing 100 degree air into balls, people would say something. Or they would deliberately not say something.

Allowing people to believe something false is the same as lying.

And if I'm wrong. If all these people are inflating footballs with hot air, then hang em all and start fresh.

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

You can see the compressor in the video at the end of the piece.

http://mmqb.si.com/2015/01/21/patrio...l-controversy/

I didn't mean to imply that I could tell from sight if it's a good compressor or not, but I really appreciate the vote of confidence!

But I did agree with what we should do in the future. Ball boys - league employees. Ref's little bitches.

[MagicHef]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

The "better" compressors are the ones that get hot. The compressor to inflate an air mattress or a ball pit doesn't have a very high max PSI on purpose. The compressor used to inflate sports equipment usually has a MUCH higher max PSI. That requires a much bigger motor that gives off more heat.

This is all generality though, as I said every compressor is different and will be more or less efficient (heat is a result of motor inefficiency). When i say every compressor I mean EVERY compressor, not just every different model or brand. The efficiency can vary wildly between two units that appear to be the exact same. So, unless we can get our hands on the exact compressor used and measure temps we really have no clue.

Of course, one thing we can safely assume. The air coming out of the compressor was hotter than the ambient air by some degree. How much is a guess. Could be anywhere from a few degrees to 30+. (I'd lean heavily toward it being significantly hotter after the compressor warms up to its equilibrium point)

The balls aren't completely flat and then pumped up immediately before inspection. They get used for warm ups and practice outside for several hours before going to the refs for inspection. I don't see how the temperature from the pump could affect anything.

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by Katipan

It just doesn't fit any narrative I can come up with. If something is consistently blowing 100 degree air into balls, people would say something. Or they would deliberately not say something.

Allowing people to believe something false is the same as lying.

And if I'm wrong. If all these people are inflating footballs with hot air, then hang em all and start fresh.

But as I have pointed out, some teams may be inflating with hotter air than others, depending on their compressors and locker room temps. The thing is, up until now no one cared... mostly because it really makes almost no real world difference. Yes, it's possible the Pats purposefully used hot air and schemed their way around the rule but it's also likely that they simply followed what they thought was normal procedure and this happens all the damn time around the league and no one cared enough to check before now.

I tend to favor the simplest explanation.. and it's far simpler to believe the NFL made a silly rule without doing a lick of research into the practical aspects of it than it is to believe in some deflation conspiracy.

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

But as I have pointed out, some teams may be inflating with hotter air than others, depending on their compressors and locker room temps. The thing is, up until now no one cared... mostly because it really makes almost no real world difference. Yes, it's possible the Pats purposefully used hot air and schemed their way around the rule but it's also likely that they simply followed what they thought was normal procedure and this happens all the damn time around the league and no one cared enough to check before now.

I tend to favor the simplest explanation.. and it's far simpler to believe the NFL made a silly rule over 70 years ago without doing a lick of research into the practical aspects of it than it is to believe in some deflation conspiracy.

Slight revision to your excellent post to slightly improve it.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Katipan

Im inflating a giant ball pit right now and the air from our little compressor is cool.

It's been running for like 10 minutes.

But I mean, it is a little compressor, and I am 5000 feet in the air.

You are flying on a broom or something?

[Donger]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

Just to be a dick, I'll add another wrinkle to all this. Let's ignore the temperature difference between the locker room and outside. Let's just look at the temperature of the air coming out of an electric pump. I think it's safe to assume they didn't use a hand pump. The air to inflate the first ball and possibly even the next will be close to room temperature. All balls subsequently inflated will have air that is forced past a hot motor. This can result in air temps of 100+.

Yet another reason this whole "scandal" is ridiculous.

The balls aren't completely deflated and inflated right before the inflation check by the NFL though, right?

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by MagicHef

The balls aren't completely flat and then pumped up immediately before inspection. They get used for warm ups and practice outside for several hours before going to the refs for inspection. I don't see how the temperature from the pump could affect anything.

Every ball is used for warm ups? Are you certain those aren't the backup balls? Or a completely different set? Fact is, you and I don't have a clue about the environment the balls were in leading up to the refs checking them. We don't have a clue how much (if any) air was put in them. We don't have a clue how hot that air was and how hot the air already in the balls was. We don't have a clue what the drop off in air temp was. We don't have a clue what the change in atmospheric pressure was and (exactly) and how that affected things.

Basically, we (and the NFL) don't have a clue.

I can go all day giving likely scenarios that explain the drop in PSI. It could be an overt act of cheating, it could be a manipulation of the rule that is sneaky but not cheating or it could be any number of completely innocuous scenarios.

Anyone pretending like they KNOW what happened is just putting on their stupid hat and prancing around.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Donger

You are flying on a broom or something?

It's 4:20, she's busy...

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by Donger

The balls aren't completely deflated and inflated right before the inflation check by the NFL though, right?

Probably not? I am not doing the math on this, but I think it's safe to assume that adding 2.5PSI worth of 120F air to a ball that's at 10PSI and 70F is going to significantly raise the air temp in that ball.

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

Every ball is used for warm ups? Are you certain those aren't the backup balls? Or a completely different set? Fact is, you and I don't have a clue about the environment the balls were in leading up to the refs checking them. We don't have a clue how much (if any) air was put in them. We don't have a clue how hot that air was and how hot the air already in the balls was. We don't have a clue what the drop off in air temp was. We don't have a clue what the change in atmospheric pressure was and (exactly) and how that affected things.

Basically, we (and the NFL) don't have a clue.

I can go all day giving likely scenarios that explanation the drop in PSI. It could be an overt act of cheating, it could be a manipulation of the rule that is sneaky but not cheating or it could be any number of completely innocuous scenarios.

Anyone pretending like they KNOW what happened is just putting on their stupid hat and prancing around.

[MagicHef]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

Every ball is used for warm ups? Are you certain those aren't the backup balls? Or a completely different set? Fact is, you and I don't have a clue about the environment the balls were in leading up to the refs checking them. We don't have a clue how much (if any) air was put in them. We don't have a clue how hot that air was and how hot the air already in the balls was. We don't have a clue what the drop off in air temp was. We don't have a clue what the change in atmospheric pressure was and (exactly) and how that affected things.

Basically, we (and the NFL) don't have a clue.

I can go all day giving likely scenarios that explanation the drop in PSI. It could be an overt act of cheating, it could be a manipulation of the rule that is sneaky but not cheating or it could be any number of completely innocuous scenarios.

Anyone pretending like they KNOW what happened is just putting on their stupid hat and prancing around.

I'm pretty sure, since that's when the QBs pick out the balls that they want to play with, according to all the QBs (even Brady, if I remember) that have spoken on the subject.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

Probably not? I am not doing the math on this, but I think it's safe to assume that adding 2.5PSI worth of 120F air to a ball that's at 10PSI and 70F is going to significantly raise the air temp in that ball.

Yes, but then the temperature would drop to ambient.

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by Donger

The balls aren't completely deflated and inflated right before the inflation check by the NFL though, right?

It's shown in the link that Just Passin By posted. There's a video showing NFL balls having the air added. One ref tests one and he says "12.5. That's close enough."