© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
WNPR News sports coverage brings you a mix of local and statewide news from our reporters as well as national and global news from around the world from NPR.

Patriots Coach Bill Belichick Denies Knowledge Of Deflated Footballs

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, seen here on Jan. 18, says he "had no knowledge" about the controversy over deflated footballs "until Monday morning."
Elise Amendola
/
AP
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, seen here on Jan. 18, says he "had no knowledge" about the controversy over deflated footballs "until Monday morning."

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick says he had "no knowledge" about the controversy surrounding his team and deflated footballs.

"In my entire coaching career, I have never talked to any player or staff member about football air pressure," he said in an opening statement at a news conference today.

Belichick added that he had "no knowledge of this situation until Monday morning."

That was the morning after the Patriots defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 45-7. Soon after that win, Bob Kravitz of Indiana's WTHR TV tweeted: "A league source tells me the NFL is investigating the possibility the Patriots deflated footballs Sunday night."

Two days later, ESPN quoted anonymous sources within the NFL saying 11 of the Patriots' 12 footballs in the AFC championship game were underinflated by 2 pounds per square inch.

Troy Vincent, the NFL's executive vice president for football operations, told The Associated Press the league was awaiting the findings of an investigation.

As NPR's Bill Chappell previously reported:

"Under NFL rules, the home team supplies most of the balls used in games; the visiting team brings footballs for its own offense to use. All the footballs must be inflated within a range of 12.5-13.5 pounds per square inch and weigh between 14 and 15 ounces.

"In wet and slippery conditions, an under-inflated ball could be easier to grip and catch. And in last night's game, an NFL official reportedly took at least one ball out of circulation after suspecting it didn't meet league requirements."

Does any of this matter? NPR's Geoff Brumfiel reported that the answer to that question is yes.

The controversy has been dubbed "Ballgate" or "Deflategate," which NPR's Chappell pointed out echoes "the infamous 'Spygate' episode of 2007, when the Patriots and coach Bill Belichick were found to have videotaped the New York Jets' signals.

"The spying incident resulted in the NFL stripping the Patriots of a first-round draft pick and fining Belichick," Bill reported.

The Patriots will face the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Feb. 1.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Krishnadev Calamur is NPR's deputy Washington editor. In this role, he helps oversee planning of the Washington desk's news coverage. He also edits NPR's Supreme Court coverage. Previously, Calamur was an editor and staff writer at The Atlantic. This is his second stint at NPR, having previously worked on NPR's website from 2008-15. Calamur received an M.A. in journalism from the University of Missouri.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content