Randy Smith: To Deflate Or Not?

I have always despised cheaters. Even the ones who just "bend" the rules a bit to gain an unfair advantage. It seems every sport has always had a few that simply could not compete without an edge. Pure talent is never enough. It appears the New England Patriots fall into that category. In 2007, the Pats and their head coach Bill Bellichek were caught spying on an opponent, which was totally illegal. Move the calendar forward eight years and New England has been caught again; this time under-inflating eleven of their twelve game balls in the AFC Championship Game against Indianapolis. That's really old news as everyone seems to know about "deflategate" and most everyone has weighed in on the situation. A lot of fans laugh it off by saying it's just sour grapes so to speak, because the Patriots won the game handily 45-7. 

Even in the press conferences this past week, the answers from Coach Bellichek and quarterback Tom Brady truly said nothing at all, and in no way helped to clear up the situation. Bellichek first said he knew nothing about the deflated footballs, then referred all questions to Brady. Later, Bellicheck said his team followed all the rules and did nothing wrong. The latest theory as to how the balls wound up with less air in them than they should, was the Pats ball boys are the guilty ones. That theory doesn't hold water or air either. 

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman, a three-time Super Bowl winner and current lead analyst for Fox NFL coverage, said there is no way an NFL ball boy would deflate a football unless the quarterback told him to do it.  In other words, Brady knew all along that the footballs were deflated. Some are saying, that Brady should be suspended and not be allowed to play in the Super Bowl this Sunday. 

Did the deflated footballs make a huge difference in the outcome of the AFC Championship Game? Probably not, though it is much easier to throw a wet football when it is deflated a bit. Is this really a cause for concern? Absolutely it is. If the allegations about Brady and the Pats' ball boys are true, the team should be punished. I still haven't figured out how harsh a punishment they should get, but they should be punished. Is this more serious than the New Orleans Saints' "bounties" on opposing players a couple of years ago? No, but it did figure to give New England more of an unfair edge against the Colts.

It seems that it is a bit harder to cheat in the NFL than it is in college football. After all, you don't have recruiting violations in the NFL and the media always seems to be looking harder at pro teams because there are fewer of them. Cheating however, is cheating no matter which league or what level you're playing in. It's dishonest and it has no part in our country's way of life. 

All this alleged cheating and unsportsmanlike conduct has put a huge black eye on our nation's most popular sport. I will watch the Super Bowl this weekend, though I am totally disinterested in what happens. I believe we will see a competitive game, unless the Patriots figure out a way to gain an unfair advantage over the Seahawks; perhaps by slipping helium in Seattle's game balls.    

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