05-07-2015, 07:13 AM
The "it didn't affect the outcome of the game" meme is sad. Cheating is okay, as long as it doesn't matter? Based on all evidence, this was Brady's MO. If he did it against the Colts, of course he did it in every game he could. Did a deflated ball help him beat the Ravens? Did a deflated ball allow them to win games on the margin to get home field advantage? It casts suspicion on every performance.
Even if you don't think the information provided in the report is enough to cast doubt on the overall 2015 Patriots performance and playoffs, cheating during an AFC championship game should result in a brobdingnagian penalty. As garvin said, suppose they're using a legal ball, maybe they have a few more stalled drives that give the Colts better field position, leading to a couple more scores. The Colts are a very different team playing ahead or in a tie than playing from behind. The 2nd half game plan is different if the score is different. But we'll never know the outcome, because the Pats cheated.
Even if you don't think the information provided in the report is enough to cast doubt on the overall 2015 Patriots performance and playoffs, cheating during an AFC championship game should result in a brobdingnagian penalty. As garvin said, suppose they're using a legal ball, maybe they have a few more stalled drives that give the Colts better field position, leading to a couple more scores. The Colts are a very different team playing ahead or in a tie than playing from behind. The 2nd half game plan is different if the score is different. But we'll never know the outcome, because the Pats cheated.