NFL tries to take air out of Big Blue claim
The Giants did not like the way two footballs used by the Steelers in last week’s game felt, and they saw fit to inform the NFL office of the details of what they believe were light and underinflated balls.
The Giants measured two balls recovered via turnovers, and both came up shy of the league’s 12.5 PSI minimum, according to ProFootballTalk. The team reportedly measured one of the balls at 11.4 PSI and the other at 11.8.
The NFL released a statement Sunday morning in attempt to get out in front of the controversy.
“The officiating game ball procedures were followed and there were no chain-of-command issues,’’ the league’s statement said. “All footballs were in compliance and no formal complaint was filed by the Giants with our office.”
The Giants lost the game 24-14. They inspected the footballs the Steelers used after they were carried to their sideline after turnovers. The Giants did not file a complaint with the league about the footballs, nor did they send the balls to the league for inspection.
With the Giants seemingly refusing to pursue the matter through official channels, it looks like the league will avoid a repeat of the embarrassing Deflategate scandal, when the Patriots’ alleged use of underinflated footballs in the 2014 AFC Championship game victory over the Colts spawned controversy, court hearings and rampant innuendo of cheating and deception.
The end result was Patriots quarterback Tom Brady serving a fourgame suspension at the start of this season, a punishment coming after the Patriots were fined $1 million and forced to relinquish two draft picks, including a first-round pick.
The Steelers had no official comment, but their quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, had something to say when asked about the report after Sunday’s 27-20 victory over the Bills.
“We used Nerf balls,’’ Roethlisberger said, laughing.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin dismissed the notion his team used underinflated footballs.
“I heard about it, but we have absolutely no response,’’ Tomlin said. “We’ll cooperate fully with whatever New York wants to do in regards to that. We have absolutely nothing to hide. It’s a non-story for us.”