Deflate 11 balls in 90 seconds in a bathroom? No problem for this reporter.

[pnwmom]

The latest reported rumor on the Patriots's deflated footballs is that the NFL is investigating a video that shows an equipment person carrying bags of balls into a bathroom -- and remaining there for about 90 seconds -- instead of directly to the field.

People have questioned whether the balls could have been deflated that quickly, and this reporter decided to attempt it himself.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/deflategate-update-soften-12-balls-40-seconds-article-1.2094280

So I pulled out the corporate card, bought 12 top-of-the-line balls and inflated them to the manly, 13 pounds per square inch.

Then, curious to see how long it would take to deflate one ball to Brady’s liking, I stuck in a pin, heard the tell-tale “Pssss” for 2.2 seconds and rechecked the pressure with a gauge. It was 11 pounds per square inch.

So I loaded the dozen fully inflated pigskins into a big IKEA bag and did what I do best: Take my balls into the bathroom to simulate what the Pats assistant possibly did.

My personal DeflateGate took just 40 seconds. Add in a few bobbles and the time it took to get in and out of the bathroom stall, and the entire affair took me just 77 seconds — well under the 90-second deadline.

SNIP

[dissentient]

1. lol

that headline could have come from the onion...

[elleng]

3. This whole darn 'thing'

could come from the onion, and should stay there imo!!!

[dissentient]

4. Ha! Agreed.

[elleng]

2. Rachel show guy tried it,

only did 8. Was on the show last night.

[unblock]

6. that may be even more damning as it suggests 11 is doable with practice.

[elleng]

7. Probably is.

Watched him, and he fumbled a little. (Pun NOT intended!!!)

[pnwmom]

17. What a team! Even their ball boys are great at what they do! n/t

[pnwmom]

8. Thanks. Of course that guy wasn't nearly as well practiced.

The Patriots' guy probably had it down to a science.

[elleng]

9. Right.

[msanthrope]

5. The next season of "Serial" perhaps? nt

[Takket]

10. But I thought tom Brady let the air out of the balls?

Or Bill Belicheck, or the mascot......... Every time the story changes a little bit someone shows how the story can still fit and the Patriots are still guilty. it is beyond silly.

and looking for the New York Daily News for an objective report on a matter involving Boston sports is like looking for an honest assessment of the Obama Presidency from Fox News.

[MohRokTah]

13. No low level locker-room attendant is going to deflate game balls wihtout being told to do so.

He's going to eb the patsy for the cheating cheaters, Tom Brady and Bill Belicheat.

[pnwmom]

14. You're the only one who ever said that. But many people thought

that whoever did it, did it with Tom Brady's approval, if not under his direction.

And many people predicted that the eventual fall-guy would be a low level equipment manager.

[wyldwolf]

11. Mr. Equipment Person, how much do you make a year? 20K? We'll give you $1 mil to take the fall

and go away.

[GummyBearz]

12. 90 seconds

In a bathroom is just an odd length of time to be in there. If all the stalls are occupied he would have been out quicker. If he had to take a leak he would have been in longer.

Maybe you can make the case he wanted to wash his hands, do a very good job of drying them, give his hair a check in the mirror, and it comes out close...

But deflating balls seems more likely, given the surrounding information. Did Brady tell him to? Did the guy just know to do it and Brady kept his mouth shut (the old "I didn't tell him, that ball boy, to deflate balls" excuse)? From what ESPN has shown, former pro's could spot the deflated ball with ease and 100% accuracy when they were given slightly under, normal, and over inflated balls.

And one more thing,



BALLS

[pnwmom]

16. FWIW, I heard that it was a single restroom -- not a line of stalls. n/t

[LittleBlue]

15. The question becomes whether the NFL/Pats are

willing to pin this on a lone ball boy.

[SoCalMusicLover]

18. Of Course They Are

Likely was their plan from the start.