Deflate-gate: Patriots Coach Says He Has ‘No Explanation’ for Under-Inflated Balls
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Leon Halip/Getty Images(FOXBOROUGH, Mass.) — Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said on Thursday that he was “shocked” when he heard that the NFL found 11 of 12 footballs deflated that were used in their 45-7 AFC Championship game win over the Colts on Sunday.
Belichick said that the organization is still cooperating with the NFL as the investigation continues.
“When I came in Monday morning I was shocked to learn of the news reports about the footballs,” Belichick said. “I had no knowledge whatsoever of the situation until Monday morning.”
“I would say I’ve learned a lot more about this process than I knew or talked about it in the last 40 years,” Belichick continued.
Belichick said that when the team practices, he makes sure that they play with the worst footballs.
“We never use the condition of the footballs as an excuse,” Belichick said. “We play with whatever or kick with whatever we have to use and that’s the way it is.”
Belichick said that the team would take the steps to avoid footballs being below the NFL standard.
Footballs, which are weighed before the game, must be inflated to no less than 12.5 pounds per square inch.
“The National Football league is investigating the situation,” Belichick said. “We have cooperated fully, quickly, and completely with every request they have made.”
The Patriots are preparing for a Super Bowl showdown with the defending champion Seattle Seahawks.
Chicago Bears equipment manager Tony Medlin will organize the football process for the Super Bowl.
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