BOSTON (CBS) — On this episode of “As The DeflateGate Turns” …
Yes, Thursday marks Day 32 of the never-ending saga known as “DeflateGate,” and there were some developments. No, they don’t match up to Wednesday’s bananas back-and-forth, ESPN-on-ESPN crime, but they are nevertheless significant (relatively speaking).
The Colts Alerted The NFL In The Days Leading Up To The AFC Championship Game That The Patriots Might Use Underinflated Footballs
Colts general manager Ryan Grigson spoke to the media at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis on Thursday, and he admitted that the Colts had a hunch that the Patriots liked to use underinflated footballs. So, the Colts told the NFL to be on alert for such an infraction during the AFC Championship Game.
The Boston Herald’s Jeff Howe has Grigson’s quote: “Earlier that week prior to the AFC Championship Game, we notified the league about our concern. We went into the game. We had some issues, but we’re going to do what we can and that’s participate with the league in the investigation and wait until the Wells report comes out. We really have no other recourse but to wait until that investigation comes about. … We had concerns just like any general manager would do, wants their team to play on a level playing field. We took the proper steps to try to ensure that. It’s up to the league to make sure that happens. If the rules were broken, we’ll see. If not, that’s what the investigation is for. But again, we’re just doing our jobs and trying to ensure we give our team the best chance to win in a level playing field.”
Grigson responded to all related questions on the matter by deferring to the ongoing investigation by Ted Wells.
Grigson’s admission raises two key questions. First, what made the Colts believe the Patriots used underinflated footballs? Were they tipped off by the Ravens, as some have suggested, or did they first notice it back in their November matchup in Indy, as others have said?
The bigger question, though, is this: What did the NFL do after the Colts alerted them to this concern?
http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/02/1...gs-themselves/