Another run to the Super Bowl, another issue for the New England Patriots. New England is heading back to the Super Bowl, the sixth of the Tom Brady and Bill Belichick era, but not without controversy. The newest scandal to come out of Foxborough is becoming known as #DeflateGate.
An investigation has determined that 11 of the 12 footballs that the Patriots used in the 45-7 stomping of the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship Game were under-inflated. Why is that a big deal? Under-inflated balls are easier to grip, throw, catch, and hold onto in harsh or wet weather.
Jan 18, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick during the third quarter against the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Would the Patriots have won the game anyway? It certainly appears so, but that’s not the point here. The point is that for the second time in recent years this team has been accused of cheating.
The Patriots won three Super Bowls in the early 2000s, but haven’t won the big game since the Spygate scandal broke in 2007. Bilichick denied that the Patriots taped other team’s walkthroughs, but it turns out they did. Some players and fans have held this against the Pats to this day, while others have let that story die. However, with the breaking of this newest scandal it has reawakened the ‘Patriots are cheaters’ narrative.
As the nation gets ready to watch Super Bowl XLIX, when the Seattle Seahawks take on the New England Patriots, this narrative may reach a boiling point. One thing is for sure, these accusations of ‘Patriots are cheaters’ are going to follow Bilichick, Brady, and this entire organization for years to come.
Here is a glimpse of what is being said out there.
Hear Colin:In the end, it's not the under inflated football...it's the insubordination of Bill Belichick and the Patriots resume.#ColinQuote
— ESPN Radio (@ESPNRadio) January 21, 2015
@TheHerd don't you mean Bill Belicheat?
— Dennis (@TUNA625) January 21, 2015
At the end of the day lying is lying and cheating is cheating!! Patriots r a terrible organization!! I don't care what anyone else thinks.
— marcus perry (@marcusperry1) January 21, 2015
I don't think the Patriots can do anything without cheating, wonder what all they have gotten away with
— Josh Duran (@JoshDuran25) January 21, 2015
If New England was to be DQ'd.. We'd be their replacements right??... I should probably lay off these strawberry margs
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 21, 2015
Well done, McAfee (The Indianapolis Colts’ punter).
I think it’s safe to say that the New England Patriots’ reputation certainly hasn’t gotten better after this newest scandal. It’s tarnished, and will stay tarnished, because of two reasons. The first being that this isn’t their first offense of ‘cheating’ and the second being that they keep on winning as an organization. Those two factors combined have created quite the nationwide disdain for New England. America hates two things…teams that keep winning and cheaters. The Pats are definitely one of those two things and arguably both.
That said, I think they’ll continue to play the roll of the villain and I’m not sure Bilichick would have it any other way. The Seahawks better watch out, this scandal could galvanize the Pats heading into the Super Bowl. In a weird way it could give them an edge.
What do the Spin Zoners have to say about the New England Patriots? Do you think their reputation is irreparably tarnished?