New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick reiterated that they did not deliberately underinflated footballs in their AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
ESPN reported on Wednesday that an investigation by National Football League officials revealed that 11 of the 12 footballs used by the Patriots against the Colts were not inflated enough to pass the league requirements.
Sources indicated that referee Walt Anderson inspected the footballs more than two hours before the AFC Championship Game, but officials said the Patriots used footballs that were inflated two pounds below the NFL requirements.
When asked about a possible role in the controversy, Brady vehemently denied reports suggesting that he altered the ball before the match, detailing how he picked the balls to be inspected by Anderson.
"When I pick those footballs out, at that point, to me, they're perfect," Brady told reporters on Thursday. "I don't want anyone touching the balls after that. I don't want anyone rubbing them, putting any air in them, taking any air out. To me, those balls are perfect, and that's what I expect when I show up on the field."
Brady, who completed 23 of 35 passes for 226 yards with three touchdowns in their 45-7 blowout win against the Colts, denied the he deliberately squeezed the ball to take out air and get a better grip of the football.
When he heard about the issue, the 37-year-old asked their staff about any knowledge on the underinflated balls, but their equipment staff also denied that they altered the balls.
Sources also added that the Patriots used 12 backup balls in the second half after someone complained about the first 12 footballs, but Brady said that he did not notice any difference between the footballs.
Like Brady, coach Belichick also insisted that he had no knowledge about the underinflated footballs. The veteran coach reiterated that he was not aware of the issue until he was informed about it on Monday morning. He also said that he would never do such trick just to give his team an advantage.
"I had no knowledge whatsoever of this situation until Monday morning," Belichick said in a news conference. "I can tell you that in my entire coaching career, I have never talked to any player, staff member about football air pressure. That is not a subject that I have ever brought up."
Belichick and the Patriots are looking to set aside the controversy and focused on their upcoming Super Bowl XLIX showdown against defending champions Seattle Seahawks on Feb. 1 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
