Originally Posted By: hatt
Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
Originally Posted By: hatt
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
If anything I think this whole process exposed how lax the NFL rules are regarding the pre-game ball handling procedures. I have only really gotten into following the NFL in previous years, but I assumed that there were NFL officials that took care of that, and not have team associated personnel control it.
Lax? It looks like a bunch of useless nanny rules. Let the QBs how much air they like.
I don't think it is the rules themselves so much as it is/was a lack of enforcement and following of said rules. The rules are actually pretty clear and when followed ensure that there is an even playing field in regards to the balls used by both sides.
1. - Each team provides their own balls for offense in the game( kicking too but different rules ).
2. - Balls must be official/approved NFL game balls
3. - Ball PSI range is limited to 12.5 - 13.5
4. - Ref's check each ball prior to game for any defects, extreme wear, and for proper inflation( balls can be rejected if in bad shape and the ref's adjust the PSI up/down when or if needed ). Upon completion of the inspection the inspecting ref initials each ball showing the inspection was done.
5. - Balls are stored in a secure area until approx 1 hour before game time when they are brought to the field by the approved attendant for that team. NO ONE is supposed to touch them before that.
6. - During the game the balls are in a designated area and given to the ref's by a designated person/attendant. NO ONE else is supposed to touch them/handle them.
To me that pretty much ensures the balls are secure and on an even playing field for both teams as long as no one intentionally breaks those rules as we had happen( IMO )in deflategate. The balls were taken into a bathroom by one of the deflate suspects AFTER the official inspection and there were unauthorized people/attendants( from the Patriots )handling them prior to the game and during the game. Clearly there is an opportunity to get to the balls after the inspection is done for those who have cheating in mind.
About the only change(s) I could see being made that might help stop cheaters from working around the rules ^^^ would be for the league to supply all game balls. They retain control of them at all times with a league employed ball attendant for before and during the game. The little extra $$$ it would cost is not even a penny in the coin jar to you and me for the NFL. Or, if that seems too extreme then have the ref's do the official inspection on the field right before the game and then have a league employee be the one to stay with them and give them to the ref's when asked for. Take the teams out of the equation completely is the main point. Make it so the only time anyone but a ref or league official has any reason to handle the game balls is when the players are doing so on the field during the game.
Overall the NFL ball rules are pretty good I think. I don't see them as Lax at all. I think the enforcement of the rules is what was lax. With any rules in life the people the rules are directed at have to have the character and willingness to follow them. Cheaters will be cheaters though and break the rules when they can. So you either make it impossible to cheat( i.e. league supplies and controls the balls at all times ) OR you make the best rues you can and then punish those caught breaking them.
I apologize to the post length police if this was too long.
What would be wrong with letting the offence set the pressure?
This isn't like basketball or soccer where both teams play with the same ball.
It always seemed strange to me that the NFL needed so many balls. They CAN'T just use one "game ball" ???
Even if they get kicked for a field goal, they end up in the net. So what's up with that?
In baseball, you can't get the ball back from a home run, or grand slam, or out of the park if its a small park. That said....