Is Deflategate Over-inflated?

Rick: Absolutely, people are “over-inflating” the importance of deflate-gate. Yes, the Patriots should be punished if found guilty by the NFL because it technically is cheating. The sad part about this situation is New England did not need to deflate the balls in order to beat the Colts the way they did. In fact, New England dominated the game with the regular footballs in the third quarter. However, when I look at this station, this seems to be another case where its anything to get on Bill Belichick and Tom Brady for, especially after SpyGate. Did they do something wrong? Yes. But, is it worth them not being in the Super Bowl or a one-year suspension like some people’s opinions have been? No.

Kyle: I think that this truly should be a non-starter; however, the media and America won’t let it go away. You have to think the Colts knew what they were doing by simply pointing a finger at the Pats. Of course everybody would believe it to be true. I believe it is true, on some “everybody does it” level. Now it won’t simply evaporate. Now it’s on CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC. Now the sports channel media has an alternative to fill the time until February 1 with something other than Xs and Os and zany stories about Richard Shermam’s candor. It is here to stay.

Raj: You bet it is. This situation is pure garbage because it’s only something for Pats haters to feel good about. We know that the Patriots have a national reputation for being cheaters. So of course when the Pats blow a team like the Colts out, unprofessional and disgusting reporters like Bob Kravitz will try to malign the team. And that’s what happened. Now, ESPN is taking over and they just will not shut up about this issue (especially crybaby Mark Brunnel). The Pats haven’t even been found guilty and probably won’t (or shouldn’t) be found guilty. Most of America will root against the Pats and will try to call them cheaters whenever they can. This situation was too perfect for the public to pass up but it literally won’t mean a thing.

Derek: I think it’s well-established at this point, that the 45-7 outcome of Sunday’s game had nothing to do with the PSI of the footballs the Patriots were using.   In fact, the score was 17-7 at  halftime after which the Patriots balls were re-inflated.  The Patriots outscored Indy 28-0 with the properly inflated balls.   It’s akin to the bozos who fail to realize that the Patriots have a better winning percentage, have been to more AFC Championship games and an equal amount of Super Bowls post-Spygate when compared to the pre-Spygate teams that supposedly benefited so much from the videotaped signals.    This is a witch hunt conjured up by Patriots haters who can only wish their team had gone to SIX Super Bowls in the past fourteen seasons.   Secondly, I find it laughable that anyone start spouting off about “the integrity of the game”, when all 32 of the NFL’s teams contain multiple roided-up, HGH’ed-out players.  Every single team cheats in every single game, the Patriots included.  Does that make it right?  No.  But unless it’s a blatant act of cheating that clearly affects the balance of the game (paying off the referees, pulling a Tonya Harding on the opposing QB, etc.) I think that everyone needs to get off of their high horse and realize their team is a bunch of cheats as well.