New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick said his team will cooperate with the NFL’s investigation into the alleged tampering with game footballs in Sunday’s AFC championship win over the Indianapolis Colts.
“We’ll cooperate fully with whatever the league wants us to, whatever questions they ask us, whatever they want us to do,” Belichick said Monday during a conference call with reporters.
“The first time I heard about it was this morning,” said Belichick, who declined further comment. “Whatever they need from the league, that’s what we’ll do.”
Bob Kravitz of WTHR-TV first reported the league was looking into the Patriots’ use of overly deflated footballs hours after New England’s 45-7 win over Indianapolis. NFL spokesman Michael Signora confirmed the investigation Monday morning.
The NFL rule book mandates game balls must be inflated with between 12.5 and 13.5 pounds of air. Each team must provide 12 primary balls for testing prior to the game. Underinflated balls can help quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers grip the ball better, particularly in adverse weather conditions.
If the Patriots are found to have deliberately tampered with game balls, the teams faces a fine or docked draft picks.
New England quarterback Tom Brady laughed off the allegations on Monday, calling them “ridiculous.”
“I think I’ve heard it all at this point,” Brady told WEEI-FM. “That’s the last of my worries. I don’t even respond to stuff like this.”
Belichick’s team is no stranger to controversy.
The Patriots were caught videotaping the sideline defensive signals of the New York Jets in 2007. After an investigation, the NFL determined the Patriots violated league rules, costing the team a first-round draft pick in 2008 and a $250,000 fine. Additionally, Belichick was fined $500,000.
The NFL has revealed no timetable for the investigation.
The Patriots meet the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX on 1 February in Glendale, Arizona.
