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NFL Investigation Will Not Distract New England Patriots

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By @calling_allfans

Patriots investigation

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Haters of the New England Patriots couldn’t allow the team to enjoy their dominating 45-7 win over the Indianapolis Colts for even a little bit. An NFL spokesman confirmed that the league is investigating whether the Patriots intentionally deflated footballs during their victory in the AFC Championship game.

According to NFL rules, footballs must be inflated between 12.5 and 13.5 pounds per square inch and weigh between 14 and 15 ounces. Reportedly, NFL rules stipulate that 12 footballs from each team are inspected by officials two hours and 15 minutes prior to each game. Each ball is then marked to verify it meets the criteria necessary for use in said game. The ball attendant then takes “ownership” of the footballs. After that, no one, including players, ball boys coaches or equipment managers, will be allowed to alter any of the footballs in any way.

On Sunday night, referee Walt Anderson stopped play on the first offensive play from scrimmage in the third quarter to replace a football, possibly because of this issue. First, no proof has been offered whatsoever that the Patriots had anything to do with any football that may or may not have been deflated. Patriots haters just love to blame everything on the Patriots and spew vitriol even if proof does not exist. That’s not to say Bill Belichick and the Patriots organization are perfect, because they are not (no one is), but at this point the loathing of the Patriots and their fans is becoming irrational.

Second, even if a football(s) was deflated, or not up to code, that had nothing to do the Patriots’ win over the Colts on Sunday night. New England was better in every phase of the game, and the defense completely shut down Andrew Luck and the Colts. Deflated footballs would not have assisted in that regard. In the second half LeGarrette Blount was the focal point, and the Patriots did not air it out. Deflated footballs would have helped much more if the Patriots threw the ball more, but while Tom Brady certainly did his part, the offense centered around Blount.

But the biggest point is that the Patriots are used to handling distractions.

The players, coaches and the rest of the organization understand what is at stake as they get set to prepare to play the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX on Feb. 1 in Arizona. No one in the Patriots organization cares about this investigation. Brady even laughed it off in an interview with WEEI, saying “I think I’ve heard it all at this point…it’s ridiculous. I don’t even respond to stuff like this.”

Every single Patriots player and coach will be focused on one thing and one thing only — defeating the Seahawks so they can hoist the Lombardi Trophy when the game clock strikes zeroes on Feb. 1. This investigation and what naysayers want to spew is hardly even background noise to the players and coaching staff. New England has handled would-be distractions extremely well in the past (i.e. Aaron Hernandez) and they will do it again here. They will be mentally and physically prepared for the Seahawks. As Belichick joked after the AFC Championship, the Patriots are on to Seattle.

Justin Patrick is a New England Patriots writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @calling_allfans, like him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google. You can also email him at [email protected].

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