Super Bowl 2015: New England Patriots to be Banned?

Should the New England Patriots be banned from the Super Bowl due to the "underinflated balls" issue?

Many fans and sports enthusiasts were shocked and disappointed when it has been reported by ESPN that 11 out of the 12 Patriots balls used during the AFC title game were found underinflated. Though NFL senior vice president of communications Greg Aiello refused to comment on the matter, ESPN learned through other sources that referee Walt Anderson "properly inspected and approved" the footballs several hours before the game. Note that it has not yet officially been announced whether the Patriots indeed intentionally deflated the balls.

Business Insider noted that the footballs are supposed to be inflated between 12.5 pounds and 13.5 pounds per square inch. However, almost all of Patriots' balls were only inflated to about 10.5 pounds per square inch. Note that underinflated balls are easier to hold, catch, and throw. It is believed that the underinflated balls might have been an edge for them causing their 45-7 win against the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC title game.

Although it is not yet clear what punishment the team will face, ESPN said that based on the NFL rules, any person found altering or tampering with the balls could be fined $25,000 and could undergo disciplinary action.

USA Today's Chris Chase thinks of a "simple" punishment for the team should the allegations are proven.

"The penalty should be simple: Ban 'em," he says. "Of course, it's not realistic to disqualify New England from the Super Bowl. What's the NFL going to do, bring back the Colts to replace them? Hold a loser-bracket between Denver and Indianapolis? That's not feasible. Just because the Pats should be DQ'd doesn't mean they will or could."

He adds:

"But, again, they should. The evidence is all there, assuming Chris Mortensen's report is correct. Former NFL referee Gerry Austin was on Mike and Mike this morning and said officials check the PSI of all footballs two hours before the game. At halftime, New England's footballs (each team has different balls during the game) were found to be two-to-three pounds lighter. Someone deflated the balls. There's no debate here."

Chase says the New England Patriots must be hit hard though he is afraid that NFL will again do it and just give the team minor sanctions.

Meanwhile, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on Thursday stressed that he did not alter the balls. He also said that he has always played within the rules and that he has no plans to break them. "When I pick those footballs out, at that point, to me, they're perfect...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," he was quoted as saying by another ESPN report.

Note that this is not the first time the Patriots face a controversy. Patriots coach Bill Belichick has already been fined $500,000 and the team $250,000 due to the videotaping cheating scandal in 2007.