By now, you know how Deflategate started: the Indianapolis Colts warned the NFL that the New England Patriots may use footballs that weren’t inflated properly before the game, the Colts intercepted a ball and noticed it was a bit flat, and a series of events unfolded which led to Tom Brady getting suspended for four games and the Patriots getting fined and losing draft picks.
One of the more juicy details, which just surfaced today via Sports Illustrated, is that NFL VP of Game Operations, Mike Kensil, was not only aware of the allegations before the game, but he approached Patriots equipment manager Dave Schoenfeld on the sideline during halftime and told him that he was in trouble.
The entire incident began when the Colts intercepted a ball in the first half of the AFC championship game and found it to have low pressure. After the Colts informed the league, all 11 of the Patriots’ balls were inspected and found to be below the allowable level. Patriots sources are steadfast—and their belief was conveyed to the league, according to a source—that Mike Kensil, the NFL’s VP of game operations, walked up to Patriots equipment manager Dave Schoenfeld on the sideline after halftime and said, “We weighed the balls. You are in big f—— trouble.” New England and Kraft thought this incident, and others, showed bias by the league and would be explored in the Wells report. But the Patriots’ theories (including another in which they believed the Colts deflated the intercepted ball) were tossed aside, with the report simply calling the sideline interaction a difference in recollection.
Of course, Kensil ended up being right, and the Patriots got hammered by the NFL. Whether that punishment stands up remains to be seen – both Tom Brady and Patriots owner Robert Kraft may look to challenge the NFL’s decision – but it looks like Kensil was ahead of things before anyone else.
(via Sports Illustrated)
