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Glam Monitor

Why did Patriots deflate balls?

Author

Mia Smith

Updated on August 17, 2026

At its core, Deflategate suggested that the New England Patriots used an illegal process for lowering the inflation of game footballs at the behest of quarterback Tom Brady, who preferred the grip of softer balls.

Did the Patriots actually deflate the balls?

In the aftermath of that game, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported that 11 of the 12 football used by the Patriots' offense during that game were underinflated by at least two pounds each. That information was ultimately proven to be false and a correction was eventually made in the initial report.

What is the purpose of deflating footballs?

In the end, the reason for deflating a football owes more to physiology than physics. A slightly deflated ball is a bit softer, making it easier to grip the ball to throw it and reducing the bounce when it hits the hands of a receiver, making it easier to catch.

Why did Tom Brady leave the Patriots?

He ended up signing up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who were more willing to offer him the kind of contract that he wanted. That resulted in a Super Bowl win with Brady at the helm. Brady left the Patriots because the franchise refused to offer him a contract that would have let him retire with the team.

What really happened with Deflategate?

In January 2015, Deflategate exploded from a quiet league investigation into a nationwide story thanks to an erroneous ESPN report claiming 11 of the 12 footballs the Patriots used in the AFC Championship Game were underinflated by at least two pounds.

40 related questions found

How many of the Patriots footballs were deflated?

NFL VP of Officiating Dean Blandino told NFL Network that, "it's not unheard of for a ball to be removed from circulation and then tested during the week for whatever issue there was." Jan. 20: NFL found that all 11 footballs used by the Patriots were underinflated.

Was Brady found guilty?

This brings us back to the question of whether Brady has ever been caught cheating. Despite what some Patriots haters say, the answer is no. Deflategate is the biggest Patriots scandal he's been involved in. While he served a suspension, he appealed it and never admitted guilt.

Can you throw a deflated football farther?

Having an under-inflated ball also allows quarterbacks to throw the ball farther, Tompkins explained. When developing the grip for Baden's footballs, the company's R&D team found that by adjusting the RPM of a spiral from 5,400 to 7,200, it made a difference of four feet in distance traveled.

Why do balls deflate in the cold?

As the temperature decreases, gas molecules move closer together. This causes them to move around more slowly with less energy. Thus, lower pressure leads to a lower bounce of the ball. That's why a fully-inflated ball might appear deflated if the temperature drops dramatically.

Is it easier to kick a deflated football?

"Basically, a little bit of air removed from the ball makes it easier to kick accurately because you get more ball surface in contact with the toe," Timothy Gay, physics professor at the University of Nebraska, told NBC News.

How many balls were deflated in Deflategate?

Ian Rapoport released a report February 1 citing anonymous league sources who indicated that amongst the 11 of the 12 footballs used in the first half judged by the officials to be under the minimum PSI, just one was two pounds under, while "many" were just a few ticks under.

Do NFL kickers use different balls?

How is the K-Ball different from a regular NFL football? It's not as if the kicking ball is a different size than a regular NFL football. It's just that they're considered harder and slicker than the average ball. When the K-Ball was first introduced in 1999, the original goal was that every kick had a new ball.

Should a football be rock hard?

The main reason why a ball should be hard and a little bit soft is to protect players from injury. Because players nowadays can kick the ball so hard there is a real element of danger if the ball is rock hard.

What is a bomb in football?

A bomb also known as an up and under or a Garryowen is a type of kick used in various codes of football. As the names suggests, it is a high kick intended to send the ball relatively straight up so players can get under it before it comes down (see hang time).

What is a long bomb?

Game Description: An awesome football lead up game to teach moving to open spaces, man to man coverage, defending and contested catching! Objective: Score points by throwing the ball to the other half and having a teammate catch it.

Why are pro soccer balls so hard?

Soccer balls are hard because of the precise gauge of air pressure in them. They need to be hard so they can bounce properly, especially when players are heading them.

How do you tell if a football is properly inflated?

A football shouldn't be squeezable, it should be taut and firm, but not hard. If you are using an older football, remember that leather hardens over time, so it may feel harder than a newer football. If your ball looks wobbly in flight, this can be a sign of a deflated ball, so check the psi.

What is an NFL K ball?

Football Terms – NFL Kicking Balls

K-balls are footballs used by the NFL for kicking plays. Shipped in directly from the Wilson factory, these balls are generally considered to be slicker and harder than the average football. They are kept separated from the rest of the balls, and a special ball boy watches over them.

Why do kickers squish the ball?

When you see a kicker squeeze a ball, it's because he wants to soften it and make it rounder." These balls are too new, and kickers feverishly try to make wear them out throughout the game.

Is it legal to block a player in the back in football?

An illegal block in the back is a penalty called in football when a player on the offensive or kicking team makes contact above the waist with an opposing player who doesn't have the ball. This penalty results in a 10-yard penalty from the spot of the foul.

What happens if you leave a basketball in the sun?

The rise and fall in temperature, wet weather and the blistering sun can play havoc not only with the colour of your basketball, but leaving your basketball out in the elements can ruin the quality of the ball, warp its shape and make it lose its grip.

Why do basketballs go flat?

Basketballs tend to lose a little air when left unused and through normal use over time. In order to bounce properly, basketballs need the right amount of air pressure. Different manufactures may vary depending on the ball's size, series, and materials.

Do tennis balls bounce less in cold weather?

Tennis balls do not bounce as high in the cold. The bounciness of a ball is subject to the gasses working within it. So when a ball gets cold, the gas molecules begin to contract inside. This makes tennis balls react less when the ball contacts the ground, in other words, less bouncy.