....deflated balls travel farther? I knew they helped reduce fumbles, but hadn't heard that one before, lol
I have always felt the deflated balls were about fumbles. Belichick hates fumbles. He gets pissed and benches good players over fumbles. Brady can hang onto the football easier. Running backs can hold it tighter and it’s easier to jar a fully inflated football from a runners arms. I have never doubted that Belichick, who always tests every possible edge he can get by skirting the rules, was the original deflator.
But one thing that I’ve never believed was that it’s easier to throw a deflated football. I throw a football to my son every day from the moment little league is done until it gets down to freezing. It’s easier to throw a fully inflated ball. It travels farther and is less strain on the arm, than if it needs air.
Brady’s involvement was likely because he wanted to be sure the balls weren’t deflated too much. I’d bet Belichick would prefer even less reassure.
Brady took the fall, because Bill has had previous infractions. The possible penalty would be less if Tom took the blame.