Sea!! Hawks!!!

Go Seahawks!!

First, The NFC championship game was once again one of the most fantastically fascinating feats of football ever seen.  It was 55 minutes of the worst football I have seen out of them since the Dan McGuire years.  3 of the 4 INT's Russel Wilson threw were bounced off the WR's hands into the air and had a fun tip drill for the defense.  The 4th was a terrible throw.  Just trrable (said in a Charles Barkley voice).  Kearse redeemed himself in catching a TD in OT to send the Packers ... well, packing. 

I doubt anything in the Super Bowl can match that 5 minutes of football.  Nobody is even talking about that though.  Every one is concerned with the newest "cheating" scandal coming out from the Patriots organization.  Deflategate is the latest thing to come out of Foxburough since Spygate of 2007.  Even though they have appeared in 2 Super Bowls since getting caught spying on other teams practices, they haven't won since 2005.  Not saying that it correlates (yes I am), I'm just saying that it should be acknowledged that coincidence. 

That being said, is it really a big deal?  Former NFL journeyman QB Jeff Blake did an interview saying that all teams do it.  Before 2005, when the NFL mandated that the teams each provide their own 12 game balls and they would supply 8 K balls to each game, the NFL supplied 24 game balls to each game.  Jeff Blake said that he would get a bag with the balls in it and the rest of the QB's and he would dump them out to check them.  He said most of the time they were too hard, so they'd let a little air out and squeeze it to check them.  They wouldn't check the PSI (pounds per square inch) or anything, just to make sure they felt right.  There was no deceptive tactics involved, there was no malice involved.  Just trying to make sure they felt right.  I believe the same thing happened here.

The NFL ref's are also reported to give the balls a nice squeeze to make sure they feel right. 

So no one except the Baltimore Ravens and the Indianapolis Colts really cares about this.  Ironically, the losers of the last two games against the Pats. 

Is this cheated?  I don't know how to answer this.  I would say, I guess.  If you are driving 65 in a 60 MPH zone and get pulled over, you'll get a ticket.  Even if you are getting passed in the next lane.  However are you putting more people in danger than the idiot passing you?  Is it something everyone else is doing as well?  That's the crux of this.  Everyone is doing it.  It really isn't that big of a deal.  However because it is from the Patriots and Bill Belicheat, they have a slight reputation doing anything to win.  If you get pulled over for going 5 over the speed limit while also having 10 other speeding tickets, they may revoke your license.  So is this a big deal, not really.  Is this a big deal for the Patriots?  Potentially. 

I put more on the NFL for not actually checking the balls.  They squeeze them before the games.  They don't stick an air gauge into it and check the PSI.  If they are holding someone responsible for doing the same thing, they need to check themselves. 

This coming after the same season where they suspended Adrian Peterson for his off the field issues, reinstated him and within 24 hours suspended him indefinitely.  Did he beat his child?  Maybe, from the pictures I'd say yes.  Did the NFL mishandle the situation?  Yes.  What about Ray Rice?  There is video (click at your own risk) evidence where his then girlfriend, now wife, and he walks into an elevator and get into an argument and he knocks her out.  Closed fisted decks her.  Instead of showing any kind of remorse, he looks pissed she couldn't get up.  When the elevator doors open, he pulls her out by her hair.  Doesn't pick her up out of concern, or even try to revive her.  Drags her out by her hair.  TMZ released the video that the NFL said didn't exist. The NFL didn't discipline Ray Rice until the media released that video. 

While this situation isn't nearly as sad nor as bad as those situations, they have still mishandled this situation and good ol' Roger Godell is looking worse and worse. 

To top that off, they won't leave Marshawn Lynch's paycheck alone!! He is clearly talking to the media as per his contract.  Yes that is a bit of sarcasm but the fact they fine him for his lack of participation and the brand of hat, HIS brand, is ridiculous.  I get the participation is part of the deal, however the dude clearly has an issue with mobs of people in his face.  When he gives an interview that is one on one or where he is in control, he gives great soundbites and is engaging and warm.  I think the NFL needs to back off of him and leave him be.  Quinton Gather, former Utes RB and current coach on the Weber State staff, is good friends with him from their childhood.  He interviewed on a station that I accidentally came upon (which I won't mention because of their heresy) and mentioned many of these same facts.  He even told a story of when the Utes were playing Washington in Seattle Marshawn Lynch came into the hotel where the team was staying and was engaging, warm, kind and inviting.  Just don't inundate him stupid media types that get into the Super Bowl media week. 

With all of that being said, I'm saying GO SEAHAWKS!!!!