Allegedly, D’Qwell Jackson was the Patient Zero of #DeflateGate, the man whose interception of Tom Brady brought an underinflated ball back to the Colts’ sideline and touched off this firestorm of controversy. It was Jackson, we were told, that first complained about the relatively soft condition of the football and brought it to the attention of his coaches, who in turn brought it to the NFL.
Um, so about that…
“I definitely wouldn't be able to tell if one ball had less pressure than another,” he said today. “I wouldn't know how that could even be an advantage or a disadvantage.”
There’s also this fascinating nugget from the same report:
“Jackson does, however, recall one interesting moment during the first half that has something to do with the latest controversy. He recalls, during a television timeout, there was an especially long delay that prompted him to approach an official.
The game official mentioned something about their efforts to locate a usable football. Shortly after, Jackson noticed that the Patriots were using the Colts' footballs late in the first half. Jackson said it was odd to him that New England couldn't find a football to use, especially in the AFC Championship Game.”
So if the Patriots were using the Colts’ footballs late in the first half, and we already know that the footballs were inspected and changed out at halftime, how long were the improperly inflated balls even in play? Assuming that the interaction Jackson was remembering came on the Patriots’ final drive of the half, here’s their offensive results before the properly inflated balls were used:
1.
Not terrible, but not exactly setting the world on fire either. Maybe this will stop all of the controversy?
Ha. No chance.
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[via NFL.com]
