The NFL will consider changes to the pregame chain of custody for game balls when the owners convene for meetings in San Francisco on May 19, according to Mark Maske of the Washington Post. Obviously, these changes would be directly related to the DeflateGate scandal, in which the New England Patriots were found to have used deflated footballs in the AFC Championship against the Indianapolis Colts.
NFL to consider changes to pregame procedure for handling of footballs
The NFL will consider changes to the pregame chain of custody for game balls next week, following the DeflateGate scandal.
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If you’ve been away from the Internet since roughly around the time of the AFC title game, the league recently concluded its investigation into allegations the Patriots were using underinflated footballs intentionally and with quarterback Tom Brady’s knowledge. The Patriots were fined $1 million and docked a first-round draft pick in 2016 and a fourth-round draft pick in 2017. Brady was suspended for four games this season.
Brady is currently appealing his suspension, and Roger Goodell will oversee the appeal. The Patriots haven’t appealed yet, but they are reportedly considering doing so after initially saying they’d accept any punishment dealt by the league.
The balls reportedly became underinflated after the NFL's pregame check but before the balls actually reached the sidelines. Each team currently supplies the footballs it uses on offense, and when not in use they are in the custody of a team-appointed attendant. The league has been discussing the possibility of having the footballs in the custody of NFL-appointed attendants following the pregame inspection, a procedure that is currently used in the Super Bowl.
It’s unclear if there will be an official vote of the 32 owners — there will be voting on other rules, notably three proposals related to extra points and two-point conversions — but the report notes that Dean Blandino, the NFL’s vice president of officiating, has told teams the “process of handling footballs before games will change from here on in in the NFL,” as stated by Colts linebacker Henoc Muamba on Twitter.
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