UPDATE (8:22 a.m. ET Monday): NFL spokesman Michael Signora told NFL Network the league is looking into the Patriots' apparent use of overly deflated footballs during Sunday's 45-7 AFC title game win over the Colts.
Midway through the game, a ball was taken off the field and out of circulation, Signora told Rapoport. NFL rules stipulate game balls must be inflated with between 12.5-13.5 pounds of air. Each team must provide 12 primary balls for testing prior to the game, NFL Network reports.
In the original report, via Bob Kravitz of Indianapolis TV station WTHR, Kravitz reported that if the NFL confirms deflated footballs were used to gain an advantage it could cost the Patriots draft picks.
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The NFL is investigating the Patriots for deflating footballs during the AFC Championship Game against the Colts, according to a report from Bob Kravitz of WTHR.com in Indianapolis.
Kravitz makes the point no matter what the Pats did, it wouldn't have affected the outcome of the game, but the league is still looking into the incident and could dock the Pats draft picks.
The University of Southern California, under Lane Kiffin, was fined for deflating footballs previously. Basically, footballs that are below regulation weight are easier to throw, catch, etc.
Breaking: A league source tells me the NFL is investigating the possibility the Patriots deflated footballs Sunday night. More to come.
— Bob Kravitz (@bkravitz) January 19, 2015
I'm told at one point the officials took a ball out of play and weighed it. Should hear more tomorrow on this subject.
— Bob Kravitz (@bkravitz) January 19, 2015
Didn't have a chance to talk to colts officials about this. They were long gone when I heard this.
— Bob Kravitz (@bkravitz) January 19, 2015
Nobody is suggesting this is why the colts lost obviously. They were manhandled.
— Bob Kravitz (@bkravitz) January 19, 2015
Told if a league investigation confirms deflated footballs it will result in lost draft picks. Stay tuned.
— Bob Kravitz (@bkravitz) January 19, 2015
This is going to be a hot topic throughout the week.
People like to pile on the Pats for their off-field, pre-game shenanigans and this won't be any different should the NFL find any inconsistencies with the way they handled their footballs against the Colts.