Would the Dolphins have made the playoffs if they cheated as well?

Tamper or no tamper, Tannehill would still not be able to hit a deep pass. And I don't think his fourth quarter numbers improve either so no.

 

Id like someone to logically tell me why the NFL has to have the balls at a certain weight.?

it should be a personal choice, especially because some qbs like their's to be softer or harder..performance is key and important, if the qb prefers throwing a softer ball it should be his choice..this rule is bogus..

does anyone know golf ball rules as it pertains to uniformity?, I think there is a weight rule but I'm not sure if everyone has to play with the same exact type of ball?

 

I don't think so - I think our coaching tendencies would still overcome any advantage it could have given us. It's awfully hard to imagine how a deflated ball would have made a difference when running out the clock with 2 minutes left to end the first half.

 

That alone wouldn't have done it, but if that is just one example of a pattern of cheating that results in a significant competitive advantage overall (which could be the case with the Patriots), then possibly yes.

 

I still think it'd be overcome on the back end. In terms of the Patriots, it's a pattern of aggressively trying to win at all costs. The Dolphins, under Philbin, are exactly the opposite. Any competitive advantage would be squandered by an overall conservative philosophy.

 

A deflated ball has an advantage to RBs more than QBs. They can hold the ball tighter and not fumble. Know how many times Patriots RBs fumbled Sunday? 0.

 

Disagree, you need some level of uniformity within the tools of the game. You can't have tools of the becoming a free for all.

 

With the amount of close games Miami had, if they did something that gave them a consistent advantage over the course of the season, I don't think it's ridiculous to suggest they might have made the playoffs. I chose yes, but my real answer is - "It's possible."

 

When you consider the number of times the Dolphins went for it on 4th down and the average number of yards needed for a first down on those 4th downs, Philbin was actually more aggressive than every coach but one in the league in 2014. The Dolphins also threw more passes on 1st down than every team but three in the league in 2014.

 

but its one tool and has a preference attached to it..I mean if one qb likes a harder ball and one a softer, then they are taking the responsibility, if you are to uniform it, that uniformity may favor one style of qb over another? and thats not fair, some players have smaller hands?

 

I understand what you are saying. But you need the uniformity. By the time they reach the NFL, they should be used to it. And if they aren't.... they need to get used to it.

 

I feel it would take more than an underinflated football to get to the playoffs but what I don't get why the Patriots feel as though they need to bend the rules.
They are a great team as much as I hate to admit so why do they continue to pull this crap?

 

It's a game of inches.

Better grip, touch, accuracy and catchability could have saved incompletions, drops, fumbles, conversions, scoring drives, touchdowns vs fieldgoals, and ultimately games.

In short: Yes, in theory.

 

How about this: Let's allow MLB pitchers to scuff up the ball any way they like and give hitters the option to cork their bats.

While we're at it, I think we should allow hockey players to curve their sticks and Goaltenders to wear any size gloves and pads they desire.

But how about this: Just play the ****ing game with the rules that are in place. Is that so hard?

And yes, I think the Dolphins make the playoffs with deflated balls.

 

There's going to be that sort of athletic "Darwinism" with regard to lots of elements of the game, though. The amount of space between the uprights in the goalposts for example favors some kinds of kickers over others. The width of the field favors some QBs' arm strengths over others. The game is what it is. The league even mandates, for example, that when one team's coaches' headsets malfunction on the sideline, the other team's coaches have to remove theirs. That uniformity makes the game what it is. What if Chad Pennington for example made a plea to shorten the field to 60 yards when he had the ball, by virtue of his weaker arm strength? Should that be taken seriously?

 

Because it's the difference between good execution, and near mistake-free execution offensively.

A checkdown master like Brady always appears throw a highly catchable ball and never hesitates to lambaste his backs for easy drops. They really have no excuse, it's not like it's gonna bounce any more than any other ball.

Their offense is good under normal circumstances. But it's historically prolific under perfect circumstances with little things like this over time.

 

Tannehill is a power thrower.

Deflated balls would have added velocity and distance to his throws. SO yeah...maybe they win one more game, and then they play with more urgency down the stretch.

 

Short answer..... Not with this coaching staff.

 

I Said yes, but that was after having the benefit of some info from Sec and how it really does make a difference. I think since 17 is a power thrower, softer balls might be a tad easier to catch by receivers. So.. Yeh maybe we hit some big passes that swing momentum. We were close enough at times, that small things could make a difference. Small thing certainly make a difference in playoff games.

 

Nope, the Dolphins are merely a mediocre team whether they cheat or not.

The lack of talent and poor coaching would override any advantage the Dolphins might gain from cheating.

 

The question is, does it improve his accuracy as well? Since he doesn't have to force his throws as much? If the answer to that is yes, then I think the answer to the question is obviously yes. How much more efficient would a Tannehill-to-Wallace combination be if they could both have an easier time catching and throwing? It's not outside the realm of possibility to see a situation where this team finishes at 10-6, makes it into the playoffs, and who knows what happens from there.

 

absolutely, if everyone isn't doing it to their liking then its def cheating..but these guys get to play with their balls way before the game starts..

 

Running extra practices like the Seahawks were doing probably would have helped us more than deflated balls.

 

hmmmm...good points...

 

What is the point of such a question? Seems like you are suggesting that even if the Pats hadn't deflated the balls, their record would still be the same. Obviously, we do not know the answer to that or your question. It is pretty much speculation.

 

Cheating is cheating but the punishment should fit the crime. In hockey its a 2 minute minor if you're caught using illegal equipment, the equivalent to that would probably be a 15 yard penalty in the NFL. I would say that, if caught during the game, and maybe losing a 7th round pick would be sufficient punishment. Lopping Belichick's head off is going a bit too far.

 

Sure they couldve. Bottom line is the patriots organization has cemented itself as cheaters. If the league had any honor it would have stripped the patriots of their super bowl against the rams. They are an organization that tries to break the rules on annual level it seems like. Regardless of what apologists for that team say, I want to win our super bowls honestly

 

Is it cheating if, the Patriots inflated the balls in a room that was warm/hot. Immediately brought it to the officials who weighed it, and then the balls deflated in 50F weather? That's something Bill would do.

 

Why just that one?

 

They wouldn't deflate by 2 PSI with a temperature change like that. I know you didn't specify the upper range on the heated room, but there is a limit on that, and you'd have to get into theoretical ranges to get the change to be so large.

 

I don't think so

 

Absolutely 100%, they would have won the division easily! It can't be proven otherwise.

 

Are you kidding. We are such a poorly run organization that if we did cheat we would robocall season ticket holders to tell them and display how on the jumbotron. Then in our post game press conference we would tell everyone how we need to do a better job cheating.

 

It does add accuracy in the sense that a power thrower such as Tannehill would have more control of his passes because he would have increased Velocity.

 

BTW, it was mentioned in the thread...so some explanation is needed:

There are "Power Throwers", and "Feel Throwers".

Romo, Rodgers, Rivers, Flacco, Peyton are Feel Throwers...

Brady, Tannehill, Brees, Eli, etc...are Power Throwers....

A "Feel Thrower" usually has large hands, and uses body torque and feet placement to throw the ball, striding text book through the follow through and finish of the release, and their grip is usually spread with the index finger elevated and pinkie, soft on the laces.

A "Power Thrower" throws by planting and creating torque by applying pressure on the Quads, more than feet placement, the Power Thrower pulls the ball through and pushes off the plant foot. The grip is usually tight all across the ball.

The Power Thrower usually throws a tighter spiral.