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New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick says he had "no knowledge" about the controversy surrounding his team and deflated footballs.

"In my entire coaching career, I have never talked to any player or staff member about football air pressure," he said in an opening statement at a news conference today.

Belichick added that he had "no knowledge of this situation until Monday morning."


That was the morning after the Patriots 

 the Indianapolis Colts, 45-7. Soon after that win, Bob Kravitz of Indiana's 

 tweeted: "A league source tells me the NFL is investigating the possibility the Patriots deflated footballs Sunday night."


Two days later, ESPN quoted anonymous sources within the NFL saying 11 of the Patriots' 12 footballs in the AFC championship game were underinflated by 2 pounds per square inch.

Troy Vincent, the NFL's executive vice president for football operations, told The Associated Press the league was awaiting the findings of an investigation.


Does any of this matter? NPR's Geoff Brumfiel reported that the answer to that question is 

The controversy has been dubbed "Ballgate" or "Deflategate," which NPR's Chappell pointed out echoes "the infamous 'Spygate' episode of 2007, when the Patriots and coach Bill Belichick were found to have videotaped the New York Jets' signals.

"The spying incident resulted in the NFL stripping the Patriots of a first-round draft pick and fining Belichick," Bill reported.

Sports

Krishnadev Calamur

Author

"In my entire coaching career, I have never talked to any player or staff member about football air pressure," Belichick said in an opening statement at a news conference Thursday.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick denies knowledge of deflated footballs

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