The New England Patriots are being accused of cheating after it was revealed that 11 of 12 of the team’s footballs were deflated by about two pounds during the AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts.
But, former four-time Super Bowl winner Terry Bradshaw—in his 2002 book “It’s Only A Game”—said that deflating balls was a common practice until at least 2000.
“Some teams—who were not the Steelers—after the officials had checked and approved the game balls, would let out a couple of pound of air to make it easier for the quarterback to grip it. A little less air would make the ball spongier. It was what might be called a perceived advantage—both teams played with the same ball,” the legendary Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback wrote.
Photo Illustration by Rob Counts | Thomas Northcut/Digital Vision/Thinkstock
