Report: NFL Has 'Strong Person Of Interest' In Deflategate
(CBS) The NFL has a "strong person of interest" in its search for the perpetrator who deflated 11 of the 12 balls used by the Patriots in a win over the Colts in the AFC title game, Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reported Monday afternoon.
As crazy as that first sentence sounds, the controversy tabbed "Deflategate" has created a ruckus leading into Sunday's Super Bowl between New England and Seattle, and the NFL has been diligently investigating why the balls were deflated, making them easier to throw and handle.
The league has "zeroed in" on a locker room attendant who supposedly handled the balls after the officials did, then took them to another area before getting to the field, Glazer reported.
The NFL has video, Glazer reported, and is still investigating if any wrongdoing occurred on the attendant's end.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady have denied any wrongdoing.
"At no time was there any intent whatsoever to try to compromise the integrity of the game or to gain an advantage," Belichick said Saturday afternoon.
"Quite the opposite: We feel like we followed the rules of the game to the letter. We try to do everything right. We err on the side of caution. It's been that way now for many years. Anything that's close, we stay as far away from the line as we can."