The Bernstein Brief: Patriots 'Scandal' Just Not Compelling
By Dan Bernstein-
CBSChicago.com senior columnist
(CBS) Patriots coach Bill Belichick pushed the responsibility onto Tom Brady, and later today Brady will either similarly claim ignorance, admit to doctoring the balls himself or indicate how it might have happened.
The news of New England deflating footballs is all silly play-acting now, and it's not even particularly interesting.
Belichick is obviously lying, as detail-oriented a coach who has ever done the job. Brady has some involvment, no matter what he says. All teams prepare their footballs to the preference of the quarterback, or so we have now learned.
Why the NFL lets teams doctor the balls they use on offense is a question, one that will probably result in new standardization soon. But it points to an unspoken understanding about certain unwritten rules regarding such customization. The Packers' Aaron Rodgers has been open about liking an over-inflated ball, telling CBS that he'll "push the limits" to get the grip he likes. Our own Patrick Mannelly told us yesterday about how he directed the Bears' ball-scuffers to create certain textures in preferred areas for better long-snapping.
So this will end predictably with a public shaming and some kind of punishment, as well as overheated calls for justice. And then we'll get back to the game.
Football is more interesting than footballs.
Dan Bernstein is a co-host of 670 The Score's "Boers and Bernstein Show" in afternoon drive. Follow him on Twitter @dan_bernstein and read more of his columns here.