Top 10 Best Twitter Photos And Memes From Patriots #DeflateGate

PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) - The NFL says its investigation into whether the New England Patriots used under-inflated footballs in the AFC championship game is ongoing after a report Tuesday night claimed the league found 11 balls were not properly inflated.

Troy Vincent, the NFL's executive vice president for football operations, told The Associated Press that the "investigation is currently underway and we're still awaiting findings."

Vincent was responding to an ESPN report that cited anonymous league sources saying 11 of the Patriots' 12 allotted game footballs were under-inflated by 2 pounds per square inch of air. ESPN did not say how that occurred.

Vincent said earlier Tuesday he expected the probe to be concluded by the end of the week. The last thing the NFL wants after a difficult season off the field is a potential cheating scandal that disrupts Super Bowl week. New England faces Seattle on Feb. 1 in Glendale, Arizona.

The Patriots, who beat Indianapolis 45-7 for the AFC title, said they were cooperating with the league, and a Seahawks spokesman said the team would defer to the league on the matter.

The NFL began looking into the issue not only because doctoring the footballs could provide a competitive advantage, but because it would compromise the integrity of the game.

Deflating a football can change the way it's gripped by a player or the way it travels through the air. Some quarterbacks and receivers prefer balls with less air or more air than the standard.

Under NFL rules, each team provides balls each game for use when its offense is on the field. The balls are inspected before the game by the officiating crew, then handled during the game by personnel provided by the home team.

Social media responses were quick late Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning.

"11 of 12 balls under-inflated can anyone spell cheating!!! #Just Saying" was the tweet from Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice.

"So we get to play the game again or nah? -" tweeted Colts cornerback Darius Butler.

Twitter is also full of pictures, memes, etc. showcasing the best of #DeflateGate.

Behold, our Top 10 Best Twitter Photos And Memes From Patriots #DeflateGate

1. Krispy Kreme is an official sponsor of the Patriots, but that didn't stop them from taking a shot.

2. Check out these cookies being sold at Boston Common Coffee.

3. Who can forget Nerf Turbo Screamers?

4. Patriots Tight End Rob Gronkowski had to jump in on the fun, he says this is why the balls were deflated.

5. Just ask the Michelin Man... Inflation matters.

6. Late for work? Here's your next excuse:

7. Retailer Bed Bath and Beyond is offering to help you get ready for the big game.

8. Might not have been the best time to post this photo NFL.

9. You're right... Bill was a cute kid.

10. Nothing else to say here but... ouch.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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• Bill Belichick
• Football
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• Indianapolis Colts
• Tom Brady
• New England Patriots
• deflategate
• Twitter