FOXBORO, Mass. — If the New England Patriots were deflating footballs Sunday night, then head coach Bill Belichick knows nothing about it.
Belichick said the Patriots will cooperate with the NFL in their investigation into the claim. A league spokesman confirmed to NESN.com Monday that the NFL is looking into the matter.
The Patriots beat the Indianapolis Colts 45-7 in the AFC Championship Game, vaulting them into Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Feb. 1. Sunday night was rainy and cold in Foxboro, and a deflated ball could give players better grip.
Check out Belichick’s statement on the report from a conference call with the media Monday:
What’s your response to the report on deflated footballs?
“We’ll cooperate fully with whatever the league wants us to — whatever questions they ask us, whatever they want us to do.”
Did you know as the game was going on last night that there was potentially an issue?
“No, I didn’t know anything about it until this morning.”
What do you think about the topic and if that could potentially be an advantage for a team?
“You’re asking the questions, I’m just trying to answer them.”
Were the Patriots using deflated footballs?
“I just said, the first time I heard about it was this morning. Whatever they need from the league, that’s what we’ll do.”
Thumbnail photo via Elise Amendola/Associated Press
