With the lid reportedly opened on “DeflateGate,” more NFL teams are coming out of the woodwork.
Some Baltimore Ravens players believe the kicking balls used during their AFC divisional-round playoff loss to the New England Patriots were “slightly under-inflated,” league sources told CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora on Tuesday night. WTHR-TV’s Bob Kravitz, who broke the “DeflateGate” story Sunday night, confirmed La Canfora’s report.
La Canfora reported the Ravens’ kickers and punters believed they weren’t getting their usual depth and distance on kicks and that the deflated balls could have been the reason why. Ravens kicker Justin Tucker made a 25-yarder in his only field-goal attempt, and punter Sam Koch averaged 50.3 yards per punt (four for 201 yards).
An NFL spokesman said he had no knowledge of the Ravens filing a complaint after the game, according to La Canfora.
NFL rules stipulate that eight footballs are shipped directly from the manufacturer in a special box and are used exclusively in the kicking game by both teams.
The news came immediately after a report from ESPN’s Chris Mortenson claiming the NFL found that 11 of New England’s 12 game balls in its AFC Championship Game win over the Indianapolis Colts were under-inflated.
