Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay might not be focused on Deflategate ahead of his team’s Week 6 matchup against the New England Patriots, but there is a different controversy he’s bringing up.
Irsay addressed all things Patriots-Colts during an interview with WHTR’s Bob Kravitz before Sunday’s game, including Deflategate.
“Our focus isn’t even there at all, but you’re always looking at having a competitive playing field,’’ Irsay told Kravitz. “I remember in Peyton (Manning’s) day, there was an unnamed team (the Patriots), we were running the no huddle and the team we were playing was faking injuries to slow us down.
“And we were complaining to the league about that. But honestly, the rest of it, it’s not even in the back of our mind. Look, (Patriots owner) Bob Kraft is a great friend, a great partner and a great owner. Brady is great and a world champion. What Bill (Belichick) does is amazing.”
Irsay appeared to be referencing a 2003 matchup between the two rivals when Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest suffered an apparent injury. New England didn’t have any timeouts remaining, so the injury stoppage gave the team a breather. A few plays later, McGinest came up with a big play on defense, and that led some to accuse the linebacker of faking an injury.
Irsay did send a few compliments Belichick’s way, though.
“About four years ago, I sent (Belichick) a division championship ring from the team he was on, the 1975 Colts, sent him a ring and a note,” Irsay said. “I have a lot of respect for those guys, love the rivalry, love what it’s been, even going back to when (Drew) Bledsoe got hurt and this guy Brady was coming in against our Jim Mora-coached team and we had no idea. We got annihilated. We didn’t know this was something that was really special that would last for decades.
“And to see Bill (Belichick) continue to coach for so many decades, he’s so mentally tough and he’s not slowing down with as much as he puts into it. You see guys like Bill Cowher and Tony Dungy, they take a step back, there’s so much pressure, so I commend his mental focus and his ability to stay on top of things year after year after year. So it’s going to be a challenge Sunday. We haven’t been competitive against their team and we know that.”
H/t WEEI.com
Thumbnail photo via Brian Spurlock/USA TODAY Sports Images
