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If you haven't yet read the Wells Report, which is the result of the DeflateGate investigation, you can do so right here. The basic summary of the investigation can be laid out on page two:
In particular, we have concluded that it is more probable than not that Jim McNally (the Officials Locker Room attendant for the Patriots) and John Jastremski (an equipment assistant for the Patriots) participated in a deliberate effort to release air from Patriots game balls after the balls were examined by the referee. Based on the evidence, it also is our view that it is more probable than not that Tom Brady (the quarterback for the Patriots) was at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities of McNally and Jastremski involving the release of air from Patriots game balls.
Two Patriots employees deliberately took the air of the balls and Tom Brady was likely aware of what was going on. While I did read this excellent post against DeflateGate from Pats Pulpit, I do believe there was some sort of cheating going on here. How much did it matter? I have no idea.
I remember something similar to this. Not deflating footballs but something deceptive. I bring you back to January 1998, the year of Gannon vs. Grbac. The Chiefs are playing the Broncos in the AFC Divisional round at Arrowhead Stadium.
In a 1998 playoff game at Kansas City, Schlereth and his fellow linemen coated their arms and the backs of their jerseys in Vaseline. The Chiefs' defenders couldn't grab onto the slimy Broncos and quickly complained to officials. It was quite a scene, Schlereth recalls, as officials used towels on the sidelines to wipe down the oily visitors in a game Denver would ultimately win, 14-10, on its way to a Super Bowl triumph.
You know what a 1998 Rocky Mountain News article called this? SlimeGate!
So I ask you, which form of cheating is worse: Vaseline or deflation?