If the Pats hadn't scored more points with properly inflated balls in the second half, there might be a cheating issue. But if cheating is cheating, all players that get flagged for holding, clipping, or interference should be banned from the game. Consistency please.
Dude stop it. There is a difference between a penalty in a game (that the NFL has determined punishments for) and manipulating equipment to enhance performance. Corked bats = suspensions. Doctored baseballs = suspensions. PEDs = suspensions. Car not up to specs in NASCAR = suspensions. Wearing gold cleats = apparently suspensions. Doctoring footballs by the Patriots = "oh we'll have a look into it...hey look at that pretty butterfly over there"
Not much difference. If you hold a player, there is a penalty for violating the rules of the game. Testing positive for PEDs there is a penalty for violating the rules of the game. Having a football inflated outside the specs of the rule book, there is a penalty for violating the rules of the game.
The fine is $25,000, per ball that comes to $275,000 fine and it could be more.
I'm not positive, but the fine may actually be a straight $25k, not $25k per ball. Which would indict just how minor this infraction has traditionally been before this week. Marshawn Lynch was just fined $20k for making an obscene gesture (grabbing his crotch). If the fine for tampering with footballs is in fact only $5k more than that, wouldn't it possibly follow that this entire thing has been overblown to an absolutely absurd level?