The Colts Equipment Manager Realized The Balls Were "Deflated" After D'Qwell Jackson's Interception In The Second Quarter And Issued A Complaint

NEW YORK —Sources tell SportsCenter 5’s Mike Lynch that D’Qwell Jackson, of the Indianapolis Colts, intercepted a pass before the end of the first half of the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots Sunday night and told his equipment manager that the ball felt under-inflated, leading to the so-called ‘deflategate’ controversy. According to sources, the equipment manager then informed the Colts’ head coach, Chuck Pagano, who then informed the team’s general manager, Ryan Grigson. Grigson then called the National Football League’s director of field operations, who then called the locker room and spoke with the officials on the field at halftime. During the first play coming back from halftime, there was a delay to the game while official changed the football being used on the field. Sources told Lynch that several footballs were taken out of play during the game Sunday night, but that’s not unusual and there have been times in previous games that officials have changed footballs during play due to factors such as air temperature changed that cause the ball to over or under inflate. The NFL said it is now investigating the Patriots because of the complaint that was made. “We are looking into it,” league spokesman Brian McCarthy wrote in an email to The Associated Press on Monday. “We do not have anything further to add at this point.”

Fantastic. So, if I’m reading this correctly, and I’m not intelligent so I may not be, then the improper balls were discovered in the 2nd quarter then the officials were notified at halftime and the ball was changed out at the first play of the third. Let’s see how that worked out…

So if we’re to assume that the officials who touch the ball every single play we’re too dumb to notice, as was every other Colts player who may have touched a loose ball during the first half, and the Patriots did in fact let a little air out of the ball… then I guess we owe D’Qwell and Pagano a debt of gratitude? Clearly the softer balls were a pretty big hindrance. I mean, we were only up 2 Scores at half. It was a real nail biter. Luckily, once we were made aware that some of the air was unfortunately missing from our balls and were provided with the proper tools then the offense was able to really start firing on all cylinders. Really appreciate that, Chuck. Owe you one. We’ll send you a thank you card from Glendale.