Yes, I'm still reading through the Wells report. Other than the fact that they keep repeating themselves in order to make it longer, it is an easy read. For those who haven't read it, or possibly glossed over pages 40 and 41, I want to point out a rather obvious illegal ball tampering situation that the Wells report has clearly laid out for everyone to see, yet I haven't heard any mention of it.
The following is copied directly from page 40 (page 36 at bottom of page) of the report:
Pre-Game Review of Footballs by NFL Game Officials3.Section 15 of the 2014 NFL Referee Manual describes in greater detail the process for the delivery and inspection of footballs prior to an NFL game:
Each team is allowed to use their own footballs on normal scrimmage downs. At 2 hours and 15 minutes prior to kickoff, each team will deliver 12 prepared game balls. There is no limit to the number of previous marks by other referees as long as the ball has the qualities of a new or nearly new ball. The balls should be checked for proper inflation and marked with your stamp/mark. If the footballs are delivered to you with a pressure between 12 ½ and 13 ½ pounds, you should not adjust the pressure, as that is the preference of that team‟s QB. If the pressure is below 12 ½, inflate the ball to 12 ½ and if above 13 ½ deflate the ball to that pressure. Best to mark each team‟s balls with a different colored pen on the laces so that they may be easily identified on the field. Do not mark the 12 reserve game balls unless they become needed later in the game.12
Pre-Game Review of Footballs by NFL Game Officials3.Section 15 of the 2014 NFL Referee Manual describes in greater detail the process for the delivery and inspection of footballs prior to an NFL game:
Each team is allowed to use their own footballs on normal scrimmage downs. At 2 hours and 15 minutes prior to kickoff, each team will deliver 12 prepared game balls. There is no limit to the number of previous marks by other referees as long as the ball has the qualities of a new or nearly new ball. The balls should be checked for proper inflation and marked with your stamp/mark. If the footballs are delivered to you with a pressure between 12 ½ and 13 ½ pounds, you should not adjust the pressure, as that is the preference of that team‟s QB. If the pressure is below 12 ½, inflate the ball to 12 ½ and if above 13 ½ deflate the ball to that pressure. Best to mark each team‟s balls with a different colored pen on the laces so that they may be easily identified on the field. Do not mark the 12 reserve game balls unless they become needed later in the game.12
With that being the official process for referees to go by, how is it that this information is shared on the top of the next page and nobody is saying anything.
Most officials reported that they use digital gauges supplied by Wilson to the NFL. Others have used gauges that they have purchased or otherwise obtained on their own. In addition, some officiating crews adjust the air pressure in a game ball only if they determine that it has been set outside of the permissible range, while others may set the pressure of each football to 13.0 psi, regardless of where the balls are initially set by the team, to provide consistency.
In other words, it is completely okay if the umpire crew disregards the rules as they are written. Hmmm. Maybe a memo is in order.
Most officials reported that they use digital gauges supplied by Wilson to the NFL. Others have used gauges that they have purchased or otherwise obtained on their own. In addition, some officiating crews adjust the air pressure in a game ball only if they determine that it has been set outside of the permissible range, while others may set the pressure of each football to 13.0 psi, regardless of where the balls are initially set by the team, to provide consistency.
In other words, it is completely okay if the umpire crew disregards the rules as they are written. Hmmm. Maybe a memo is in order.
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