In a bizarre incident during Sunday’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots, special teams footballs were found to be underinflated. The Patriots raised concerns about the softness of the “K-balls” used by punters and kickers, with the balls registering at 11 psi instead of the mandated 13.5 psi at halftime. This development brings back memories of the infamous Deflategate scandal involving the Patriots and Tom Brady in 2015.
Reports suggest that the Patriots kickers noticed something was amiss when the Chiefs’ Harrison Butker’s kick fell short of the usual distance. Following the complaint, the balls were checked and adjusted at halftime, leading to improved performance in the second half.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid claimed to be unaware of any issues and expressed his lack of concern over the matter. The Patriots have yet to comment on the situation, leaving fans and experts speculating on the potential repercussions.
Deflategate resulted in heavy penalties for the Patriots, including a $1 million fine, loss of draft picks, and a four-game suspension for Tom Brady. The scandal prompted the NFL to change its procedures, placing control of footballs solely in the hands of officials prior to games.
As the league investigates this latest incident, fans are left wondering if history is repeating itself or if this was an isolated incident. The controversy adds an unexpected twist to an already eventful game, leaving fans eagerly awaiting further updates.
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