Ravens warned Colts about Patriots tampering with footballs
The Ravens warned the Colts about the Patriots deflating footballs and the Colts told the league.
By
Will Brinson
•
2 min read
So now we know how Ryan Grigson got tipped off to the Patriots allegedly deflating footballs. Emails included in the Tom Brady lawsuit -- full details here -- confirm it was the Ravens (with a candlestick, in the study) who tipped off the Colts.
Leading up to the AFC Championship Game, Colts equipment manager Sean Sullivan emailed GM Ryan Grigson about what the staff had heard. Sullivan also said it was "well known around the league" that the Patriots tamper with footballs.
"Two concerns came up as of yesterday on footballs at New England. First off the special teams coordinator from the Baltimore Ravens called Coach Pagano and said that they had issues last week at the game that when they were kicking (Baltimore that is) they were given new footballs instead of the ones that were prepared correctly," Sullivan wrote. "We would like to use the footballs that I will break in (Balls 2, 4 and 6) so that we know that we are getting nothing that has been tampered with.
"As far as the game balls are concerned it is well known around the league that after the Patriots game balls are checked by the officials and brought out for game usage the ballboys for the patriots will let out some air with a ball needle because their quarterback likes a smaller football so he can grip it better, it would be great if someone would be able to check the air in the game balls the game goes on so they don’t get an illegal advantage. Thank you for your time."
Remember, Pagano was on the staff in Baltimore before taking the job in Indy. He's got plenty of friends there. One must be Jerry Rosburg, who's served as Special Teams Coordinator since arriving with John Harbaugh (he was promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2014).
Grigson asked league officials to give the Colts a "completely level playing field" and thanked them for being "vigilant stewards."
"Just another FYI below. Again, all the Indianapolis Colts want is a completely level playing field," Grigson wrote. "Thank you for being vigilant stewards of that not only for us but for the shield and overall integrity of the game."
Dave Gardi, Senior Vice President of Football Operations, replied to Grigson, telling him the league would make officials "aware."
"Mike will be at the game and will talk to the officials," Gardi wrote. "I believe our alternate official handles the footballs with the assistance of the ball boys. We will make them aware."
Grigson previously confirmed he alerted the league but didn't say how he knew. Now we know: it was the Ravens.
