NFL Rule 2, Section 1 says: “The Ball must be a “Wilson,” hand selected, bearing the signature of the Commissioner of the League, Roger Goodell. The ball shall be made up of an inflated (12 1/2 to 13 1/2 pounds) urethane bladder enclosed in a pebble grained, leather case (natural tan color) without corrugations of any kind. It shall have the form of a prolate spheroid and the size and weight shall be: long axis, 11 to 11 1/4 inches; long circumference, 28 to 28 1/2 inches; short circumference, 21 to 21 1/4 inches; weight, 14 to 15 ounces.

“The Referee shall be the sole judge as to whether all balls offered for play comply with these specifications.”

It also states that a pump is to be furnished by the home club, and “the balls shall remain under the supervision of the Referee until they are delivered to the ball attendant just prior to the start of the game,” not two months prior, but just before the kickoff.

Another point, if the Patriots intentionally deflated the footballs, the aerodynamic drag would increase, lessening the distance you could throw, punt, or kick a field goal. That would hinder, not aid, the offense.

Deflategate is nothing more than an unwitting publicity stunt by the NFL and is injuring the reputation of the greatest quarterback in history.

Carmen Chimento

Brookline