#DeflateGate

Overview

#DeflateGate refers to the controversy surrounding the New England Patriots’ alleged use of deflated footballs towards the team’s advantage during their American Football Conference (AFC) Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts in January 2015. The accusations of foul play has prompted an investigation from the National Football League (NFL).

Background

On January 18th, 2015, the New England Patriots won a landslide victory (45-7) against their long-time rival team Indianapolis Colts at one of the two conference championship games that determine which two teams will complete at the upcoming Super Bowl XLIX on February 1st. With their victory, the New England Patriots secured their place at the annual NFL championship game, along with the defending champions Seattle Seahwks. The following day, the Indiana news site WTHR^[1] reported that a source inside the NFL revealed the Patriots were being investigated for intentionally deflating footballs during the game to gain a competitive advantage over the Colts. While the measurement of the pressure of the ball used in the game remains unknown, the pressure of the regulatory-compliant football must be within the range of 12.5 to 13.5 pounds per square inch and weight between 14 and 15 ounces.

Notable Developments

On Twitter

On January 19th, sports columnist Bob Glauber tweeted^[3] that NFL spokesman Michael Signora confirmed that the Patriots were being investigated (shown below).

That day, many Twitter users posted jokes and photoshopped images mocking the investigation with the hashtag #DeflateGate, including CBS Sports radio host Jim Rome,^[4] Bleacher Report writer Tyler Brooke^[5] and the retail store chain Bed Bath & Beyond^[6] (shown below). According to the Twitter analytics site Topsy,^[2] the hashtag was tweeted over 7,800 times in the first 24 hours.

Patriots’ Reaction

Also on January 19th, the Boston Herald^[7] reported that Patriots coach Bill Belichick announced the team was cooperating with the NFL’s investigation but had no knowledge of deflated footballs prior to that morning. Meanwhile, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady called the accusations “ridiculous” during an appearance on the Boston-based radio show Dennis and Callahan.^[8]

News Media Coverage

In the coming days, several news sites reported on the investigation and accompanying hashtag, including Fox Sports,^[9] Washington Post,^[10] Twitchy,^[11] Christian Science Monitor,^[12] Mashable^[13] and The Daily What.^[14]