ESPN, NFL Listed As Sources For Graphic On Weather Effects On Football - Including PSI
By Matt Dolloff
BOSTON (CBS) -- The NFL has not commented on their plans to test the air pressure of the footballs before any of the four Wild Card games this weekend. The game in Minneapolis between the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks, which is expected to be played in close to sub-zero temperatures, would be a perfect opportunity to see exactly how the weather might affect the PSI in the footballs.
Except anyone with a brain, or anyone who has been paying attention to countless scientists, already knows that the air pressure will drop below the legal limit by way of the Ideal Gas Law - and the Seattle Times put together this graphic to show what happens, along with many other aspects of the game that frigid weather can influence.
(Check out a full-size version of the graphic here.)
The graphic reads: "The ball will tighten when it's [in freezing temperatures]; its diameter will shrink by about 1/20th of an inch; air pressure in the ball drops by 20 percent, from 13.5 pounds per square inch to 11 pounds." It also mentions that field goal accuracy drops by about 1.7 percent and punts travel 3 yards shorter on average.
There are other interesting stats in the graphic, such as reaction time decreasing by as much as 45 percent and grip strength being "cut in half." But, obviously, around here the most striking part of the graphic is the part about air pressure.
Hilariously, the NFL and ESPN are listed on the graphic as "sources." Really can't make this stuff up.
SEE ALSO: NFL Silent On Whether They Will 'Randomly' Test PSI At Frigid Seahawks – Vikings Game
Now, to be clear, I'm not saying that ESPN and the NFL provided the Seattle Times with any information on air pressure. That likely came from Wilson Sporting Goods Co., which is also listed as a source. Most of the actual statistics likely came from Weather Underground, AccuWeather, or weather.com. If I were to guess, I'd say ESPN and the NFL only provided them with information in the opening paragraph, which talks about the famous "Ice Bowl" that was played with the temp at -13 degrees.
Still, it's just hilarious to see the league and its unofficial mouthpiece slap their name (and, ostensibly, their stamp of approval) on a graphic that basically proves what the league claimed it didn't know before about air pressure in the footballs. It's now the 18th week of the NFL season, and there hasn't been so much as a single report of PSI numbers from any games that were subjected to the NFL's random testing.
The NFL and ESPN continue to look like bumbling idiots in the wake of the sham that was DeflateGate, its sloppy investigation; the irresponsible, needlessly venomous media coverage; and the league's egregious punishment of the Patriots. The Seattle Times has given us a documented example of their ignorance and incompetence.
Not that anyone outside of New England really cares about air pressure anymore - but you sure cared last year, didn't you? If you don't care anymore, then you're willing to admit that the air pressure could have dropped because of the weather, right? You're willing to admit that it didn't affect Brady or the Patriots one bit, right? You're willing to admit the whole thing was an overblown sham, right? Go ahead. I'm waiting.
Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
