Deflation Issues

From the "Official Rules of the NFL":

"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 1/2-13 1/2 pounds) urethane bladder enclosed in a pebble-grained, leather case (natural tan color) without corrugation 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.

A pump is to be furnished by the home club, and balls shall remain with and be returned to the ball attendant prior to the start of the game by the Referee.

In the event a home-team ball does not conform to specifications, or its supply is exhausted, the Referee shall secure a proper ball from visitors and, failing that, use the best available ball. Any such circumstances must be reported to the Commissioner."

Too much has been made of this stupid issue already. The fact that such a brouhaha has been raised over this is what bothers me the most. The fact that everyone has been skipping some significant issues is bothering me nearly as much. If the pressure of a football was such a serious issue, why is there a statement in the official rules stating that the Referee may use the "best available ball" if none conform to specifications. As long as it is reported to the Commissioner. Considering the commotion caused over a few fractions of psi one would think that the world would stop spinning before an under-inflated football is used in an NFL game. Yet, there's a statement straight from the rules that says that it's actually OK at times. Not only that. If under-inflated footballs are used in an NFL game it's entirely the fault of the Referee. It's his call as to which footballs are used. If the New England Patriots, or anyone, are introducing sketchy footballs into a game, it's up to the Referee to keep that from happening. The whole matter is ridiculous.

No one, that I'm aware, has asked how we arrived at a pressure of 12 1/2-13 1/2 psi for a regulation NFL football. Well, the NFL arrived at that specification back in 1934. A lot has changed in the last 80 years. Including those NFL footballs. An NFL football in 1934 was 21 1/4 to 21 1/2 inches. Slightly bigger than today's football. And, Wilson didn't make it. Chicago Bears owner George Halas didn't introduce the NFL and Wilson until 1940. Basically, there is really no reason now for that pressure range other than that's what it's been since 1934. There was no scientific study. It's not suggested by the manufacturer because the manufacturer then isn't manufacturing the footballs now. Carr, Halas, Mara, Marshall, Bell, Rooney, and the rest of the guys simply pumped up a football, tossed and kicked it around, and called it a good football. They wrote the new football's physical numbers in a book. No one has changed the acceptable psi since. It's remained the same through 80 years of changes, including the manufacturer of the football. Damn near everything about the game has changed except for the number of players on the field and the pressure of the football since 1934. With the apparent importance placed on the proper psi now one would think that someone would have looked into what makes a perfectly inflated football. And perfectly inflated for whom? It's a very subjective matter. The whole matter is ridiculous.

It's an arbitrary rule that's based more on tradition than function. The New England Patriots gained no competitive advantage. This whole matter is ridiculous.