Q: The referees touch the football before ever play, so how did they fail to notice that the balls Tom Brady and the Patriots were using were deflated? Were they questioned? What responsibility lies with them?
—Mary Walsh, Brookhaven
A: NFL officiating director Dean Blandino said in January that the referees followed league procedure during the AFC Championship game between New England and the Indianapolis Colts.
The league found that 10 of the 12 balls used by the Patriots in that game were found to be at 11.5 PSI, not the required range of 12.5 to 13.5.
Referees don’t write down the pregame weights of the footballs.
“If someone just tossed you the ball, especially in 20-degree weather, you’re going to pretty much play with the ball,” NFL referee Bill Vinovich said at a Super Bowl XLIX news conference. “They are going to be hard. You’re not going to notice the difference.”
A NFL employee was fired, New England quarterback Tom Brady was suspended four games, and the Patriots were fined $1 million and lost two draft picks for their role in what is known as “Deflategate.”
Q: Will Atlanta Public Schools sue to get the very large bonuses that Beverly Hall received?
—Jeanne McQuillan, Decatur
A: Hall's $544,472 in bonuses were spread out over the 12 years – 1999-2011 — she was superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools. APS officials said early in the cheating scandal that she hadn't repaid the money and there weren't plans to ask for her to return it. An APS spokeswoman reiterated that in a recent email to Q&A on the News.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
About the Author
