I find the Jets game situation very interesting, and no one has really tried to lay out what happened. I think the most plausible case was that the Pats submitted balls below the range initially, refs checked them, found them to be low, and just pumped some more air in them - way too much apparently. No other reason I can think of for the refs to pump them up (feel free to offer one!). From there, I suspect that McNally either let a little air out (per usual), but it was not enough, or maybe for some reason, McNally couldn't get his opportunity to deflate them. I can't think of any other reason that Brady would be upset with McNally, and why McNally (who, as official locker room attendant, remember, has NO responsibility to add or remove air from a football, EVER!) would be so defiantly angry for over a week(!) at Brady in turn.
Brady did testify that after that game, they instructed the refs to adjust the balls to exactly 12.5.
From the report:
"For example, on October 17, 2014, following a Thursday night game between the
Patriots and the New York Jets during which Tom Brady complained angrily
about the inflation level of the game balls, McNally and Jastremski exchanged the
following text messages:
McNally:
Tom sucks...im going make that next ball a f**kin balloon
Jastremski:
Talked to him last night. He actually brought you up and
said you must have a lot of stress trying to get them done...
Jastremski:
I told him it was. He was right though...
Jastremski:
I checked some of the balls this morn... The refs f**ked
us...a few of then were at almost 16
Jastremski:
They didnt recheck then after they put air in them
McNally:
F**k tom ...16 is nothing...wait till next sunday
Jastremski:
Omg! Spaz
On October 21, 2014, McNally and Jastremski exchanged the following text
messages:
McNally:
Make sure you blow up the ball to look like a rugby ball so
tom can get used to it before sunday
Jastremski:
Omg
On October 23, 2014, three days before a Sunday game against the Chicago
Bears, Jastremski and McNally exchanged the following messages:
Jastremski:
Can‟t wait to give you your needle this week
McNally:
Fuck tom....make sure the pump is attached to the
needle.....f**kin watermelons coming
Jastremski:
So angry
McNally:
The only thing deflating sun..is his passing rating
The next day, October 24, 2014, Jastremski and McNally exchanged the
following messages:
Jastremski:
I have a big needle for u this week
McNally:
Better be surrounded by cash and newkicks....or its a rugby
sunday
McNally:
F**k tom
Jastremski:
Maybe u will have some nice size 11s in ur locker
McNally:
Tom must really be working your balls hard this week
On October 25, 2014, McNally and Jastremski exchanged the following
messages:
Jastremski:
Size 11?
Jastremski:
2 or 3X?
McNally:
Tom must really be on you
McNally:
11 0r 11 half......2x unless its tight fitting
Jastremski:
Nah. Hasn‟t even mentioned it, figured u should get
something since he gives u nothing"