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Lot # 866: "Deflategate" Game Used Football (NFL Referee Provenance)

Category: Football

Starting Bid: $1,500.00

Bids: 4 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Summer Classic 2022",
which ran from 8/28/2022 7:00 PM to
9/17/2022 10:00 PM



A part of NFL history is offered in the opportunity to possess a game used football from the famous "Deflategate" game on January 18, 2015. The game was for the AFC Championship, and it pitted the home New England Patriots against the Indianapolis Colts at the Patriots' home field, Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. According to NFL rules at the time, each team was to supply a dozen NFL footballs each inflated to between 12.5 pounds per square inch (PSI) and 13.5 pounds PSI. To make a very long story short, there were allegations by the Colts during the first half that the Patriots had deflated the footballs to below the required minimum. Why? Footballs with less pressure are easier to handle, throw, and catch. The game officials did some testing of the footballs at halftime. The game resumed and the Patriots, who had held at 17-7 lead at halftime, went on to defeat Indianapolis 47-7, with Brady's passing statistics for the game at 23-35, for 226 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. After much litigation, the NFL suspended Brady for four games in the 2016 season and fined the Patriots a million dollars and took away New England's First Round draft pick in 2016 and the team's Fourth Round pick in 2017. After the U.S. District Court vacated the judgment of a lower court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reinstated the judgment. This court decision cited email evidence that well before the "Deflategate" game a Patriots locker room employee referred to himself as "The Deflator," as well as evidence that Brady was at least aware of the deflation actions. Thus, Brady sat out the first four games of the 2016 season. The Patriots went on to win the Super Bowl at the end of the 2016 season, and Tom Brady went on to be the consensus pro football Greatest of All Time, the GOAT. Before the AFC Championship Game, this football was provided by the Colts. It shows great use with white spots throughout that can be seen on other balls used in the game (via Getty images). In addition, the ball has exactly the same handwritten wave mark above the "The Duke" stamp on the panel with the large NFL gold logo as the Patriots' Deflategate ball we sold in 2015. The consignor was gifted the ball by a close friend who was one of the NFL officials who officiated the game. Possessing this football means a chance to own and display this keepsake of one of the most memorable stories in the annals of professional football.

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