And Back In Yemen

Was it really just four months ago that Obama was explaining (to bipartisan derision) that his new operation against ISIS would be modeled on our Big Success in Yemen?

Well, the government of Yemen has fallen and the country is splintered:

SANA, Yemen — The American-backed government of Yemen abruptly collapsed Thursday night, leaving the country leaderless as it is convulsed by an increasingly powerful force of pro-Iran rebels and a resurgent Qaeda.

The resignation of the president, prime minister and cabinet took American officials by surprise and heightened the risks that Yemen, the Arab world’s poorest country, would become even more of a breeding ground for Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which has claimed responsibility for audacious anti-Western attacks — including the deadly assault on Charlie Hebdo in Paris this month.

...

Charles Schmitz, an analyst with the Middle East Institute and an expert on the Houthis, said that of all Yemen’s many political crises, Thursday’s was among the worst yet.

“We’re looking at the de facto partitioning of the country and we’re heading into a long negotiating process but we could also be heading toward war,” he said.

Deep in the Silver Lining Briefing Book is the news that an Iranian backed rebel group hates the US but hates Al Qaeda even more, so Obama's got that going for him.

Although the Houthis, who are believed to be financed by Iran, are strongly anti-American, they are even stronger opponents of Al Qaeda. The Houthis are dominated by a Shiite Muslim sect, the Zaydis, while Al Qaeda is rabidly anti-Shiite.

While the Houthis now control the capital, Sana, and many parts of northern Yemen, Al Qaeda has been strongest in Sunni tribal areas in Yemen, and has used Sunni anger at the swift rise of the Houthis as an effective recruiting tool — particularly in oil-rich areas of eastern and southern Yemen.

So mark up your scorecards - we are counting in Iran to carry the fight in Iraq against ISIS as well as the fight against Al Qaeda in Yemen, even as we pretend to talk tough on ongoing sanctions (and we all deal with $50 oil). Great - the enemy of my enemy is my other enemy.

COMING SOON: I see John Kerry starring in 'The Bad, The Worse and the Stupid'.

Comments

[Captain Hate]

'correlation v. causation' what do the data prove, what do they only suggest, and what is spurious? Big difference.

It's not being correlated to anything. It's just a frequency chart.

[henry]

A report on the casino rejection. Note Walker bases his decision on protecting taxpayers due to a sweetheart deal his predecessor (Doyle, D-Chicago JV) set up.

Other dimensions: the Potawatomi keeping a monopoly vs the Menominee (those altruistic native americans at each others' throats); the Chamber of Cronies and Milwaukee vs development anywhere outside of Milwaukee (the existing Potawatomi casino is in Milwaukee), Racine and Kenosha pols who want to take credit for something also factor in.

[NKvirusedand back]

Porch-- I'll be honest here, I'll leave it to my wife to sort out the strength of correlation. A couple of semesters of college stats doesn't give me much firepower to figure stuff like that out.

[narciso]

had Brady said something like 'they might have been a little light, but I thought it was the cold weather' he would have some leeway, now he has none,

[Captain Hate]

It's not a lie if you believe it's true:

http://freebeacon.com/blog/hillary-clinton-is-george-costanza/

[narciso]

no she's more like Elaine,

[Stephanie De Nile is a river in Progtopia]

Anyone notice the Gillette #flexball logos behind Brady and Bellichick during their press conferences yesterday?

It's all a conspiracy by corporate sponsors!!!!!

[narciso]

in another brave front of Oceania:

http://20committee.com/2015/01/23/the-fate-of-ukraine/

[RickB]

I'm waiting for the National Thugs on Drugs to show up in black or white tights, capes and masks. The half time shows will start with the team captains biting the heads off live chickens. Everything in a sportsmanlike manner and according to rules of course.

OL,

How can we be numb when it remains unclear as to whether complete economic failure will be achieved in a catastrophic rather than graceful nature? Just because Japan is dying in a very languid manner does not mean that China, let alone EUtopia, will be able to expire gracefully.

[PDinDetroit]

Speaking of Bass Players...

Top 10 Rock Bassists

And, of course my favorite:

Geddy Lee - Rush

[Captain Hate]

Having been a constant critic of Johnny B and McTurtle, I have to commend them for inviting Netanyahu for both national and political strategic reasons. It's obviously got Zippy, Lurch and the Ferret more befuddled than usual and leaves the usual assassins like Schooomer without an obvious counter move.

Who had the ear of Top Men for this?

[narciso]

of course, now that they've disowned CAIR, thinkregress looks awkward

http://freebeacon.com/issues/caps-five-most-glowing-statements-about-its-arab-petro-state-donors/

[Neo]

If you bought a 1st or 2nd generation Microsoft Surface, you're hosed.

Surface devices running Windows RT will not be updated with a full version of Windows 10

[Thomas Collins]

The most likely case would seem to be, at least in my opinion, that Brady and the equipment manager had an understanding under which the equipment manager would have the balls deflated after ref inspection. It's plausible to me that Belichick didn't know about it.

Forgive me for not getting all excited about this. Cheating is rampant in sports. I realize that if what I think is the case is proven, Brady will have to be punished severely. But I really don't think that Belichick or Brady are outliers in terms of cheating. I think people make a bigger deal of it with the Patriots because the team has been so successful, and because Belichick comes across as an arrogant condescending a-hole most of the time.

[maryrose]

Thanks to everyone for their birthday wishes!
Saturday night is the big celebration.
I love it that Boehner and McConnell caught this WH with their pants down and no recourse in changing the dynamic of Netanyahu speaking to a joint session of Congress.
Checkmate Obama.

[henry]

Thanks PD, nice lunch interlude. ;)

[maryrose]

TC:
In my book if they cheated ,any victory is tainted.
Bring on March Madness.

[Appalled]

Captain:

Much of the reason Boehner spends so much time looking stupid is that he can't get his caucus to agree on anything. The abortion thing is the first time we have seen a moderate revolt.

[RickB]

CH,

I particularly admire the "no tip off" policy wrt Queen Botoxic and the Searchlight Pederast. It's something to remember as we listen to turtle talk regarding "bipartisan efforts".

[RickB]

CH,

I particularly admire the "no tip off" policy wrt Queen Botoxic and the Searchlight Pederast. It's something to remember as we listen to turtle talk regarding "bipartisan efforts".

[Captain Hate]

http://kissingsuzykolber.uproxx.com/2015/01/bill-belichick-took-some-air-out-of-a-football-the-new-pearl-harbor.html

[Captain Hate]

Rick, I am ready to embrace the NuGOPe if this is how they roll.

[Ignatz]

--the import of omega three fats in our diet to decrease inflamation--the root of all kinds of evil--

Allow me a testimonial, anonomom; my sarcoid from years back left me with a persistent cough which krill oil significantly reduces. Sarcoid is an auto immune disease which forms granulomas around pathogens in your body, especially lungs; kinda the definition of inflammation. Works wonders.

[lyle]

Shout to Eric and Publius on our emergency JOM meetup. What, you don't think 404 rudely invading our town didn't constitute an emergency? Hope to get together again soon.

Rothman:

Speaking to the center-left Israeli newspaper, one unnamed source said that congressional Republicans’ decision to invite Netanyahu to speak before an upcoming joint session was an affront to the dignity of the administration. When Netanyahu travels to the United States in March, he will not have the privilege of meeting with either President Barack Obama or Vice President Joe Biden. They will have their revenge against Netanyahu by completely yielding to him control of the national stage. That ought to show him.

Dignity? When has this joke of an administration ever had a shred of that? But, wait, it gets better. One of the punks in the WH had this to say to Haaretz

“We thought we’ve seen everything,” a senior American official said. “But Bibi managed to surprise even us. There are things you simply don’t do. He spat in our face publicly and that’s no way to behave. Netanyahu ought to remember that President Obama has a year and a half left to his presidency, and that there will be a price.”

Is wishing the Mossad would take out the WH a bad thing?

[Cecil Turner]

Syria, incidentally, has some very sophisticated air defense on the pro-Assad side, and very probably MANPADs on the ISIS side.

Syria is basically Iraq-lite on air defense, with substantial equipment and personnel degradation and understandably reluctant to invite anti-radiation missile counterfire from US air assets. Flying over Damascus might get dicey, but the rest of the country is essentially non-threat.

ISIS does have at least a few SA-7s, but the only confirmed downed jet was by AAA. (They claim to've shot down a Jordanian F-16 last month, but CENTCOM says it had a mechanical failure . . . who knows?) Hardly a major AD threat.

Again, not sure if the contention is that the A-10 is perfectly survivable on the modern battlefield and the only reason the Air Force wants to get rid of 'em is because they don't like CAS, but if so, it's wrong. And as soon as we face enemies who field second generation MANPADS (SA-14/16/18) in reasonable numbers, it'll get less so.

[Thomas Collins]

If what I suspect is confirmed before the Super Bowl, maryrose, and I were Goodell, I would impose no fines, no loss of draft choices and only a one game suspension for Brady. Which game? The one on February 1, 2015. That would send the message that cheating is taken seriously by Goodell.

[Ignatz]

TK Full Employment Act notification;

EXCLUSIVE: Marco Rubio Moves Toward 2016 Presidential Bid

[lyle]

Sorry to hear about the sarcoid, Ignatz. A few years ago I reuned with a jr. high buddy I had not seen in almost 40 years. He has it. I'd never heard of it. Glad to hear you've found a palliative.

[PDinDetroit]

"Surface devices running Windows RT will not be updated with a full version of Windows 10"

Neo - maybe what happened with the HP TouchPad, running webOS, will happen here. Android runs great on the HP TouchPads, I run Cyanogen Mod 9 on both of mine (I got them during the HP Internal "Fire Sale"). My mom loves the one I gave her and has stopped using her laptop completely.

[Captain Hate]

Much of the reason Boehner spends so much time looking stupid is that he can't get his caucus to agree on anything.

Welp part of that was also when he had his little buddy Eric arrange those quickie votes on big spending items that had more donk support than GOP. But I'm willing to overlook those in the spirit of COMITY if the NuGOPe continues on this new track.

[Captain Hate]

That would send the message that cheating is taken seriously by Goodell.

Oh TC, you're such a kidder.

[Dave (in MA)]

PD, a few weeks ago I upped mine to Cyanogenmod 10-something. It seems to work a lot better, but goes through the battery a lot faster for some reason. With 9 apps were always crashing if I tried to run more than 2 or 3 at a time.

[Dave (in MA)]

Though there is no way I would use it all the time instead of my laptop.

[Porchlight]

The most likely case would seem to be, at least in my opinion, that Brady and the equipment manager had an understanding under which the equipment manager would have the balls deflated after ref inspection. It's plausible to me that Belichick didn't know about it.

This is pretty much what I think although I think Belichick also knew.

Clearly Belichick was lying about not being aware until Monday morning that the balls were inspected and confiscated at halftime. Any coach would have been told, but Belichick is the ultimate micromanager and has already been fined half a million dollars for a previous cheating scandal and it's the AFC freaking championship. There is simply no way he didn't know.

So IMO if he's lying about that, he's probably lying about his knowledge of the ball deflation. Again, this isn't any old coach, this is Belichick.

Brady looked and acted guilty in his presser yesterday. He didn't even seem to have tried to establish the chain of custody of the balls - any innocent person would have done so immediately, to clear himself, and he had four days to do it.

They are just trying to get their stories straight and decide who in the organization is going to take the fall.

Unfortunately that football stats blog seems to be overwhelmed by traffic, but if anyone does get a chance to read it, you may be hard pressed to explain what's in it short of cheating.

[Captain Hate]

Thanks to everyone for their birthday wishes!
Saturday night is the big celebration.

Where? Grovewood? Fat Cats? Have you been to the relatively new plade, GiGi's, just down the street from me on Fairmount?

[Thomas Collins]

Whatever Goodell thinks, CH, if, say, The National Enquirer pays the equipment manager to sing, I don't think Goodell will have much choice other than to suspend Brady for the Super Bowl.

[jimmyk on iPhone]

TC, if cheating is commonplace, it's because it's hard to catch. All the more reason for a stiff penalty when caught. But no way will they suspend Brady for the SB. They'll never touch their biggest revenue day of the year.

[lyle]

The abortion thing is the first time we have seen a moderate revolt.

Moderate Republican = sides with the Dems

Moderate Dem = sides with the Dems

[Captain Hate]

Kraft runs a tighter ship than the Mob, Russian and domestic. Nobody's flipping.

[Thomas Collins]

It's a win win for Goodell, jimmyk. Goodell gets to act tough, and a Brady suspension would probably increase viewership for the Super Bowl.

And someone is going to make a fortune selling "I Deflate For Gisele" t-shirts and other paraphernalia.

[RickB]

CH,

The timing of the issuance of the Report of the Joint Select Committee on Democrat Corruption, Malfeasance and Treason is, IMO, the key to determining the viability of the GOP. I'm really hoping Lee is picked as chair, with Gowdy as vice-chair and July '16 is my target date for maximum effect.

I don't mind criticism of turtle talk targeted to the moderately stupid and I fully expect Orange Drank and McTurtle to continue to pet the points on the heads of the hopeless Muddle until spring of '16. We really need to remember there is minimal chance of Ol' Merde losing his Touch.

[Thomas Collins]

That's my sense, CH. But I still think there is a dollar amount that The National Enquirer could pay the equipment manager that might make him flip.

[Dave (in MA)]

And the usual suspects say it's cold weather, but fail to explain why the Colts balls didn't deflate at the same rate:

https://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2

The video there starts out with an assertion that D'Quell or however the F you spell it Jackson caught an INT and complained to the officials, something that D'Quell or however the F you spell it publicly denied yesterday.

"Physicist: Cold weather could have deflated Patriots’ footballs
The chair of Boston College’s physics department is backing up claims that cold weather could be the reason that some of the footballs used on the field Sunday evening during the New England Patriots’ 45-7 drubbing of the Indianapolis Colts may have been deflated."

Sure, if Indy inflated theirs in a 70 degree room and NE inflated theirs in a 90 degree room, and it was a lot colder than 50 outside, I can probably see that. The league is stupid for not supplying the footballs used in the game by both teams.

[Thomas Collins]

Now, I realize Brady and Kraft and Belichick may be harder to bring down to size than John Edwards. But if I'm Kraft and I get wind that The National Enquirer is digging into this, I'm sweating.

[Dave (in MA)]

I would be surprised if there are any penalties meted out until after the SB.

[Skoot]

Tommy Caldwell climbing 14c on the Dawn Wall where the only rule is ; if you think you can make it, go for it.

(if you watch the video you will notice Tommy lost most of his left index finger to a table saw accident about ten years ago.)

[Ignatz]

--Glad to hear you've found a palliative.--

Highly variable disease, lyle. Usually resolves itself, especially the acute version, but can kill you sometimes. Mine had come and gone by the time it was diagnosed and doesn't appear to be progressive [doc told me I didn't even need to see him anymore since my chest x-rays never changed] but 30-50% of people end up with some form of lung damage.

If it gets in your heart or brain you've got a serious problem. Bernie Mac died of complications of it; it's harder on blacks for whatever reason.

[Dave (in MA)]

I think we need a Senate investigation, if for none other reason than to see if Orrin Hatch likes to say "balls" over & over as much as he liked to say "penis" during the Thomas hearings.

[lyle]

TC, no sweating balls on JOM, please.

[Thomas Collins]

I suspect, Dave (in MA), that ball security for the Super Bowl is going to be tighter than what Homeland Security is providing to guard against a terrorist attack.

[Ignatz]

--but fail to explain why the Colts balls didn't deflate at the same rate--

Chinchilla lined cups.

[lyle]

If it gets in your heart or brain you've got a serious problem. Bernie Mac died of complications of it; it's harder on blacks for whatever reason.

Didn't it kill a black NFLer? Former Green Bay defensive lineman (Pro-Bowler) whose name escapes me right now.

[Thomas Collins]

OK, lyle. Only ice cold balls at JOM.

http://snowbrains.com/treat-scrotum-frozen-thigh/

[Dave (in MA)]

In my flipping around between stations on the way to work this morning, I heard 2 separate conspiracy theories that involved Baltimore trying to get back at NE for the ineligible receiver incident by sabotaging the footballs in the NE/Indy game and tipping off the officials. Both times the hosts hung up on them and ridiculed the callers.

[Ignatz]

It is more likely I will have Kate out of her street clothes and be juggling Upton puppies on Super Bowl Sunday than Roger-That keeps Brady in his street clothes.

[Ignatz]

Yeah, Reggie White.

[Thomas Collins]

Well, Ignatz, I can't respond to your 12:54 PM post. There is nothing I can say about inflation/deflation in the context of Kate Upton that won't get me into trouble!

[PDinDetroit]

Posted by: Dave (in MA) | January 23, 2015 at 12:36 PM

You may have an issue with the A6 Firmware needing to be reflashed. One of mine "bricked" because of Battery Life/Re-Charging Issues that I was able to fix with an A6 Firmware Reflash.

I used the Following Instructions to debrink mine.

It appears that the battery drain event may be a known issue within CM10: TouchPad Battery Drain issues & How Flashing A6 Firmware can help

The A6 Firmware Issues can cause a permanent "brick" issue for an HP Touchpad. PROCEED WITH CAUTION.

[lyle]

Reggie White. Thanks, it came to me just about a minute ago. Yay, I'm not losing my memory just yet.

[NKvirusedand back]

A lengthy comment I posted about the sports radio I listened to in the car between appointments this morning was eaten by Typhus. Bloomie actualy summarizes my post in this link. Phil Simms added that the ball prep rules changed after he retired to allow teams to rub up the balls before games to make them easier to throw and that has helped accuracy. In Phil's day, the refs took the balls out of their box and inflated them and they went straight into the game. They were hard and slick, and if he walked to the line of scrimmage and there was a brand new 'shiny' ball, he thought 'uh oh'. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-23/ex-nfl-quarterbacks-aren-t-buying-brady-s-denials-in-deflategate.html

[glasater]

A-10 video-

I'm going to be motating all day with AC/DC going around in my head :-)

[Thomas Collins]

An indication that Brady takes the suspension threat seriously is his total denial he articulated at his news conference. He is hoping to get through Feb. 1st before the dam breaks.

Now, I realize that the other explanation for Brady's total denial is that he had nothing to do with the deflation. I don't think that's likely the case.

[Bori]

Trying to catch up and wanted to make a little comment, regarding the Pine tar on Brett's bat.

Just as vaseline or other substances affect the ball as it is being pitched, so would Pine Tar on a ball that it is hit by a batter.

[Buckeye]

My bass favorites skew more jazz and urban funk.

A new talent that I like is Tal Wilkenfield. This young Aussie gal is talented, badass and hawt. What's not to like?

Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten (SMV) did an album called Thunder. Check out "lil' Victa". Loud for best effect.

[NKvirusedand back]

ThomasC- see the Bloomie link. Retired NFL QBs/commentators are publicly calling out Brady as a liar. Like me, the say customizing the ball is gamemanship and a meh issue, but him publicly lying about it is really infuriating. BTW-- IMO there is no chance he's punished in any way by the NFL regarding the Super Bowl.

[NKvirusedand back]

Bori-- the pine tar rule was an ancient baseball artifact rule about keeping the bat barrel clean 'above the trade mark.' I don't know why that was always the rule and I don't know if the tar would affect the batted ball. My question is; why would a hitter want to affect the batted ball? It's hard enough to hit the damn ball as it is.

[lyle]

Victor Wooten

Didn't he play for Bela Fleck also?

[Jack is Back!]

Wonder when the first Tee shirts come out with "Je Suis Doux" on them?

[PDinDetroit]

glasater -

Try this A-10 Video instead?

How about a nice AH-64D Apache Longbow - Destroying Targets instead (set to Metallica)?

(Note: Apache Video cannot be viewed on phones/tablets).

[NKvirusedand back]

BTW-- received an announcement that a tennis club member died early this morning. Older gentlemen, undisclosed illness. Played paddle with him in mid - december. Crusty old Lib lawyer, lovely man. The condolence emails from club members are pouring in; turns out that a lot of the people we know are very decent and caring. I have to remind myself of that more often.

[sbw]

The threat of libel suit on French “no-go zones” seems ridiculous when evidence increases each New Year’s Eve about the “no-park-your-car-or-get-torched zone.”

[PDinDetroit]

2 thoughts about Kate Upton:

1. That girl is going to have serious FLBP.

2. Justin Verlander has become Tony Romo.

[NKvirusedand back]

sbw-- FRENCH 'libel' laws may be a very different breed of cat, especially when it comes to la belle Paris.

[Jack is Back!]

Listening to Rush on the way home from the Vet and he thinks the NFL is doing their thing and talking to everyone but Brady. Brady will be the last guy they talk to and then AFTER the SB will come down on him and Belichick.

The NFL will not let the biggest SB in history be disabused by this issue but rather continue to use it to push the game and its ratings.

[sbw]

NK, agreed. The OB/GYN who delivered our children died too soon this week at 64. He was a blue grass musician and harmonica player, too.

[Buckeye]

Yes Victor Is one of the Flecktones. Check out "Flight of the Cosmic Hippo" Also LOUD for best effect.

[NKvirusedand back]

OK, I'll bite. FLBP = ????

[lyle]

FLBP

DO I dare ask for an explication?

[Stephanie De Nile is a river in Progtopia]

Future Lower Back Problems.

Ayup. I can vouch for that.

[sbw]

Were the Obama/Youtube interviews journalism?

Silly question. Journalism is an instance, not a promise, as anyone who reads the NY Times knows.

Even the Times occasionally commits journalism.

[lyle]

Yes Victor Is one of the Flecktones. Check out "Flight of the Cosmic Hippo" Also LOUD for best effect.

Will do since I happen to have that CD. (Are CDs too hopelessly anachronistic around these parts?)

[Thomas Collins]

Looks as if I am in a decided minority here. But remember, my hypothetical situation is that the equipment manager turns on Tom before the Super Bowl. With simply the strong suspicion there is now, Brady will play. But if the equipment manager turns, I think at this point the public outcry will be so great that Brady gets suspended. Now, like CH, I think The Kraft Organization will ride this out until at least after the Super Bowl. But if not, Jimmy Garoppolo gets his chance!

[Ignatz]

Yes but the PUCA more than makes up for any FLBPs , IMO.

[PDinDetroit]

So, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots have been to the Super Bowl 6 times, winning 3 times. Wouldn't there be at least 1 of those "winning" footballs be around that could be tested?

[PDinDetroit]

FLBP

Acronym for Future Lower Back Problems. This phrase is used primarily by the photo blog & generally awesome website, the Chive to describe a woman with large breasts who may or may not suffer from lower back problems now or in the future due to the size of her breasts.

Wow. She's gonna have FLBP in a few years. Damn!

[Thomas Collins]

PDinDetroit, don't footballs deflate with age like. . . NEVER MIND!

[Eric in Boise]

I heard 2 separate conspiracy theories that involved Baltimore trying to get back at NE

TK, white courtesy phone, please :)

[hrtshpdbox]

Hey JiB, is this the biggest Super Bowl in history the same way that every election is the most important of our lifetimes? I agree that no penalties will be forthcoming until after the game, and think that the Patriots will get absolutely blown out, with Brady's performance inexplicably...distracted.

[jimmyk]

the PUCA

Dare I ask? (The only urban dictionary definition that makes sense in context is a bit too X-rated for this family blog.)

[NKvirusedand back]

@1:54-- that scenario works for me.

[NKvirusedand back]

NO PHOTO DEMOs of 'PUCA'... and I don't even know what it means but it must be NSFW.

[Thomas Collins]

Whoops! Looks like I'm out of the mainstream again. Seattle is not as good as it was last year, and New England is stronger than Denver was last year. If Brady plays, this game will go down to the last psi toss!

[PDinDetroit]

NFL issues statement on Deflategate investigation

[PDinDetroit]

Thomas Collins - Never paid attention, I am a Legs and A$$ Man...

[Jane]

I still want to know why the refs didn't notice the change in the ball, since they handle it almost as much as Brady.

I also want to know why the Colt's balls were not tested at halftime.

And then I defer to Boatbuilder on all things Ballgate.

[Ignatz]

PUCA = Present Upper Chest Attributes; an antonym of FLBP.

[Porchlight]

The refs do not handle the balls anywhere near much as Brady. QBs handle balls more than anyone; that's why they are so picky about how they like them.

[jimmyk]

Present Upper Chest Attributes

Phew. But shouldn't "Attributes" be "Assets"?

On a more serious note, one other note on Gillibrand's inviting mattress girl to the SOTU. Gillibrand had this piece in PuffHost explaining it, and referring to the guy who was absolved both by the university and the police as "her rapist." Really appalling.

[NKvirusedand back]

TED WELLS! After the SB the NFL will nail Brady as a cheat and a liar, they'll fine the Pats $275,000, take away 3rd round pick, and issue new instructions about game balls for next seasom. All after the Super Bowl. That's my guess.

PS: how many times does this have to be repeated, the Refs impounded all 12 Pats balls and re-checked them/reinflated them at half time. Apparently that's all the game officials could do under League rules. The Colts?: They didn't have to do anything to the Colts balls at half time, they didn't cheat.

[Porchlight]

And the Colts balls were all tested. Maybe after the game. In any case none of them had significant deflation, where as the 11 Pats balls were more than 2 PSI under the minimum. So I really don't think it could be the weather unless it comes down to the temperature in the room where they were inflated. A big stretch. And it doesn't explain why the 12 reserve balls used in the 2nd half were fine both at halftime and after the game.

The NFL's silence is pretty deafening about now.