New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick said on Thursday he has no explanation for how team-supplied balls became deflated below NFL minimums, denying any cheating in Sunday's playoff triumph over Indianapolis.
Furire erupted on the morning after a 45-7 playoff rout put New England into the Super Bowl against defending champion Seattle on February 1.
"I have never talked to any player, staff member about football air pressure," Belichick said.
"To me, the footballs are approved by the league and game officials pre game, and we play with what's out there."
The NFL is looking into the matter but has no timetable for announcing any findings, although they reportedly have found that almost all of the balls the Patriots provided were inflated below league standards.
"When I came in Monday morning I was shocked to learn of the news reports," Belichick said.
"I learned a lot more about this process in the last three days than I knew or had talked about it in the last 40 years I've coached in this league."
Less-inflated balls in cold and wet conditions such as those at Sunday's game could make the "pigskin" easier to grip, throw and catch.
NFL teams provide 12 balls for each game and clubs use their own balls when their offensive units are on the field, opening the door to concerns the Patriots might have enjoyed an unfair edge in their rout of the Colts.
Referees check the inflation levels of game balls before each contest and mark them as approved, then return them to trusted members of each team until the game begins.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady laughed off the accusation of ball tampering on Monday and Seattle players downplayed the issue, Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman saying, "It's not going to have any effect on this game. Nobody is going to get suspended, nothing is going to happen. Whatever they did, the risk-reward was greater."
Belichick said the team will inflate balls for future games well above the league minimum 12.5 pounds to avoid any leakage that might make the balls non-compliant to NFL rules.
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