Ravens say they didn't tip off Colts about under-inflated footballs
The Baltimore Ravens have issued a statement saying no one from the team discussed deflated footballs with the Indianapolis Colts prior to this year's AFC championship game against the Patriots.
“Prior to the AFC championship game, no one from the Ravens talked to the Colts about deflated footballs,” the statement opens. “John Harbaugh has been consistent in his answers to reporters about this since he was first asked on NBC-TV at the Super Bowl.”
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said in February that he did not tip off the Colts and coach Chuck Pagano, and he reiterated his position on Wednesday.
“I’ve been consistent from the beginning when asked about whether the Ravens tipped off the Colts about deflated footballs,” Harbaugh said in the statement. “I’ll say it again – we didn’t. We knew nothing about deflated footballs.”
Ravens special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg said he only spoke to Pagano about a substitution play made by the Patriots against the Ravens in the divisional playoff game, which the Patriots won 35-31.
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Baltimore kicking consultant Randy Brown did send a text to Pagano, but deflated footballs were not discussed.
An NFL-commissioned independent investigation by attorney Ted Wells found that it was “more probable than not” that the Patriots manipulated footballs during the AFC championship game and that quarterback Tom Bradywas generally aware of the alleged tampering.
Brady was suspended four games, the Patriots were issued a $1 million fine and the team surrendered two draft picks as punishment for the Deflategate scandal. Brady appealed his suspension, but NFL commissioner Roger Goodell upheld the ban.
- Christopher Chavez
