Brad Johnson paid to have footballs altered before Bucs' SB win

[rabblerouser]

http://www.sbnation.com/2015/1/21/78...wl-deflategate

Quarterback*Brad Johnson*revealed that he paid to have the footballs at Super Bowl XXXVII altered to be more comfortable in his hand,*according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Johnson led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 48-21 win over the Oakland Raiders.

Johnson completed 18 of 34 passes for 215 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, while Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon tossed five interceptions in the loss. Both Johnson and Gannon used the same footballs in the game, so how much of an advantage Johnson gained over Gannon by altering the balls to his liking is difficult to gauge.

Per Stroud, Johnson struggled to grip wet, cold or out-of-the-box footballs and was forced to wear a glove in the*NFC Championship. With the NFL supplying 100 new footballs for the Super Bowl, Johnson said that he made sure the balls would be prepped to his liking.

"I paid some guys off to get the balls right," Johnson now admits. "I went and got all 100 footballs, and they took care of all of them."

How much did it cost Johnson? "Seventy-five hundred (dollars)," he said.

My favorite deflection of people who insist that the NFL isn't corrupt :

"Well, a former player would say something."

They do.

All the time.

[TimBone]

For ****s sake, this has already been brought up in the other thirteen threads.

[The Franchise]

It's ok....according to the resident Patriot douchebag....it was done with Gannon's knowledge.

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

Things were done differently back then because the teams used the same balls, and Johnson and Gannon both agreed that they'd get the balls altered. So, in effect, both guys 'cheated'.

[BucEyedPea]

I think it makes him look bad admitting that. Then again Lynch admitted after the game, they knew where the balls were going on those interceptions since they had the Raider's playbook courtesy of Gruden. Raider's replacement coach was stupid to not change it though. Lynch said they anticipated those interceptions for that reason. Hence, so many interceptions for Gannon. IMO that's what helped them win that game.

[cosmo20002]

It's weird that he would do this if the outcome of the game is pre-determined, as you claim.

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

It's weird that he would do this if the outcome of the game is pre-determined, as you claim.

uh oh!

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by Dicky McElephant

It's ok....according to the resident Patriot douchebag....it was done with Gannon's knowledge.

Attaboy, Hootie 2.1!

Johnson said he and Oakland Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon spoke before the 2003 Super Bowl and agreed that neither wanted to play the game with brand new, unblemished footballs. Johnson maintains that neither quarterback touched the balls.

“Both Rich Gannon and I, we had played together in Minnesota, we both agreed,” Johnson said. “I never saw the footballs, Rich Gannon never saw the footballs. And we played, no one complained...I talked to Rich Gannon this morning and he said, ‘This is way blown out of proportion.'”

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...with-footballs

[BucEyedPea]

Perhaps it is a widespread, time-honored tradition. Maybe the entire NFL knows it, while fans, the press and outside observers are being let in on another trick of the trade.

Well, it seems to be turning out that way. But it shocks outsiders.

[GoChargers]

The real story here is that the NFL takes bribes. Well, now we know why the Tuck Rule Game happened.

[Hootie]

Bob Ryan, a Boston Homer, compared it to watergate.

[Radar Chief]

WTF does underinflated footballs supposedly have to do with a 48-21 shellacking?

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by GoChargers

The real story here is that the NFL takes bribes. Well, now we know why the Tuck Rule Game happened.

and There's no amount of jealousy and shame you exhibit. I love that the Patriots are so in your head.

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

WTF does underinflated footballs supposedly have to do with a 48-21 shellacking?

It gets better. Halftime score, with deflated footballs:

17-7 Patriots

Second half played with backup balls within specs

28-0 Patriots


And Brady's passing numbers were much better in the second half.

[Ming the Merciless]

Lol a cheating brad Johnson still only gets 18/34

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

It gets better. Halftime score, with deflated footballs:

17-7 Patriots

Second half played with backup balls within specs

28-0 Patriots


And Brady's passing numbers were much better in the second half.

Which makes them look even dumber for doing it