The NFL moved Sunday to downplay a report that the New York Giants had detected irregularities in the inflation of game footballs used last Sunday in their 24-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. According to the league, "officiating game ball procedures were followed and there were no chain of command issues."
We all know what happened the last time this came up. The NFL spent months sorting out claims that the New England Patriots used underinflated footballs in the 2014 AFC Championship Game, and then nearly a year litigating its discipline of the Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady.