The Patriots are not alone in altering footballs to their advantage in the NFL playoffs. Former Buccaneers quarterback Brad Johnson admitted he also broke the rule on the way to a Tampa Bay win in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Johnson paid $7,500 to make sure the balls were scuffed so he could grip the new ball better, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
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"I paid some guys off to get the balls right," Johnson said. "I went and got all 100 footballs, and they took care of all of them."
It must have worked wonders for Johnson, who finished the game with 18 out of 34 completions for 215 yards and two touchdowns, while Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon threw five interceptions in a 48-21 Bucs win.
The NFL has since changed the rule and allows quarterbacks the chance to scuff and rub up their game balls, breaking them in.
On Tuesday, league sources told ESPN.com that the Patriots had 11 of their 12 footballs under-inflated by two pounds of air (PSI) against the Colts on Sunday, while the Ravens also claim the balls were deflated in the divisional round. The league will continue its investigation this week. According to league rules, the Patriots could be subject to fines and other disciplinary actions.