The NFL's crackdown on proper football inflation levels for the 2015 season was a success, according to commissioner Roger Goodell.
During an appearance Tuesday on NFL Network's "Rich Eisen Show," Goodell said the league implemented random “spot checks” of official game footballs in the wake of Deflategate to “create a deterrent effect,” and found no violations. Because none of the balls was red flagged, Goodell said, the league did not keep records of the PSI measurements taken and thus will not release the results of the tests.
MORE: Deflategate timeline | 10 worst Super Bowl MVPs
"What the league did this year was what we do with a lot of rules and policies designed to protect the integrity of the game, and that's to create a deterrent effect," Goodell said. "We do spot checks to prevent and make sure the clubs understand that we're watching these issues. It wasn't a research study. They simply were spot checks.
"There were no violations this year. We're pleased that we haven't had any violations, and we continue the work, obviously, to consistently and importantly enforce the integrity of the game and the rules that are designed to protect it."
Much has been made of the PSI inconsistencies the NFL found in footballs used during the 2015 AFC championship game between the Patriots and Colts.
MORE: Patriots interested in Glenn Gronkowski
The league, which mandates that game balls be between 12.5 PSI and 13.5 PSI, accused Patriots quarterback Tom Brady of deliberately deflating the footballs for his advantage. The Patriots were docked first- and fourth-round picks in the 2016 draft and fined $1 million. Brady was also suspended four games, a ruling that was later overturned by a federal judge.
It was widely expected the NFL would share the results of its PSI testing in 2015 since the Deflategate scandal elicited questions about game integrity and transparency.
Goodell was also asked whether he had any contact with Brady while the parties await a hearing on the NFL's appeal to reinstate Brady's suspension.
"My first obligation . . . is to uphold the integrity of the game," Goodell said. "That's to uphold the rules of the game and make sure all 32 teams are operating under the same rules, all players are operating under the same rules, and you do that on a consistent basis.
"I have great admiration for Tom. I know him personally. Obviously I respect his playing ability; he's an extraordinary player, a sure Hall of Famer and I have nothing but admiration for him. But I have to make sure that we continue to do the things that are necessary to protect the integrity of the game, and I will do that without compromise."
