NFL News: New England Patriots Coach Belichick Denies Knowledge Of Deflated Balls, ’Shocked’ By ‘Deflate-Gate’

Bill Belichick is denying that he has any knowledge of why and how 11 of 12 footballs were found to have been deflated in their AFC title game against the Indianapolis Colts. The New England Patriots head coach said that he was “shocked” when he learned of the news and added that he and the team will fully cooperate with the National Football League (NFL) in their investigation.

"All right, I’ll start off by addressing the football issue here. When I came in Monday morning, I was shocked to learn of the news reports about the footballs. I had no knowledge whatsoever of this situation whatsoever until Monday morning.” Belichick said in his first press conference since the “Deflate-Gate” broke out. “I’d say I’ve learned a lot more about this process in the last three days than I know, or had talked about it, in the last 40 years that I’ve coached in this league.”

Belichick also said to the media that he had never in his entire coaching career talked to a player or any member of the team about football air pressure and that it is a subject that he never brought up in the past. Belichick admitted that different kinds of players have “certain preferences on footballs” and asked the media to ask his quarterback Tom Brady for more details on those preferences.

“I think we all know that quarterbacks, kickers, specialists have certain preferences on footballs. They know a lot more about it than I do. They’re a lot more sensitive to it than I am. I hear them comment on it from time to time,” Belichick added. “But I can tell and they will tell you that there is never any sympathy whatsoever from me on that subject. Zero. Tom’s personal preferences on his footballs is something he can talk about in much better detail and information than I can possibly provide.”

The Patriots beat the Colts, 45-7 in the conference championship last Sunday. Before the Belichick press conference the latest on “Deflate-Gate” was that the Baltimore Ravens, the Patriots’ opponents in the wild card round, had tipped off the Colts about the possibility that the Patriots were going to use deflated balls.

Belichick also said the press conference by saying that they are “fully cooperating” with the league and will honour any request the league makes with regards to help in the investigation.

Email j.gloria@IBTimes.com.au to contact author of this article.