The New England Patriots’ dynasty may officially be tarnished due to new allegations.

     On Sun., Jan. 18, the Patriots were set to play the Colts at home in Fox borough, Massachusetts. During the game, Tom Brady, Patriots quarterback, threw an interception to D’quell Jackson. Jackson noticed that the ball felt softer and lighter than a normal football. Game officials were alerted of this at half time of this under inflation.

     The Patriots now stand accused of deflating footballs during the AFC championship game. The Colts organization was even alerted by the Ravens, the previous team the Patriots played. They warned the Colts about New England’s potential doctoring of the football.

     Each and every NFL quarterback receives 12 balls before each game. They can then do what they want to them to break them in to their liking before the game. However, Deflating the football is illegal because it makes the football easier to catch and throw, especially in rainy conditions. The referees check the footballs before the game and then give them back to the team.

     How then could the New England Patriots have pulled this off? No one is absolutely certain how they did it, but they do know that it was done. ESPN investigators discovered that of the 12 balls, 11 of them were under inflated by 2 lbs. each.

     New England is now threatened by fines to both head coach Bill Belichick and All pro quarterback Tom Brady. The team also faces a potential loss of draft picks in the upcoming draft. Despite overwhelming evidence that the Patriots did deflate footballs, they continue to deny it.

     According to Yahoosports.com, Tom Brady said, “I didn’t alter the ball in any way. Everybody is trying to figure out what happened. I was as surprised as anybody on when I heard Monday morning what was happening.”

     Nobody in the Patriots organization seems to know what is happening, despite their history of cheating.

     Bill Belichick is one of the greatest coaches in NFL history and he is very good at cheating. In 2007, the Patriots were caught illegally filming a the New York Jets defensive hand signals. Before “Spy Gate” in 2007, the Patriots had won three super bowls, creating a dynasty. Belichick was fined $500,000 and the team has not won a super bowl since.

     It seems as though the only way the Patriots succeed is through cheating. The Patriots have returned to the super bowl for the first time sine 2011 despite being in the two previous AFC championship games. The organization made a connection that when they cheat, they succeed. Belichick’s legacy is in question because of his constant compromises to the integrity of the game of football.

         Due to these allegations, the Patriots are under fire once again. Their legacy has become tarnished and a tarnished legacy, is not really a legacy at all.