The Baltimore Ravens deny they tipped off the Indianapolis Colts about underinflated footballs before the AFC championship game.
Court papers released Tuesday in New England quarterback Tom Brady’s lawsuit against the NFL over his four-game suspension show that the Ravens contacted the Colts about deflated footballs used in Baltimore’s playoff loss to the Patriots the previous week. But the Ravens said Wednesday that was not true.
“Prior to the AFC championship game, no one from the Ravens talked to the Colts about deflated footballs,” the Ravens said in a statement. “We knew nothing of deflated footballs. (Coach) John Harbaugh has been consistent in his answers to reporters about this since he was first asked ... at the Super Bowl.”
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The court filings included a section in which Colts equipment manager Sean Sullivan said Ravens special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg called Indianapolis head coach Chuck Pagano about K-balls, which are used in the kicking game only. Sullivan said the Ravens were given new footballs instead of the ones properly prepared.
Pagano was an assistant coach with the Ravens before getting the top job in Indianapolis in 2012.
Harbaugh said he spoke to Pagano on Tuesday night and asked him again if he and Rosburg talked about anything related to footballs. Pagano’s reply, Harbaugh said, was “totally false.”
“We’ve answered the questions from the beginning to the end very simply,” Harbaugh added. “Our `yes’ is yes; our `no’ is no. We’ve answered questions directly and honestly and straightforwardly from the start. And that’s the way we’re going to do it. The rest of it, I couldn’t care less about, really. I haven’t cared at all about deflated footballs or whether they did something wrong or anything else. We’re on to 2015. We stand on every word we said.”
Brady was suspended by the NFL and the Patriots were fined $1 million and stripped of two draft choices in what has become known as “Deflategate.” Brady appealed and Commissioner Roger Goodell upheld the suspension.
The players’ union and Brady then filed the lawsuit, which is being handled by a U.S. District Court in New York. The union’s filings were made public Tuesday.
“I’ve been consistent from the beginning when asked about whether the Ravens tipped off the Colts about deflated footballs,” Harbaugh said Wednesday. “I’ll say it again – we didn’t. We knew nothing about deflated footballs.
“As a former special teams coach, I know that members of the kicking group from teams talk to their counterparts all the time about conditions, including field, weather and footballs. I learned this morning that our kicking consultant (Randy Brown) sent a text to coach Pagano on Jan. 16 suggesting to the Colts that they pay attention to how the officials rotate the kicking balls into the game. Coach Brown’s text did not mention the Patriots and did not complain about anything the Patriots did. The Colts never responded to Randy’s text, and he had no further communications with the Colts on this matter.”
Rosburg said any contact between himself and Pagano had to do with something entirely different than underinflated footballs.
“On or about Jan. 12, 2015, Chuck Pagano called me to ask about a punt-field goal substitution play that New England used against the Ravens in the divisional game (on Jan. 10),” Rosburg’s statement said. “At the 10:55 mark of the second quarter at the 34-yard line, New England sent its placekicker (Stephen Gostkowski) onto the field with the field goal unit. This caused us to defend the punt with our field goal block team. The play was blown dead by the officials because the Patriots were penalized for delay of game. Coach Pagano wanted to know about New England’s substitution, because the coaching video does not show that part. There was no conversation regarding footballs.”
According to the court documents, the league became aware of potentially deflated footballs Jan. 17 in an email from Colts general manager Ryan Grigson to the NFL’s Dave Gardi. Grigson forwarded to Gardi an email from Sullivan, who also wrote “it is well known around the league” that New England’s ball boys deflated footballs after they had been inspected by game officials and turned over to the teams.
Harbaugh insisted the K-balls “were another issue” from the playoff loss to New Englnad.
“The kicking balls, the kickers were telling me during the game, were terrible,” he said Wednesday. “We found out they didn’t get our kicking ball in the game for some reason. There’s a whole story about that. Go back and read the Wells Report. You’ll learn all about the kicking balls. That’s a whole different, separate issue.”
Saints’ Ingram angling for expanded role in passing game
As Saints quarterback Drew Brees rolled away from pressure, Mark Ingram raced out of the backfield and toward the left sideline, where he nimbly made a tough, twisting catch on a throw over his back shoulder.
His father, former NFL receiver Mark Ingram Sr., might have enjoyed that play, even if it was only in training camp. The younger Ingram, now entering his fifth NFL season, hopes he’ll be able to show off more of his receiving pedigree when it matters.
“I’ve always wanted to do that since my first day here. I’ve always believed in myself that I could contribute in the passing game, coming out of the backfield, running routes,” Ingram said after practice Wednesday. “I’m looking forward to that, hopefully expanding that role.”
Given some personnel changes in New Orleans this offseason, Ingram could get his wish.
The Saints released Pierre Thomas, among the club’s most productive receivers out of the backfield, particularly on screen passes.
Last season, Thomas led all Saints running backs – and was fifth on the club overall – with 45 receptions for 378 yards. Ingram, whose maiden Pro Bowl nod came largely because of his 964 yards rushing, was third in receiving among Saints running backs last season with 29 catches for 145 yards.
During 11-on-11 drills in full pads Wednesday, Ingram caught a couple passes from Brees and another from backup Ryan Griffin.
Sean Payton said it’s difficult to discern a resemblance between the way the younger Ingram catches the ball and how his father did it, largely because they’ve played different positions. Yet Payton stressed, “Mark has that versatility, though, where we feel like he absolutely is someone who can help us not only in the running game but in the passing game.”
Fellow Saints running back C.J. Spiller, acquired this offseason, also is expected to be involved in the passing game, an area in which he thrived in Buffalo. Still, Ingram believes he has the tools – even the resume tape – to push for more opportunities as well.
When Ingram was young, his father worked with him on his receiving skills and technique, and the younger Ingram played receiver in high school in Michigan.
After Ingram converted to running back at Alabama, he became the vaunted football program’s first Heisman Trophy winner partly because of his ability to turn short passes into sizeable gains.
Ingram is quick to point out that one of his favorite highlights of his college career came on a screen pass, in the second quarter of the 2009 SEC championship game. After catching the pass at Alabama’s 25, Ingram accelerated rapidly, splitting two Florida tacklers at the 40, then cutting behind a block as he scampered across midfield. He slipped one more tackler before being pushed out of bounds at the Gators 3-yard line.
He finished that season with 32 catches for 334 yards and three TDs receiving.
In a 2010 game against Mississippi State, Ingram lined up wide on the right side, caught a bubble screen as he cut inside of a block by Julio Jones, and raced away from pursuers for an 80-yard score.
“I’ve been doing it,” Ingram said of his ability to make plays as a receiver. “I’ve just been waiting on my opportunity where I can do it here.”
Notes: Safety Jairus Byrd, trying to come back from knee surgery that sidelined him most of last season, remained absent with an undisclosed ailment that has sidelined him all six days of practice at training camp. “He is progressing well,” Payton said. “I think sooner than later we are going to get a chance to see him, and at the same time we are going to be smart.” Asked if Byrd’s absence related to the safety’s surgically repaired knee, Payton said, “Next question.” ... Other absences from the padded practice session included inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, outside linebacker Anthony Spencer and tight end Josh Hill. Cornerback Keenan Lewis left during practice, as did receiver Brandon Coleman. Payton generally declines to discuss injuries during preseason, when the NFL does not require injury reports.
Browns linebacker Barkevious Mingo to have knee surgery
Browns linebacker Barkevious Mingo will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, the latest medical issue for the former first-round pick.
Mingo did not practice Wednesday, and the Browns confirmed Thursday he’ll have the procedure. It’s not yet known how long Mingo will be sidelined, but similar operations typically require at least two weeks of rehab.
Browns coach Mike Pettine is to provide an update after practice.
The sixth overall pick in the 2013 draft, Mingo has been dogged by injuries during his brief NFL career. Last season, he played with a torn labrum in his shoulder and had surgery in January. Mingo made 11 starts and played in 15 games despite playing with a shoulder harness.
As a rookie, Mingo bruised a lung in his second exhibition game. He wound up starting three games.
Titans sign safety Josh Aubrey, waive/injured Cody Prewitt
The Tennessee Titans have signed safety Josh Aubrey and waived safety Cody Prewitt with an injured foot.
The Titans announced the moves Thursday.
Prewitt, an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi, missed the last two practices because of his foot.
Aubrey has played in eight games over the past two seasons, including six games as a rookie with Cleveland in 2013. He played two games last season in Houston. He played cornerback at Stephen F. Austin.
Zimmer returns to Vikings after time with ailing father
Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer has returned to training camp with the team after visiting his ailing father.
The Vikings held their walk-through Thursday inside the Minnesota State University athletic complex, and fans gave Zimmer an ovation.
Zimmer missed practices Tuesday to be in Florida with his father, who has been in declining health. Offensive coordinator Norv Turner ran the team instead. The Vikings had Wednesday off.
They’re scheduled to work on the field Thursday and Friday, before traveling to Canton, Ohio, for the Pro Football Hall of Fame game.
The Vikings play the Pittsburgh Steelers in an exhibition game Sunday night.
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