The Patriots’ Under- Inflate Parenting

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    Patriots'

    The Patriots’, players, coaches, and the NFL are a role models to children around the world and to my son.  I am disappointed that the Patriots’ set an poor example.  Children and my son deserves more from their role models.  As professionals, they should play by the rules, show my son how to play the game, and how to win the right way.

    In the recent headlines, the New England Patriots’ made a questionable decision in the playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts’.  The questionable decisions made by the Patriots’ was deflategate.  The Patriots’ played with under- inflated footballs in the playoff game that were not in NFL regulation in 11 out of the 12 footballs.

    Unfortunately, the under- inflated footballs were not discovered until the game ended and at that point the damage was done. Under-inflated footballs are apparently easier to throw and catch.  The Patriots’ ended up winning the playoff game and while the outcome of the game is not in question, there should be questions about the methods in which New England Patriots’ won the game against the Indianapolis Colts’.

    I do my best to teach my son about team sports, competition, and goals.  I enroll him in team sports to build his self-esteem and teach him about teamwork. The goal of team sports is to teach how to work together and be part of a team that shares the same goal.  I teach him about winning and losing and learning how to deal with both.

    As a parent, I teach, I nurture, and I instill values.  Teach him that lying and stealing are wrong and there are consequences in life for those actions.  Teach him stealing is punishable by the law and that cheating is wrong.  I teach him about working together, good sportsmanship, and playing by the rules.

    The NFL has established rules and while under- inflated footballs may seem minor –the footballs were outside of the NFL’s rules.  As a parent, I try to instill good behavior in my son by rewarding my son when he follows the rules, and teach him consequences when rules are not followed, or broken.  The Patriots’ did not face consequences for their actions before the Super Bowl, thus the NFL is essentially rewarded this team for not following “the rules”.  The Patriots’ still got to play in the Super Bowl.  What kind of example is this setting for my son?  I do not want my son learning that it is okay to break the rules and there are no consequences.  When in reality, in the real world, and in life there are.

    The Patriots’ actions truly sadden me.  I do not want my son to looking up to them.  I do not want him learning about “questionable actions”, “unsportsmanlike” behavior, or “not playing by the rules”.  The Patriots’ are a professional team, with professional players, coaches, and this kind of behavior should NOT happen.  Isn’t that why the NFL has rules?  Questionable, UNSPORTSMANLIKE behavior is not okay and my son should not be learning this from his role models.

    Parenting

    Comments (24)

    2. I agree – cheating is wrong. There has been some new evidence though that only 1 ball was 2 PSI too low. At any rate it’s a great lesson in dishonesty for our children!

    3. I’m sorry, I had to comment on this. And yes, I’m a Pats fan and am happy to have my kids root for them. I was at first disappointed but now that I actually have more information, I’ve learned a valuable lesson. Don’t pass judgement until you have the facts which unfortunately you don’t have or haven’t bothered to research.

      I hope you do the right thing and reserve judgement until all the facts are released and the investigation is closed. I know part of this is not your fault since there seems to be alot of sloppy journalism out there. One ball was underinflated (ONE!), and that ball was one that was confiscated by the Colts equipment manager and then passed to the referees. The others were a “tick” under according to NFL.com. In other words, if they balls may have been legal during the check, the ball would deflate according to the temperature change (game was in New England). There have been several school experiments on this, check Youtube.

      So before you get off your soapbox, do the right thing. I would hate to see your children judged unfairly because someone else said something that may (or may not) have been true. This seems to be your message… If the Patriots cheated then so be it, they need to be punished but please don’t preach irresponsibly.

      1. It’s funny how people run to defend the Patriots’ when they have been caught cheating in the past. Patriots’ actions were questionable and outside of NFL guidelines. If they played by the rules there wouldn’t be an investigation.

    4. That’s just sad to hear! Not a big football fan here but I agree with what you said, many kids look up to these teams/athletes. Tsk.

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