--- ---  # NFL Says Patriots Likely Used Deflated Balls in First Half of Colts Game by [Molly Geary / Sports Illustrated](https://time.com/author/sports-illustrated/) ## Molly Geary / Sports Illustrated Jan 23, 2015 7:46 PM UTC  Tom Brady of the New England Patriots looks to pass in the first quatter against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., on Jan. 18, 2015 Tom Brady of the New England Patriots looks to pass in the first quatter against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., on Jan. 18, 2015Jared Wickerham—Getty Images by [Molly Geary / Sports Illustrated](https://time.com/author/sports-illustrated/) ## Molly Geary / Sports Illustrated Jan 23, 2015 7:46 PM UTC The NFL [released](http://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/1-23-15-nfl-statement-2.pdf) a statement on its investigation into Deflategate on Friday. The league said it has conducted nearly 40 interviews so far, including of “[Patriots](http://www.si.com/nfl/team/new-england-patriots) personnel, game officials, and third parties with relevant information and expertise.” It also continues to obtain evidence in the form of video and other electronic information. The NFL said the evidence “thus far supports the conclusion that footballs that were under-inflated were used by the Patriots in the first half.” The league confirmed that prior to the game, the balls were all tested and found to be of satisfactory inflation, and that the balls were all properly inflated for the second half and remained that way. As it continues its investigation, the NFL retained the investigatory firm Renaissance Associates, who use sophisticated forensic expertise to “assist in reviewing electronic and video information.” From the NFL: --- > “” --- The league said the Patriots have pledged their “full cooperation” and have made both personnel and information available for the investigation. On Thursday, New England quarterback [Tom Brady said](http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/01/22/new-england-patriots-deflategate-tom-brady) he “didn’t alter the balls in any way,” while coach Bill Belichick said he [was shocked to hear](http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/01/22/new-england-patriots-deflategate-bill-belichick) about the controversy. _This_ [_article_](http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/01/23/deflategate-new-england-patriots-nfl-response) _originally appeared on_ [_SI.com_](http://www.si.com)_._ NFL Releases Statement on Deflategate Investigation ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3680836/nfl-statement-deflategate/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3680836/nfl-statement-deflategate/"},"headline":"NFL Says Patriots Likely Used Deflated Balls in First Half of Colts Game","datePublished":"2015-01-23T19:46:13.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-22T03:50:40.151Z","description":"The league says its \"Deflategate\" investigation is ongoing and has included interviews with almost 40 people","url":"https://time.com/3680836/nfl-statement-deflategate/","keywords":["Football","NFL","New England Patriots","Tom Brady"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0fdd7cd0dca91277/69877aa42dce01106e9dd0ad/461742222.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Molly Geary / Sports Illustrated"}],"articleSection":"Sports","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0fdd7cd0dca91277/69877aa42dce01106e9dd0ad/461742222.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"AFC Championship - Indianapolis Colts v New England Patriots","caption":"AFC Championship - Indianapolis Colts v New England Patriots","creditText":"Jared Wickerham—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/sports/","name":"Sports"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/football/","name":"Football"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3680836/nfl-statement-deflategate/","name":"NFL Says Patriots Likely Used Deflated Balls in First Half of Colts Game"}}]}] ```