ESPN: 11 of 12 Patriots’ footballs under-inflated

FOXBOROUGH (WISH) -The New England Patriots had 11 of their 12 allotted game footballs under-inflated by 2 pounds of air (PSI) as required by NFL regulations, ESPN reports.

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported the news late Tuesday night, citing league sources either involved or familiar with the investigation of the AFC championship game.

The Indianapolis Colts lost 45-7 to the Patriots Sunday night, sending the Patriots to the Super Bowl.

ESPN reports Greg Aiello, the NFL’s senior vice president of communications, said, “We are not commenting at this time.”

ESPN says the investigation into how the 11 footballs became under-inflated continues.

According to the NFL, game balls must have between 12.5 and 13.5 pounds of air pressure and weigh 14-15 ounces.

Select sports writers and analysts have called for the Patriots to forfeit their trip to the Super Bowl. Some Colts players reacted hours after the report’s release on Twitter.

If New England was to be DQ’d.. We’d be their replacements right??… I should probably lay off these strawberry margs— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 21, 2015

@nfl So we get to play the game again or nah? ????— Darius Butler (@DariusJButler) January 21, 2015