The NFL is going full secret service hours before the Super Bowl, to ensure that fans are treated a fairly played Super Bowl.
The NFL will keep Super Bowl balls under ‘added security’ ahead of the game as the Deflategate investigation continues in the league office.
There will be 108 balls used in Glendale between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots on Sunday – five times more than any other game.
Both teams will practice with the designated balls, but the NFL will take them back into their custody on Friday before they are inspected by officials three hours before kick off. For two days they will be guarded by an independently-chosen equipment manager, the Chicago Bears’ Tony Medlin, while ball attendants will handle pregame preparation.
During a press conference on Thursday, vice president of officiating Dean Blandino insisted that the extra ‘orange’ level of security wasn’t a result of Deflategate but was normal protocol for the Super Bowl.
He said: ‘There will be some added security just because of the environment we’re in for this game.
‘The thing with the Super Bowl is during the first half, we rotate footballs in as much as possible, because then those balls are used for charity and NFL auction.’
Referring back to the Patriots’ AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts – where the scandal began – he said the inspection of the footballs by referee Walt Anderson was handled properly.
‘My major concern is did we follow proper protocol?’ Blandino said. ‘Everything was properly tested and marked before the game. Walt gauged the footballs himself; it is something he has done throughout his career.
‘Officiating is not part of the investigation.’