#DeflateGate Trends on Social Media After Patriots Investigated for Deflated Footballs

On Sunday night WTHR reporter Bob Kravitz said that the NFL was investigating whether or not the New England Patriots used deflated footballs during their AFC championship game victory over the Indianapolis Colts. 

Breaking: A league source tells me the NFL is investigating the possibility the Patriots deflated footballs Sunday night. More to come.

— Bob Kravitz (@bkravitz) January 19, 2015

I’m told at one point the officials took a ball out of play and weighed it. Should hear more tomorrow on this subject.

— Bob Kravitz (@bkravitz) January 19, 2015

Told if a league investigation confirms deflated footballs it will result in lost draft picks. Stay tuned.

— Bob Kravitz (@bkravitz) January 19, 2015

Just heard from an nfl spokesman the league is in fact investigating the matter.

— Bob Kravitz (@bkravitz) January 19, 2015

By Monday morning, the hashtag #DeflateGate was already trending on Twitter and Facebook as NFL fans reacted to the report. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady also weighed in, calling the accusations “ridiculous.”

Tom Brady on the accusations of the Patriots deflating balls: “(laughter) I think I have heard it all at this point. That’s ridiculous.”

— Dennis and Callahan (@DandCShow) January 19, 2015

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

“Deflated footballs clearly caused the #colts to allow huge holes for L.Blount to run through”– Says no one. #DeflateGate

— Har2D2 (@Har2D2) January 19, 2015

#DeflateGate NFL is still a joke. Bad calls during the season and criminal cases not investigated but deflated balls gets their attention.

— Bradford Cohen (@acriminallawyer) January 19, 2015

If you ask me, I think the Colts are the ones who got their balls deflated! #nfl #DeflateGate

— Mal the Sports Gal (@malsportsgal) January 19, 2015

I think we all just really like saying “deflated balls.” #deflategate

— Andrew Keating (@KeatingNation) January 19, 2015

Wouldn’t guys know if their balls were smaller than usual when they started playing with them? #DeflateGate

— Colleen Grimes (@collgrimes) January 19, 2015

#DeflateGate was not the difference. Pats were more experienced and they have better coaching. That’s it. No big deal.

— Cameron (@sm_cameron) January 19, 2015

Refs hold the ball every play. And are supposed to inspect every ball pre game. #DeflateGate needs to be deflated. Pathetic.

— Cole Real (@Criel62) January 19, 2015

If you’re not immensely entertained by the repeated use of the phrase “deflated balls” on ESPN today, we can’t be friends. #DeflateGate

— Stephen Thomas (@15Stephen15) January 19, 2015

I was relived to learn #DeflateGate was about football. I thought someone had raided my blow-up doll closet.

— Goons Farm (@GoonsFarm) January 19, 2015

Patriots are at it again, anyone else having flashbacks to 2007’s “Spygate”? Cuz I sure am. Hope they get crushed by Seattle #DeflateGate

— Josh Bethel (@TheSecondReagan) January 19, 2015

#DeflateGate #AFCChampionship #PatsNation pic.twitter.com/GipYurFoOJ

— Nick Rodrigues (@N20Rodrigues) January 19, 2015