Ravens release statement in regards to informing the Colts about footballs

The Ravens are getting in front of the story that they tipped off the Colts about the deflated footballs by releasing a statement today.

FROM THE RAVENS

"Prior to the AFC Championship game, no one from the Ravens talked to the Colts about deflated footballs. We knew nothing of deflated footballs. John Harbaugh has been consistent in his answers to reporters about this since he was first asked on NBC-TV at the Super Bowl."

Special Teams coordinator Jerry Rossburg had been implicated by the media and released his own statement regarding the matter.

FROM SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR/ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH JERRY ROSBURG

"On or about January 12, 2015, Chuck Pagano called me to ask about a punt-field goal substitution play that New England used against the Ravens in the Divisional game (Jan. 10). At the 10:55 mark of the second quarter at the 34-yard line, New England sent its placekicker (Stephen Gostkowski) onto the field with the field goal unit. This caused us to defend the punt with our field goal block team. The play was blown dead by the officials because the Patriots were penalized for delay of game. Coach Pagano wanted to know about New England’s substitution, because the coaching video does not show that part. There was no conversation regarding footballs."

As you can see, Rosburg completely denies talking to the Colts about the Patriots' use of footballs and only about substitutions and trick plays. In fact, the only mention of footballs from the Ravens to the Colts was a text message about the referrees not allowing the Ravens' footballs into the kicking game and to watch out for the rotation of the balls.

HERE’S THE TEXT FROM RANDY BROWN TO COACH PAGANO (sent Jan. 16, 2015)

"Make sure the refs rotate the kicking balls cause last week they wouldn’t let our ball in the game. Their ball was done so poorly that it was nearly impossible to kick off deep…It was hard and not worked in well at all…Let Tom (McMahon, Colts special teams coordinator) know he can call me at any time."

As he had done all along, head coach John Harbaugh denied that the Ravens had tipped off the Colts about the issue during his own statement

FROM JOHN HARBAUGH

“I’ve been consistent from the beginning when asked about whether the Ravens tipped off the Colts about deflated footballs. I’ll say it again – we didn’t. We knew nothing about deflated footballs.

“As a former special teams coach, I know that members of the kicking group from teams talk to their counterparts all the time about conditions, including field, weather and footballs. I learned this morning that our kicking consultant (Randy Brown) sent a text to Coach Pagano on Jan. 16 suggesting to the Colts that they pay attention to how the officials rotate the kicking balls into the game. Coach Brown’s text did not mention the Patriots and did not complain about anything the Patriots did. The Colts never responded to Randy’s text, and he had no further communications with the Colts on this matter.”