Patriots fan in Seattle deflated over controversy

SEATTLE -- He’s a Patriots fan, selling Seahawks gear in Seattle.

"I like to say, go Pats, but I know here that’s wrong," said Leon Jendrasko, as he sold Seahawks T-shirts, and '12' flags on the side of a busy road.

Jendrasko is also finding himself defending his beloved Pats over their latest controversy.

"All I keep hearing about is the deflated footballs."

Eleven deflated balls out of 12 the Patriots allegedly used last Sunday has the Pats offensive star in defensive mode.

"I've always played within the rules," Tom Brady told reporters on Thursday. "I would never do anything to break the rules."

Brady's coach, Bill Belichick, also claimed ignorance.

"When I came in Monday morning I was shocked to learn of the news reports about the footballs," said Belichick.

Jason Gesser, former quarterback for the Washington State Cougars, who also played in the NFL and CFL, said under-inflated balls definitely help a lot of QBs with grip.

"To have that soft feel to it really helps out," said Gesser. "I have small hands so I would try to get away with whatever I could have, see how soft I could get the football."

Gesser says though he would pick out the best feeling footballs to use before the game, he would never tell equipment personnel to deflate balls, and he doesn’t believe Brady did either.

But no one can explain how 11 of 12 Patriot footballs were apparently below the minimum by two pounds of air pressure per square inch.

Jendrasko, a Pats fan in enemy territory, just hopes it doesn’t  take away from what could be a great Super Bowl match-up.

"I’m hoping for a very good football game and may the best team win."