The home team provides the game balls, alternates and the visiting team also has some alternates. They split the game balls and each offense uses their half of the balls.
http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/01/19/new-england-patriots-deflategate-bill-belichick-tom-brady
some good stuff on Belicheat from SI.
"
But the question is not whether Belichick needed to cheat. It’s whether he did, and could.
Generally, the home team supplies footballs, but that’s no advantage, because the officials check them all before the game. The advantage begins after the game starts. The home team has ball boys (or girls) who monitor the balls on both sidelines during the game. Officials can’t do it, because they are officiating the game.
And since each team’s offense tends to use the balls from its own sideline, a team could easily deflate balls on its sideline, allowing for an easier grip and more catchable ball, without the other team ever catching on.
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And if any coach would try it, it’s Belichick. He has earned his reputation for doing anything to gain an advantage.
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Smart opposing coaches put locks on every entryway to the locker room, so nobody from the Patriots can walk in, "accidentally" grab a play sheet or two and "inadvertently" bring it back to the New England coaches.
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Kraft is a close confidant and protector of commissioner Roger Goodell...
Cross Belichick and you cross Kraft. Cross Kraft and you risk the wrath of Goodell.
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Maybe some of this is overstated. But the perception is real, and it is not totally unfounded.
"
It's a good read. The comment section if full of Patriots fans shitting on the Author.
Also Jay Glazer said today that he still has his copies of the spygate videos. You know, the ones Goodell had to destroy because he had no shelf space to store them *wink wink*
