PHOENIX -- If one thing was made apparent during Seattle's first meet and greet with the media on Sunday, it's this: The questions over deflated footballs aren't going away anytime soon.
Every Seahawks player available was asked about the league's investigation into whether the Patriots intentionally deflated game balls in the AFC Championship Game against the Colts.
Instead of piling on, though, Seattle defensive lineman Michael Bennett asked reporters to focus less on pig bladders, PSI numbers and atmospheric conditions -- and more on Super Bowl XLIX.
"I mean, I think it's all propaganda, man," Bennett said. "Just to get a chance to blow the game up, is all. Inflating the game right now. Just to make it even more ... than what it really is about. And it really is just about two great teams playing. I think a lot of people are shying away from that aspect of it."
Said Bennett: "The Patriots are arguably one of the best teams of this decade, and we're starting to -- trying to -- catch up to where they're at, to what they've done the last 10 years. And Bill Belichick is one of the best coaches of all time, so I think people are forgetting that. The coaches going and the players playing -- it's too much about the balls and stuff. Hopefully everybody starts talking about the game again."
Bennett has gained an immediate fan in Belichick, who on Saturday delivered a surprise, power-house press conference defending New England's integrity.
Belichick said he was "embarrassed" at how many hours he spent on the topic this week in order to understand what happened against the Colts.
"I've spent more than enough time on this," Belichick fumed. At least one Seahawks player agrees.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast reacts to the Patriots' deflated footballs controversy and tells you whom to trust in Super Bowl XLIX. Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.
