Even President Obama can’t resist mocking the New England Patriots over footballs that were allegedly underinflated in the team’s latest run to a Super Bowl championship.
“I usually tell a bunch of jokes at these events,” Obama said at the White House, joined by the Super-Bowl-winning squad. “But with the Patriots in town, I was worried that 11 out of 12 of them would fall flat.”
The National Football League is still investigating why 11 of the 12 game balls used by the Patriots in the AFC Championship game were not inflated properly. The team’s coaches and players said they had no idea that they were breaking the rules.
Obama’s dig was met with groans from the heavy New England contingency at the White House, including Secretary of State John Kerry.
“That whole story got blown a little out of proportion,” Obama added, laughing at his own joke.
The “Deflategate” controversy continues to hang over the Patriots. The NFL has given no indication of when it will complete its investigation.
Still, Obama lamented that a certain Chicago-area team has not yet visited the White House during his tenure.
“I’m hoping I get to see the Bears before I leave here,” the president said.
