NFL Notes: Del Rio says Deflategate punishment ‘overdone'

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LOS ANGELES -- Oakland Raiders coach Jack Del Rio is not a fan of the discipline handed down against the New England Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady in the "Deflategate" scandal, likening it to the heavy sanctions received by his alma mater, Southern California, in the NCAA's Reggie Bush investigation.

"I think there are some similarities in terms of an overreaction, from my standpoint," Del Rio said Saturday, prior to the former All-America linebacker's induction into the USC Athletics Hall of Fame. "I think it was a little bit overdone, but that's somebody else's problem right now."

Del Rio said the NFL would have been better served by warning quarterbacks that tampering with the ball would not be tolerated going forward, noting that prolific passing offenses have helped drive the game's unprecedented popularity.

"Everybody understands that quarterbacks all want to get the balls how they like them, and why not?" Del Rio said. "They throw these balls around, and one of the reasons the sport is so popular is the ability of guys like Peyton (Manning) and Brady to throw the ball the way they do."

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, a fellow USC Hall of Fame inductee this weekend for his remarkable success in directing the Trojans to two national championships and seven consecutive BCS bowls and Pac-10 titles during the 2000s, supported the league's decision to investigate whether balls were properly inflated in the AFC championship game (see full story).

Seahawks: Carroll says Irvin's comments misinterpreted
LOS ANGELES -- Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin's recent declaration that he would be playing in Atlanta in 2016 doesn't mean what everyone thinks it does, according to coach Pete Carroll's interpretation of those remarks.

Speaking with reporters prior to his induction into the USC Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, Carroll said Irvin was not announcing a move to the Falcons next season. Irvin told BlackSportsOnline.com, "I'm going to be in Atlanta next season," at an Atlanta Hawks playoff game.

"I'm really glad you asked me that, because he didn't say that," Carroll said. "We've been talking all along. He has been working out in Atlanta for these three weeks, and he said (that) in response to the question `Do you want to come back home?' He said everybody likes to come back home, and it's a dream to come back home. It wasn't in reference to leaving us and coming back (to the Falcons). He was really adamant about it, and I asked him to leave it and not go at it anymore."

The Seahawks declined to exercise Irvin's fifth-year option earlier this month, which would make the former first-round pick a free agent after this season. Irvin, who has 16 1/2 career sacks in three seasons, took to Twitter to express his unhappiness with that decision, and has been linked to a move to the Falcons ever since.

Not only is Irvin an Atlanta native, but former Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is now the Falcons head coach. Atlanta has a glaring need for edge pass-rushers to improve a defense that ranked tied for 30th in sacks last season.

Carroll said the furor over Irvin's comments on social media and to internet outlets merely reflected the new media landscape.

"Anybody can put those messages out, and they have a life to them," Carroll said. "Our guys are getting better at understanding that, and Bruce has learned again from this lesson."

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