Editor's note: This story was originally published January 28, 2015.
CHICAGO — An executive of the Chicago-based company that produces the leather for NFL footballs sounded a bit like New England Patriots ownership, coaches and players, who all deny responsibility for "Deflategate."
"We don’t have any interaction with the leather as soon as it leaves our building," Horween Leather Company Vice President Nick Horween said in an email Tuesday.
The NFL is continuing its investigation into whether the Patriots used deliberately underinflated footballs during their 45-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Jan. 18's AFC Championship Game. The saga, known as Deflategate, has dominated conversation heading into Sunday's Super Bowl between the Pats and defending champion Seattle Seahawks on NBC.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady have denied any wrongdoing, and team owner Robert Kraft concurred, adding that the NFL owes the franchise an apology if no evidence of impropriety is discovered.
Justin Breen digs as deep as possible into "deflategate:"
Bucktown-based Horween, 2105 N. Elston Ave., was founded in 1905 and has supplied leather for purses, wallets and many other products. The NFL has used leather from the fifth-generation, family-run company for its footballs for nearly 75 years. Arnold Horween was an NFL player and coach who got the football contract in the early 1940s. The company now processes about 4,000 cowhides and 1,000 horsehides a week that they bring in from around North America and South America.
NFL rules state a game ball must be inflated to between 12.5 and 13.5 pounds per square inch. Horween, of Lakeview, said each quarterback has a preference "in terms of how the ball should feel and perform."
"I’d compare a game ball to a baseball glove — everyone likes something a little different," Horween said. "I think it’s interesting to look at the ball when it’s on the field, and how different it looks from [quarterback to quarterback]."
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