Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett has expressed his belief that all the attention surrounding the 'deflategate' scandal with the New England Patriots is propaganda for the NFL to build further attention ahead of the Super Bowl.
The league confirmed that it was investigating the incident after a report suggested that 11 of the 12 balls used by the Patriots in their AFC championship win over the Indianapolis Colts were under-inflated.
However, following a turbulent week for the NFL, Bennett is eager to get down to business in the battle for the Vince Lombardi trophy against a team for whom he has the utmost respect.
Bennett told reporters: "I mean, I think it's all propaganda, man. 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.
"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."
The Seahawks are aiming to become the first team to defend the Super Bowl since the 2004 Patriots when they face off in Glendale on February 1.
