'Deflategate' ball sells for nearly $44K at auction

One of the New England Patriots "Deflategate" footballs - used in their AFC Championship victory over the Indianapolis Colts - was sold Saturday for nearly $44,000, ESPN's Darren Rovell reports.

The ball was auctioned off by Lelands.com on behalf of Laura Nichols, who received it from Patriots wide receiver Brandon LaFell after LeGarrette Blount's third-quarter touchdown. The final price tag was $43,740, which may be the highest ever paid for a football.

In August 2014, a ball used in Georgia Tech's 222-0 victory over Cumberland College in 1916 was sold for $40,388.

The Patriots were fined $1 million and docked two draft picks after a report by attorney Ted Wells determined the team used under-inflated footballs in the game. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was also suspended four games, which he has appealed.