Report: Patriots tried to use unapproved special teams ball in AFC Championship

A New England Patriots locker-room attendant attempted to introduce an unapproved football into the AFC Championship game, according to ESPN's Outside the Lines.

Related: Troy Vincent confirms 'Deflategate' investigation started after tip from Colts

The attendant, identified as 48-year-old Jim McNally, was assigned to the officials' locker room and in the first half tried to give the alternate official an unapproved "K ball" that would have been used solely on special teams. 

Outside the Lines' Kelly Naqi writes:

The alternate official, Greg Yette, became suspicious when he noticed that the football McNally handed him did not have the proper markings on it, three sources say. One of those sources added that Yette found it surprising that the officials' locker room attendant was on the field, trying to hand him a ball, since officials' locker room attendants don't typically have ball-handling responsibilities during NFL games. Once McNally tried to introduce the unapproved football into the game, the source says, Yette notified the NFL's Vice President of Game Operations, Mike Kensil, who was at the game in the press box.

McNally has reportedly been interviewed by Ted Wells, the attorney responsible for the NFL's investigation into the "Deflategate" incident that took place during the same game.

The incident is separate from the deflated footballs that were used by the Patriots' offense, which has caused the investigation. If true, it would be a violation of the NFL's rules surrounding use of proper footballs.