The NFL team investigating why 11 of 12 footballs used by the New England Patriots in their AFC Championship Game win were underinflated has asked the physics department at Columbia University for help, according to The New York Times.

The newspaper reported that a partner at the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison made the call to the physics department Monday. Ted Wells, who along with NFL executive vice president Jeff Pash is leading the investigation, is co-chair of the litigation department at the law firm.

“He would like to consult with a physicist on matters relating to gas physics,” the newspaper cited notes from an administrative manager, referring to the partner, Lorin L. Reisner, who initiated the contact with the Ivy League university.

Records obtained by the Times showed that Reisner also emailed Columbia’s physics department, asking for help learning how weather conditions can affect football pressure..

“Just to confirm our call, we represent the NFL in connection with the investigation into the footballs used during the AFC championship game and would like to discuss engaging a professor of physics to consult on matters relating to gas physics and environmental impacts on inflated footballs,” Reisner said. “Please let me know whether there is a Columbia professor who may be interested in and appropriate for this assignment.”

New England coach Bill Belichick admitted at his press conference last Saturday that he’s “not a scientist,” but he said the Patriots had studied and simulated the process of game ball preparation and believes they “absolutely followed every rule to the letter.”

“I believe now 100 percent that I personally and we as an organization have absolutely followed every rule to the letter,” Belichick said.

Belichick suggested that weather conditions may have affected the air pressure. Heavy rain and strong wind were in Foxborough the night of the game, and temperatures were in the low 50s and high 40s.

Wells said Monday that “no one should draw any conclusions” and the investigation is expected to last several more weeks.

Wells’ statement came after Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reported earlier Monday that NFL investigators are focused on a Patriots’ locker room attendant, who allegedly took the game balls from the officials’ locker room to another area on the way to the field.

Pro Football Talk reported that the location in question was a bathroom in which the attendant can be seen in a video entering and exiting in 90 seconds with the 24 footballs provided by both teams.