Classless Coach Belichick

[mheisig]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

But here's my issue with this type of argument, Belichick isn't playing dirty ball, he's just outcoaching the opponent and his boys are out hustling and out thinking the other side. What's bad karma about that?

I'm sure if the someone runs up the score on N.E. this week or next, they have no problem with it.

I don't think anyone (at least not me) is arguing that we were outcoached and outplayed. They beat us in every last aspect of the game, no doubt about it. And it doesn't excuse our play either - we played like crap and we got beat soundly for it.

It think what people are complaining about is the play calling on the part of the Patriot's offense late in the game. I wouldn't expect the players to take it easy or just kneel down on every possession in the 4th quarter or anything like that. The playcalling from Belichick, however, was extremely aggressive , throwing it deep even when we were down 40+ points to 0.

I think his playcalling was obviously designed to keep racking up points as long as there was time on the clock. When the point differential gets to a certain level it's not about ensuring a win or going for the kill, it's about humiliating an opponent, which is exactly what Belichick was doing.

When the score is 40+ to nothing, throwing the ball deep to get a few more TDs has nothing to do with winning and everything to do with piling on the humiliation and stroking your own ego.

The players can't and shouldn't play less, but they're only going to run what the coach calls, which in Belichicks case is pass, pass, pass, run, run, pass, pass.

Fact of the matter is there is something of an informal agreement or etiquette in football that has lasted decades and he's breaking it, week in and week out. If you DO get up on an opponent by a ridiculous amount, have some class and play a touch more conservative and run the clock out. It's been understood and accepted for years, and Belichick is on a rampage of essentially mocking the entire system and tradition of class that has gone before him.

Tony Dungy's team is undefeated and they've been consistent contenders at the highest level, yet you don't find him or his people embroiled in this much scandal and hatred as you do Belichick and his gang.

As long as he's got the team to keep pounding people like this then there's nothing anyone can do. His legacy in the NFL, however, will most likely be one of victories tarnished buy cheating scandals, a dishonest personal and professional life, and generally being resented by pretty much everyone (except irish and skinsfan).