If there was a better way to answer the nay-sayers and those with ring-envy than the trouncing of the San Diego Chargers with a national television audience in tow, then I have lost touch. Generally considered a top echelon team, the Chargers were systematically picked apart by the larger predator, the blood-thirsty Patriots. They proved to everyone that this camera-gate incident had little or no actual effect on game play and the Patriots had accomplished their dynasty on teamwork, discipline and talent.
The media coverage on this story should disappear. Or so I thought. On the news and coverage of the Monday night ESPN telecast, again we have the experts, former players and coaches, like stone pillars on the moral high ground casting down their sanctimonious judgments to the people. What a bunch of long-winded morons. Everybody wants to look tough on crime, but it seems no one has been troubled to really understand what advantage filming opposing signals offers. If everyone in the NFL steals signals, why is Belichick chastised for doing it too?
The analogies are ridiculous. A comparison to Bonds, the biggest cheater today is over the top. The “experts” did not even take the time to explain to the fans what Belichick did that was so vile and why it was against the rules. If they had, fans would not nearly be as upset and perplexed by this scandal. It is true that Belichick broke NFL rules…but… should stealing a candy bar cost one’s hand as punishment? Let’s call a spade a spade and see the reaction to the scandal not as a proper punishment reprimand but blatant acrimony.
9 years ago
2 comments:
Wow your biases towards the patriots are hard to hide. Belichick broke a direct rule that he was told not to break at the beginning of the season by the commissioner. Video taping signals offers a distinct advantage for the offense. If you videotape you have more time to analyze the signals then if you have a person watching with binoculars. If you know the defense a team is going to play you can modify your offensive plays to exploit the weaknesses. In my opinion it really hurts his legacy. Who knows what kind of edge it gave him in the three super bowl wins, especially the two where he won by a field goal. Hey in New England he will always be a hero but only in New England. The reaction towards Belichick has little to do with the fact that the patriots win. Look at the famous coaches in the modern era and try to find one that is as disliked by others including his peers as much as Belichick.
Its not about winning it’s about how Belichick carries himself. Perhaps a public apology would change some opinions. It’s a long season and the Patriots have the best personnel in football. It will take more than a win against the chargers to exonerate Belichick.
In terms of coaching
Bill Walsh is clearly the better coach. They are currently equal in terms of super bowl wins and Walsh has an advantage in winning percentage and overall wins. The more important factor is that Walsh did it by transforming a team that was perpetually the worst team in the league. Belichick proved he could not do that with the Browns when he went 36-44. Belichick then took a good patriots team and made them better. Walsh was also more innovative. Here is quote from a hall of fame coach "Bill's legacy is going to be that he changed offense. What offense is today is what Bill Walsh was. Offense before Bill Walsh was run, run defense, establish the run. Run on first down, run on second down, and if that doesn't work, pass on third down. Bill Walsh passed on first down, passed on second down and used that to set up the run. "People use the word 'genius' and we usually scoff at that. In his case, I don't think you can scoff at it. If there is a genius in football, Bill Walsh was one of them." Or how about this quote by prominent NFL executive, “He has developed advanced offensive philosophies that when operated correctly, are still unbeatable more than twenty years after their implementation, as well he has re-defined the drafting procedure. Bill Walsh, is, was and always will be the greatest mind to ever a grace the game of football.”
Further proof is in the coaching disciples that are connected to Walsh. Since Walsh became the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers in 1979, 27 Super Bowls have been played. Of those 27 Super Bowls, Walsh and his disciples have won 11, while 16 of the 30 coaches who have participated in that game over that same time span are also linked to him.
How many Belichick disciples are there? Crenel has at max one season left in Cleveland after 3 years to right a sinking ship. Weis is failing worse than any coach has ever failed at Notre Dame and lets not forget his only success came with his predecessors players. I doubt Mangini would even considers himself a Belichick disciple. Its really going to take a lot for Belichick to ever out due Walsh, it will take more than super bowl wins, he will have to have a lasting impact on the game like Walsh did.
Chevy,
I admitted my bias on the onset, and unfortunately so did you on your ensuing paragraph about the legacy of Bill Walsh. Obviously you do not like Belichick. As Peter King said on MSNBC today when interviewed during the "Morning Joe" on Belichick's scandal, he said that, and I paraphrase, "the videotaping was one piece out of a 500 piece puzzle to win games". Did you see what the video on the Jets showed? 4 different coaches giving hand signals. It is almost laughable to think that those signals could be analyzed and used for even the second half of a football game. If the coaches haven't changed signals the next time they play, then shame on them. He did break a rule, you are right to criticize and the league is right to punish. But in terms of how much this could give Patriots advantage DURING a game, I completely disagree.
Most of the reaction came from players of other organizations, especially those that the Patriots beat. I'm sure you can see Donavan McNabb's bias. If he is believed then you might as well believe he is criticized because he is black too! If you perceive Belichick to be classless then you may want to check this out.http://www.allthingsbillbelichick.com/articles/2002/realbill.htm
I doubt other outspoken players and coaches have quite the CV to back up their moral hegemony. And please don't use Mangini as some righteous victim. Wasn't it his Jets that were barking false snap counts at the line of scrimmage against the Ravens last week?
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