The Sports Rumors

NFL Power Rankings Week 9

I wanted to write about a number of things that I noticed over the NFL weekend but working 12 hour days at the office kind of takes away time to do so. Now we’re at the midpoint of the week and it’s somewhat irrelevant to go back into what happened over the weekend, especially when we have an enormous matchup approaching with the Pats visiting Indianapolis to settle who’s the real #1 team in the NFL. But before I dive into that matchup with tomorrow’s article, I want to bring up something that really rubbed me the wrong way.

Bill Belichick and the Patriots Have No Class

I’m a diehard Washington Redskins fan; have been, always will be. When I am watching the games, I am like any other fan and am fairly biased. However, there are certain things that I can look back on, with my Redskins jersey and hat off, and view from a neutral standpoint. One of those things being the manner in which Bill Belichick stuck it to the Redskins at the end of the game.

If you have not heard by now, the Patriots were up 38-0 with less than ten minutes to go in the ballgame. They were once again driving down the field, much as they had done all game. The ball was somewhere inside the 10 yard line and they were facing a 4^th down and 1. Again, the score was 38-0. They opted to go for it rather than take the 3 points and kick the field goal. I can understand this. Somewhat of a mercy rule, an unsaid thing in sports. I was anticipating a rushing attempt, and if they pick up the first down, they would continue to just run the ball. The Redskins would know that they are going to continue to run the ball and hopefully stop them, causing a turnover on downs. That’s how things usually work. Rewind a couple of weeks back when the Patriots were at Dallas and the week was highlighted by Wade Phillips popping off about how Belichick’s titles are now tainted and how TO was talking about being the “original 81” and so forth. In THAT particular situation, though unclassy, I can understand the Pats running up the score to send a message to Phillips and other coaches around the league; “If you’re going to verbally take shots at us, be ready to get beat up mercilessly come Sunday.”

I understand that. I don’t mind that.

Back to the Redskins-Pats game. 4^th down and 1 yard to go. On the other sideline is one of the most respected, well-liked, hall of fame coaches in Joe Gibbs. Bill Belichick picks up the first down. That’s fine. 1^st and goal, Bill Belichick goes shotgun. Not fine. Second down, they pass again and get a touchdown. Gibbs looks stunned. Troy Aikman points out, “I don’t know how Joe is going to take this.” Now it should be pointed out that later in the game, with the substitutes in, the Pats again went for fourth down and scored another touchdown making the score 52-0, but I don’t care as much about the second touchdown as I do the first, because the first one was with the starters in and the game without a doubt over.

I don’t understand the reasoning or the mindset that Belichick has to unnecessarily rub Joe Gibbs’ nose in the dirt. People have been saying, “Oh, well if you don’t want them to score more, stop them.” That’s not the point. The point is the game was over and they could have shown some class and respect towards a legendary coach who has done nothing controversial in all his years in the business.

Furthermore, I really wish that Sean Taylor had gone after Tom Brady in retaliation for Belichick’s games and driven the pretty boy quarterback into the dirt and banged him up. I don’t care if he gets the 15 yard penalty or even a 1 game suspension. This is how things were settled in the old days; not through the media. I would have LOVED to see Belichick’s reaction as Brady rolled around in pain because of his coach’s decision to be a hotshot badass. And why did I choose Brady and not Moss or someone else? Because Brady is to blame in this situation as well. He HAS the power to say “No” to Belichick and switch to a run play if he deems appropriate. He has the authority because he is just as valuable to the team’s success and reputation as Belichick is.

The Redskins aren’t going to see the Patriots again and Belichick will continue his classless style in the future. I really hope that it comes back to haunt him later, just like his legacy is already tarnished courtesy of Spygate. I will never write a respectful column or piece about the coach of the Patriots and won’t even refer to him by his name from this point forward. He is below the game of football and he is a disrespectful, arrogant cheater. Go Colts.