Bellichick = coach of the year?

[wart57]

I guess cheaters do prosper.....

[cardinalkarp]

The team went 16-0, he deserved it.

[wart57]

The team went 16-0, he deserved it.

by cheating.

I hope they make it to the Super Bowl and lose on a last min field goal.

[cardinalkarp]

The team went 16-0, he deserved it.

by cheating.

I hope they make it to the Super Bowl and lose on a last min field goal.

I would say pretty much every team in one way or another was doing the same thing they were doing. Maybe not to the extent of video taping, but still.

[ThatGuy]

I would say pretty much every team in one way or another was doing the same thing they were doing. Maybe not to the extent of video taping, but still.

I hear this argument all the time and it bothers me somewhat. Cheating is cheating, and the Patriots were caught red-handed. Until I see concrete proof that other teams were doing the same thing, I think it's a copout for excuse-makers to use the, "But we're not the only ones doing it!" argument.

I know it's entirely possible that the Patriots weren't alone, but so far they are the ONLY team to get caught.

[Cronos]

It's amusing that the Patriots got "caught" cheating this year when they've been pushing the rules as hard as possible in many ways since Belichick's arrival(unabated hits to the QB's head, mugging receivers, etc.). Apparently in the NFL it really is only cheating if you get caught.

[Molly]

It's amusing that the Patriots got "caught" cheating this year when they've been pushing the rules as hard as possible in many ways since Belichick's arrival(unabated hits to the QB's head, mugging receivers, etc.). Apparently in the NFL it really is only cheating if you get caught.

This has been hubby's argument for quite awhile now. He especially loves the way Brady has all day, every Sunday, to throw and NOBODY on the Pats' offensive line is ever called for holding.

And unlike wart, I don't want to see them anywhere near the SB. I want them to get their ass kicked in the first round by a wild card team!!

But let's face it folks. Believe it or not, the fix is in. New England will be the Super Bowl champs.

[omaha_red]

i hate belichick and the pats as much as the next guy..
maybe even more.. but you really can't argue that he's not coach of the year..

[Bo Hart]

A good baseball analogy is the Mark Mulder start against the White Sox in the 2006 summer. Remember that game? He ended up giving up some absurd number of earned runs. Like 9 in 4 innings or something like that. Maybe it was even more in like the neighborhood of 12? I can't remember and it's really besides the point.

After the game, there were allegations that the White Sox were using a camera from centerfield to steal signs. While this may have been the case, did it really matter? Mulder was a train wreck and was pitching with a heavily damaged shoulder. Camera or not, Mulder was toast.

Similarly, regardless of whether or not they videotaped the Jets, the Patriots were going to destroy them. I fail to see why it's such a big deal. If, say, a fact like this came to light after the Colts game (a heavily contested, down-to-the-end-of-the-game battle), I could see someone viewing it as something of valid concern...

While the whole ordeal might make you question Belichick's morals or integrity, it sure as hell does not taint their accomplishments. Given the circumstances (happened in week one, happened against a crappy team, etc), it clearly wouldn't have that big of an impact on the award.

Oh, and... I'm not saying what the Patriots did was acceptable. They cheated, got caught, and paid a steep price. In reality, though, the whole "Spygate" ordeal probably had a negligible impact on the season...

[Socnorb11]

I would say pretty much every team in one way or another was doing the same thing they were doing. Maybe not to the extent of video taping, but still.

I hear this argument all the time and it bothers me somewhat. Cheating is cheating, and the Patriots were caught red-handed. Until I see concrete proof that other teams were doing the same thing, I think it's a copout for excuse-makers to use the, "But we're not the only ones doing it!" argument.

I know it's entirely possible that the Patriots weren't alone, but so far they are the ONLY team to get caught.

The Patriots were caught, and were reprimanded for it. I'm not sure what else people want.

You've gotta hand it to 'em........ even after they got caught, they continued to destroy their opposition like we've never seen before.