I understand that Bill Belichick is still smarting from what happened in early September, when the Jets turned him in for spying on their defensive signals.
I understand the chip on his shoulder is huge after the embarrassment of being slapped with sanctions and an avalanche of criticism.
And I understand that he and his team want to show the world that they can win fair and square - and win big, no less.
But running up the score against the Redskins and Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs isn't the way to do it.
Up 38-0 going into the fourth quarter, the Patriots continued pouring it when they should have taken their foot off the pedal. At 52-7, it looked more like a Division I college powerhouse beating up on a Division II weakling. It's not as if Belichick needs to impress the BCS voters.
This was Gibbs' worst defeat. Ever.
"It's one of those things that you hope it wouldn't happen to you," Gibbs said afterward. "It did. It's been a while since it's happened to us. It's been a long time. Our guys are going to have to deal with that."
I like the fact that the Patriots want to be an historically good team. And the way they're playing, you've got to believe that only injuries - or the Colts next weekend - stand in their way of an unbeaten season. But there's a way to do things, and running up the score on a Hall of Famer isn't one of them.
Belichick is a future Hall of Fame coach himself, but there's no use making more enemies on his way to Canton. He has a great team on his hands, and he is a great coach. Let's just hope he goes about it the right way. Beat your opponents. Show no mercy when the game is in question. But when it's out of reach, then either take a knee or run it into the middle of the line.
And if you want to run up the score, then save it for when Eric Mangini and the Jets come to down on Dec. 16. You'd get a pass on that one.
Comments (31)
I've been saying it for nearly the entire season. The way Belicheat runs up scores is classless. It certainly is another blemish on this certain HoF coach.
I'm waiting for the game the pats are up 52-0 when Brady drops back to pass, a linebacker will hit Brady's ribs and knock him out for the season.
While I never wish for a pro-athlete to get injured, there's be some poetic justice in the above scenario.
I disagree. This isn't Pop Warner.
Don't run up the score unless its the Jets?? Huh..thats a pretty juvenile statement Bob. This is the NFL, do a better job picking the millionaires you choose to play for your team. There is no running up the score in the NFL..Just get better players.
Glenn212:
I'm just saying I can understand that scenario against the Jets more than I can against the Redskins, that's all.
NKR:
Glad to hear your voice again.
B & G:
Cheers from London.
And if you want to run up the score, then save it for when Eric Mangini and the Jets come to down on Dec. 16. You'd get a pass on that one.
Why run it up against the Jets? Belichick should take responsibity for his actions, it wasn't anyone in the Jets organzation fault that BB decided to scoff at the CLEAR mandate from the NFL office not to video the oppositions sideline. So you condone cheating Bob..just curious.
Anonymous:
Of course I don't condone cheating. All I'm saying is that if Belichick chooses to run up the score on Mangini, given the circumstances of Week 1, people would understand it more than they do about running it up against Gibbs when the game is well out of reach in the fourth quarter.
NKR, this isn't college football, there's absolutely no BCS poll to impress. At this point of the season the Pat's aren't worried about 'tiebreakers'. Running up the score that late in the game is NOT in the best interests of the Pats!
Imagine it's December you're Joey Porter. The last time the two teams met the Pat's took pleasure in embarrassing you, now it's 52-0 and Brady drops back to pass, his arm up, exposing his ribs... you have a clean shot... a split second to make a decision, hit him waist high and get the sack, or hit him helmet to ribs and get some satisfaction?
Your comment is appropriate when you're talking about players on the teams the Pats beat doing the complaining... there's no excuse for that. Just stop the Pats if you don't want them to run up the score.
But if we're talking about Belicheats legacy, 'piling on' doesn't enhance it, it tarnishes it.
Maybe Boston shouldn't have run up the score in game 1 of the World Series? Come on. This is football. NFL football. Not a namby pamby politically correct pick up game. Humiliate the suckers if you can. And humiliate them the next time too.
Then expect what you get in return.
Recognize, part of the reason teams put in the second string and/or 'take a knee' is to avoid injury.
You want to expose your millionaire franchise stars to possible career ending injuries in meaningless situations?
Be my guest.
I have ZERO problem in "running up the score" i say it that way because i do not think that you can ever be ahead by enough in the NFL. If the Pats can yell across to Gibbs (or any other opposing coach) and say "we'll stop scoring if you promise not to try and come back" and the opposing coach agrees then and only then would running up the score be bush league in the NFL.
But if late in the game a defensive player has a clean shot at brady or anyone else, unload!
CN, for Real?
52-0 with 5:52 remaining on the clock?
That's an eight possession differential.
EIGHT possessions in 5:52!
"NEVER enough" might be a bit of an overstatement don't ya think?
Agreed, BnG. Easy to stop this with one dive at Brady's knees in garbage time. Hopefully the play will end with a lesson learned, not an injury. Either way, the majority would have no symapathy for the Pats. Was there a coaches handshake at the end of this one? TV footage was hard to determine.
Not only was there a handshake but Gibbs said in his post game interview that he had NO problem with Belicheats actions.
Classy man that Joe Gibbs.
http://www.courant.com/sports/football/hc-patriots1029.artoct29,0,5411074.story
So it is classless to run up the score but it is OK to go for Brady's knee at some point?
THAT isn't classless? Come on. I find it so odd that people will complain that this is bush league but then pray that it happens to the Pats.
If you are a believer in the revenge factor then you should have some understanding of what Bill is doing. The guy is pissed at the world and all the comments about the spying and this is his way of giving it back. I read comments from people demaning Goodell strip the Pats super bowl wins. Laughable.
If you want to preach ethics, then be consistent and say that you hope when some team has a chance to get back at the Pats they do the classy thing and show BB how it is done.
But nope instead we get wishes tha someone will hurt Tom Brady. Is this Brady's fault? Also, since when does running it up the gut prevent injuries?
People just hate the Pats. Plain and simple. BTW not talking to you Bob as you aren't asking for Tom Brady to have his kneecap broken nor do I think you are even thinking that.
But others ...........
If guys like Joey Porter aren't motivated enough by their 0-8 record I dont know what to say. Does Porter really need BB to motivte him?
Ben, you're creating a 'straw man' argument, something that you put up there that's not real, that's easy to knock down.
No one is wishing for anyone to get hurt, in fact every post here thats mentioned that possibility has explicitly stated that they DON'T want that to happen.
Just that what Belicheck is doing is stupid because it exposes his players to the possibility of career ending injury.
If I were Brady I'd be concerned about the potential loss of millions that I might earn, all for some meaningless insignificant play, so that my coach can exercise his machismo.
The potential for career ending injury is there on every play. In fact I would argue that a guy is more likely to get hurt if he is trying to play soft. Like someone else pointed out, the Redskins didn't stop trying. The Skins didn't start playing two hand touch.
I get the argument that Brady doesn't need to be in there but outside of Brady its not like the Pats have 22 scrubs sitting around to back-up all the positions. It is a game of football, a career ending injury could come on any play to any player.
The only thing that is going to guarantee no one gets hurt is if Gibbs calls the game due to a lack of competiveness.
"No one is wishing for anyone to get hurt, in fact every post here thats mentioned that possibility has explicitly stated that they DON'T want that to happen."
You yourself said there would be "poetic justice" to Brady getting hurt while still playing in a blowout.
You can't say something like that with the condition that you don't ever want anyone to get hurt.
You said there would be justice if Brady got hurt and you clearly are looking for justice. That is wishing the guy gets hurt no matter how you lay it out.
I also said "I never wish for a pro-athlete to get injured" but you put the emphasis wherever you think it best makes your point Ben. Obviously you know what's in my heart better than I do :-)
I think Belichick did it mostly to get Brady another TD pass. Colts/Pats is becoming (or being built up as) Yanks/Sox. They won't admit it, but it would mean a lot to them to erase Manning's record season from people's memories. At this pace, Brady would break the record by week 13. And it'd mean a lot to Belichick, for his legacy, to go down in history with the best points differential ever.
I don't like the Patriots - and I think the NFL should've come down on them MUCH harder for Videogate - but I don't have a problem with them running up the score. I'd have pulled my starters (including the offensive linemen) and not risked injury, but I'm not mad at Belichick. If you don't want them converting on 4th down or scoring, stop them. In fact, I could even see it being more embarassing for the Skins if Brady had taken a knee. Like someone gets a huge lead on you in a race and instead of running hard, they walk the last hundred feet to the finish line. I've got a friend who's a Redskins fan and he said that he was OK with it. "Revenge will be us beating them 75-0 in the Super Bowl." Won't happen, but that's the spirit.
Never forget Frank Reich. SOMEBODY'S going to break that record.
OK B and G. How about this then.
I would never call anyone a jerk but you're a jerk. Not being serious, btw.
Don't get mad at me for calling you a jerk. Afterall I said I would never call anyone a jerk.
Do you see what I am saying? Even though I said I would never call anyone a jerk, I called you a jerk. The fact that I said I would never call anyone a jerk doesn't excuse it or void it.
I realize you said you don't wish for anyone to get hurt. But you then turned around and claimed it would be poetic justice if someone did get hurt.
I think you know the reason the emphasis was put on what it was. The same reason the emphasis is on the Pats running up the score and not on the great charity work they do.
So the Pats are running up the score. The bigger questions is: why can't anyone stop them (legally)?
If huge, grown men, making gazillions of dollars have to whine and cry about getting trounced then they should retire.
Better yet, if you are losing 38-0 by half-time throw in the towel, walk off the field and go home to mommy.
More disturbing is the talk of taking cheap shots at Brady et al. If that's the only way to stop the Patriots then you don't belong in pro sports.
I don't get what exactly the Patriots (or ANY team for that matter) do to the other team by scoring a lot? What EXACTLY are you hoping for? Pity? Mercy?
If the Pats back off, pull their starters, and kneel on every play after going up by 2 or more scores, how is that ANY LESS in-your-face disrespect than continuing to play the game?
If you ACTUALLY BELIEVE that the game is over at the beginning of the 4th quarter, why aren't you advocating that the game simply be called on account of Team A being too good to keep playing Team B? (ie institute a "mercy" rule?)
If the Redskins were TRULY so embarassed by their performance, maybe they should have taken themselves out of the game? ("Sorry Joe, but I'm sucking huge today, you better send in someone else...") -- How come THAT option never gets mentioned?
Questions like these serve well to highlight the utter stupid rediculousness of the postition taken by those that are whining about "running up the score". It's a true red-herring, (baseless) argument you use when you're feelings are hurt and there's nothing legitimate for you to complain about.
So, if you're feeling a little blue about having the snot beat out of your team, maybe professional football is just a little too "real" for you? Maybe you should switch over to something a little more namby-pamby (to suit your delicate sensibilities)? I hear figure-skating, and synchronized swimming are always looking for a few more fans ...
Also, unless you're willing to quote to me, word for exact word, when, where and how the league stated specifically that the Patriots actualy CHEATED, I suggest you take your foot out of your mouth (and your head out of your a$$) and stop using the term. (The League never ONCE called it cheating, the sensationalist press simply paraphrased and substituted that judgement because it sells more papers than what was actually said).
So, while the Patriots did break a rule I challenge you, without looking it up to state what it was they did that was illegal.
I'd bet you a $100 you said "they filmed the other team"... and I'd be up a c-note for it too. The rule they broke states that they're not allowed to film the opposing coaches FROM THE SIDELINES. It does NOT say you can't film opposing coaches!
You're perfectly allowed to film them from the stands, from the box, from the freaking blimp, pretty much anywhere ELSE, just NOT from the sidelines. The rule they broke was simply in regards to CAMERA PLACEMENT. Please, for the love of god tell me how THAT translates to substantive "cheating"? (Of course, explaining it THAT way doesn't sell more papers, so the press opts to paraphrase and insinuate, and all the Patriot-haters lap-it-up and parrot it to anyone they can make listen.)
Bleus, thank you for saying what I've been laughing to myself about since the story broke. My memory isn't what it used to be, but I seem to recal Goodell saying that there was no evidence that there was a competitive advantage gained from the taping. You are absolutely right.
Every teams fan that got obliterated by the Pats this year has never once said "ya know, my team sucked really bad today," it's always "Pats are cheaters." Talk about grasping at straws to make themselves feel better about losing a game.
Pats are the team to hate, just like the Raiders (dirtiest team in the NFL) during their dynasty and Cowboys (America's Junkies) during theirs.
Belichik puts another point on the board for every jackass that says the Pats are cheaters.
Flame away on my post, the scoreboard does my talking for me.
Thank you zizzlak for pointing out that the league stated " There was no competitive advantage gained." Although it was a blatant infraction of the rule forbidding filming from the sidelines, it IS permissible to tape from any other vantage point. For those that complain, trust me, your team is doing the same thing, only not from the sidelines.
As far as running up the score, why not? An offense's mandate is to score points. The defense's is to stop them from doing so. Whether the Patrioits had kicked a field goal in that situation, they would still face the same allegation of running up the score. At least they gace the defense the chance to make a stop. And don't forget, the last touchdown was a run by a backup QB for God's sake.
If any defensive player (Joey Porter was mentioned) feels the only way to win a game is to take a cheap shot at someone, then that player needs to hang up his jockstrap, because he is not a professional, but a loser.
In football history, records are broken by teams superior to others. Teams that score more then others win games. Teams that score much, much more than others, maybe break records. Records are made to be broken. I say, break the records!
All teams try to find an advantage over another. Some get caught. The Jets coach used to coach for New England. He knew what went on. Is this one way that he got back at his former boss? Was there any animosity?
Whines whine, but if their team wins no matter what the score, do they whine again? NO.
Gibbs is a professional coach. He is not suicidal. He has run up the score on others in his life. Que sera, sera.
C'mon - running up the score does not exist in the NFL. It is a term from college and high school. These are highly paid professionals. Stop whining!
Belechick is always trying to improve his team. He is playing a 60 minute, "down-by-down" football game, which is his job, and the player's job. He does not look at the score. You cannot simulate plays in practice as you can in a game situation, and after a game is out of hand, that's most likely what he is doing.
All the naysayers that say he is running it up by going for it on 4th down - hmmm....what happens if they don't convert? Oh, we forget about that.... Quit whining - play football, and stop them.
And the folks that are rooting for career-ending cheap shots - get a life. How often in history is a team assembled that can do what the Pats have done? Are the existing records etched in stone, never to be broken? We are all witnessing history in the making.
Running up the score? Why didn't we hear this when Manning and the Colts were having their amazing season, running up the score almost every week as Peyton chased all-time NFL records. I don't remember Manning taking himself out early in those games.
Who care if the Pat's run up the score, they still have a coach who can't even face the opponents coach after the game with a respectful hand shake, that just shows how little class Belichick has. To bad a good coach has to act like such a peckerhead.
What's worse? Going for it on 4th down where the opposition at least has a chance to stop you, or kicking a field goal for 3 points?
Stop whining......
This talk of running up the score and revenge tactics is just plain stupid. These athletes are paid (and paid a large amount of money) to play a kids game. The last time I checked, there was no Mercy Rule in the NFL rule book. If a team can score, it scores. A defense's job is to stop the offense from scoring. If they cannot do it, they should return the money they get and let others try. Not complain to the media about sportsmanship. Ah, I missed the complaining is sportsmanship class!!! Joe Gibbs should fine every defensive player for there terrible performance. Coach Bill seemed to be working something called situational football. 2 minute drills, 4 down plays and everything in between. Perfection means success when practice and preperation meet in the road. Maybe other teams should try it. Spygate has no relevance to this game or any other game, since the camera guy never even was able to deliver the tape. So forget a competitive advantage. The Patriots are on a mission and will not be stopped, even by the ref's from the Colts game. Best suggestion for the rest of the NFL, learn to play defense against good teams instead of complaining about it.