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I hate Bill Belichick. Those of you who know me from MM already know this. He's a cheater, he's an asshole, and he's entirely unlikable in almost every way. With that said, I find it almost impossible to be critical of the 4th & 2.
Had the Pats made it, all of the hypocrites in the media, from ESPN to print, would be lauding Belichick for yet another genious move, and raving about how he had the gumption to take a gamble and keep the greatest QB of all time off the field. As it is, he is being blasted by nearly everyone, including some of his former players.
But i'm not here to debate the call. We have threads for that. I'm here to illustrate the bigger issue.
NFL head coaches allow the media to make decisions for them. They live in fear of the type of backlash and scrutiny that Belichick is facing this week. That's why every NFL head coach is essentially the same, and make the same conservative, coach-by-numbers decisions in nearly every situation.
Conventional wisdom called for a punt Sunday night. Nobody would have had a bad word for Belichick had he punted, and Peyton still won the game. It's what you are supposed to do.
Belichick has three SB rings and job security. That's why he can make a gutsy call like the one Sunday night, and get away with it. Other coaches, in similar situations, have postgame press conferences in the back of their minds, and promptly send out the punt team. They do what you are supposed to do. And what you are supposed to do, is play conservative, and punt. They cant blame me, I played it by the book.
It's the same reason you rarely see teams try to block punts. Nobody wants to answer for the 15 yard penalty.
It's the same reason teams slip into the Prevent (you from winning) defense at the end of games, because they dont want to answer for allowing a TD on a blitz.
It's the same reason head coaches demand balanced playcalling from offensive coordinators. They dont want to answer as to why their team passed 45 times and lost (yet no one questions this when teams win).
Coaches fear the media, and are cowards for the conventional and safe. Belichick dosen't give a shit what anybody thinks, and that's why, as much as i'd like to, I cant kill him for 4th & 2. It was agrressive, and aggressive is a dirty word for most NFL coaches.
It wasnt a bad call, it just didnt work out.
Had the Pats made it, all of the hypocrites in the media, from ESPN to print, would be lauding Belichick for yet another genious move, and raving about how he had the gumption to take a gamble and keep the greatest QB of all time off the field. As it is, he is being blasted by nearly everyone, including some of his former players.
But i'm not here to debate the call. We have threads for that. I'm here to illustrate the bigger issue.
NFL head coaches allow the media to make decisions for them. They live in fear of the type of backlash and scrutiny that Belichick is facing this week. That's why every NFL head coach is essentially the same, and make the same conservative, coach-by-numbers decisions in nearly every situation.
Conventional wisdom called for a punt Sunday night. Nobody would have had a bad word for Belichick had he punted, and Peyton still won the game. It's what you are supposed to do.
Belichick has three SB rings and job security. That's why he can make a gutsy call like the one Sunday night, and get away with it. Other coaches, in similar situations, have postgame press conferences in the back of their minds, and promptly send out the punt team. They do what you are supposed to do. And what you are supposed to do, is play conservative, and punt. They cant blame me, I played it by the book.
It's the same reason you rarely see teams try to block punts. Nobody wants to answer for the 15 yard penalty.
It's the same reason teams slip into the Prevent (you from winning) defense at the end of games, because they dont want to answer for allowing a TD on a blitz.
It's the same reason head coaches demand balanced playcalling from offensive coordinators. They dont want to answer as to why their team passed 45 times and lost (yet no one questions this when teams win).
Coaches fear the media, and are cowards for the conventional and safe. Belichick dosen't give a shit what anybody thinks, and that's why, as much as i'd like to, I cant kill him for 4th & 2. It was agrressive, and aggressive is a dirty word for most NFL coaches.
It wasnt a bad call, it just didnt work out.
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