New England 38, Washington 0.As I watched the Patriots run away from a seemingly-mediocre Redskins team, I started thinking about how unbelievable they've been this season—how many points they've scored, and how they've embarrassed every one of their opponents.
Stephen Gostkowski must be one happy man, kicking for this team.
After a fairly successful Redskins drive in the third quarter, the Patriots took over on downs—and Tom Brady came back into the game, along with Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and the rest of the first team.
"I guess Bill [Belichick] won't take Brady out until the Patriots score 40 points," said Troy Aikman.
Aikman was no doubt wondering what we were all thinking at home:
Why on Earth would the Patriots send the first team out with such a commanding lead?
Still, he didn't challenge Belichick or the Pats directly. After all, how could you even think about knocking them after all the success they've had this year?
The Patriots have been involved in their share of controversy in 2007, mostly stemming from VideoGate. But many people have overlooked the fact that New England has scored a ridiculous number of points against every opponent they've faced.
Washington was clearly not going to score 38 points in the fourth quarter. The way they looked today, even two touchdowns for the entire game would have been a stretch.
On a 4th-and-1 play, the Patriots sneaked the ball with Brady and got the first down. Two plays later, Brady fired his third touchdown pass of the day to Welker.
New England 45, Washington 0.
On their next drive, backup QB Matt Cassel came out passing on the first three downs, and completed a pass on first down to WR Jabar Gaffney. Cassel ultimately scrambled for another touchdown.
New England 52, Washington 0.
So what does all this mean?
Running up the score is a significant issue in every sport, especially professional sports. It's frowned upon more often than not, with prevailing opinion divided into two camps.
Opinion No. 1: If a team is good enough, they should have every right to run up the score if they decide to do so.
The Patriots are a dominant team on both sides of the ball. They have every right to express that dominance by scoring at will.
The Redskins made several mistakes and turnovers today, and their defense wasn't stopping anyone. The Patriots simply couldn't help but score.
In the bigger picture, there's no NFL rule against running up the score.
Opinion No. 2: A team should never run up the score, as it doesn't prove anything—other than the fact that the team doing the scoring is a model of poor sportsmanship.
After the Patriots scored an insurmountable number of points (38), they should have sent in the second team and done one of two things:
-Simply run out the game clock with RBs Kevin Faulk, Heath Evans, and Kyle Eckel.
-Gotten QB Matt Cassel quality pass attempts, intermixed with inside runs.
153 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Anonymous about 1 year ago
I've been a staunch supporter of the pats going for it late, but this time I can find no excuse. I have great admiration for Gibbs; I'm not sure what Belichick has against him. There's a fine line between keeping your 1st stringers on fire and being a jackass. Even if he wanted to say "f you" to the rest of the NFL, I think Belichick crossed the line today.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
i think it goes back to last year when the colts came back and won in the playoffs, i do not think that the patriots want to ever let that happen again, also the skins were giving up yards every play so it was their own fault
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
How about the fact that Bellichick and the patriots became the fall guy for the spy gate incident. They are not the only team who has stolen signs and coaches have even come out to say it. But everyone suddenly started saying that their championships are tainted and questioned them at every turn.
How is the best way to shut everyone up and get a little payback to all the other coaches who either do the same thing, or criticized them, beat the living snot out of everyone every game. As well as break as many records along the way.
Everyone basically questioned the patriots organization and put the quote Asterick on them.
The go undefeated and squash everyone in the process what does it do? Piss everyone off and get even with all the crap that has been said about them.
I hope they beat Indy by 30 next week. Not likely but what will everyone say then if they do it?
The unwritten rule of running up the score may be broken by the patriots, but what about the coaches unwritten rule of sign stealing? Everyone does it and every team has strategies in place to try and fool the other team.
There is only one person you can thank for this . . . .Eric Mangini
You think it's bad now? Wait till the jets come to foxboro in a few weeks.
-Patriots Nation
Edit Comment Cancel
Roy MacB about 1 year ago
Well said,,I would like to call Dec.16th/2007 " Eric Mangini Day " and hope to beat hell it snows. I wonder just how many snowballs Mangini would take in his fat face .? He's the biggest " Snitch " ever in Pro Sports and that is the number one reason that he can't get his team to play for him. Like everyone else wouldn't like having the guy around the dressing room now because of what he did to Belichick and the best NFL Team in history. I would bet that he is fired soon or at the end of this year and won't get another job in football again.! Nobody can trust him anymore would you hire him ??
Patriots Nation Forever GO PATS GO
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Hey fella's let me get you some kleenex, maybe you should have watched a chick flick with your wife.
THIS IS FOOTBALL , FOOTBALL DAMMIT, NOT TIDDLIEWINKS.
There is no crying in football, this is a bone jarring , bruising VIOLENT sport, stop crying about the score running up , and get ready for next week.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
And what if the Pats took out the starters after scoring 38 and the second string allowed the Redskins to get back into the game? What if the final score was 38 to 36? The media would be saying negative things about the Pats just the same.
The Yankees provided baseball with exciting play and were considered arrogant but they added a lot to the game. People hated them but they were still admired.
Next week Forrest's last sentence may come true but at what point, playing a very good team like the Colts, does it become running up the score and driving a stake through the heart?
If the Pats do lose this year I hope the opposition runs up the score on them. I won't be crying or whining about sportsmanship.
Who was the true anti-sportsman? For Gibbs not to shake Belichick's hand, he gets the poor sportsmanship play of the game!
Edit Comment Cancel
Roy MacB about 1 year ago
Amen,,,,,,,The sports writers are saying that Gibbs did shake bills hand a few minutes later. After he realized he was making a fool of himself ??
Patriots Nation GO PATS GO
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Pffft, honestly - big whoop. If you're dominant, you're dominant and the score will be indicative of such. The Patriots weren't taunting their opponents... they just continued to execute their flawless gameplan and why wouldn't they? It's good practice and builds momentum into next game. Should they have thrown balls away on purpose? What a commotion over nothing.
Also, I don't play football but I do play basketball and I know if my team was down big, I'd rather have the opposing team continue to play rather than play pity ball. But that's just me.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
lol i just remembered one game when my team was up big, my coach kept the starters on but told us 'no more layups' ie. easy pts. So I was on a breakaway, dribbling all the way to the basket but ended up looping around in a circle to wait for the defenders instead. Now I thought that was a bigger slap to the face! But gotta listen to the coach ya know...
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Joe Gibbs is already in the Hall of Fame and was already embarrassed because of the way his team played.
Edit Comment Cancel
Roy MacB about 1 year ago
I think you are missing something here. The teams that the Patriots have played have played good ! They are getting beat because the Pats are the best in the NFL and are far better than any other team.
Patriots Nation
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Washington was throughly beaten by the time it was 38-0. There was no chance they were coming back so that is not even a possibility worth mentioning.
I can't think of one reason why it wouldn't have made sense for the Patriots to take the same approach the Colts took this afternoon. At the same point in the game where the Pats were up 38 with Brady in the game and doing everything they could to score more points the Colts were up 24 with Sorgi in running an 11 play drive that consisted of 10 runs. If someone has a reason, I'd love to hear it.
Edit Comment Cancel
Roy MacB about 1 year ago
God man ,,,I didn't know that many babies watched football. When I pay to go and watch an NFL game I want to see the starters and I mean all day. What you are saying is if they are beating the other team by 30 points that the starters should watch the secondary team the rest of the day or maybe you think they should let them score a few times like the Pats did with the Dolphins ? I pay to see Brady throw TD's to whoever he can ,,,all day,,,not just 30 minutes.
Patriots Nation Forever GO PATS GO
Edit Comment Cancel
Bill Smith about 1 year ago
Live PRACTICE for the big game this week.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Get him a copy of Ghost or Pretty Woman with that kleenex!
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
What is the matter with you people? Chamberlain shouldn't have scored 100? DiMaggio shouldn't have hit in 56 straight because that was rubbing it in to Wee Willie Keeler? And Dallas really should have let the Bills win just one of those Super Bowls, right? THIS IS PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL, not little league. These men are paid millions BY US to perform. And the coaches are paid millions to get their players to produce. Belichick does not have some vendetta against Gibbs. His team played very well, and the Redskins did not. Simple as that. I suppose Belichick made Matt Cassel have a 15 yard run for a TD, or, yes, of course, he somehow made the Redskins QB fumble 3 times! That was unfair of him. We should have given one of those fumbles back? Or Colvin should have taken a knee to not make it 38-0? Come on people. This is a very good football team that beat a mediocre team that played terribly today. It is not the first time a football game ended 52-7 and will certainly not be the last. I suppose the Red Sox should let the Rockies win the next two games to make it fair, and not hurt feelings out there? This is one of the most idiotic arguments I have ever heard about sports. Again, these are professional athletes. The difference between winning and losing is oh so slim, and losing has severed consequences (ask Joe Torre). No lead is safe- see Houston and Tennessee from last week as an example. So, when you actually hold the lead and not blow it, you are running up the score? Give me a break.
Edit Comment Cancel
Roy MacB about 1 year ago
Don't watch the game if you aren't man enough to lose . And losing is losing no matter what the score is and running up the score is how records are broken !
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Clearly the Patriots beat the Redskins by a huge margin. The Patriots are clearly the superior team, but going for it on 4th and 1 when they were up by 38 points and could have easily made a field goal is in very bad taste. There is no reason for the Patriots to do that if not to humiliate their opponent. Nobody is crying over the loss, but the Pats showed that they have a very ugly side to them. If Joe Gibbs protested by not shaking belichick's hand, kudos for him.
Edit Comment Cancel
Roy MacB about 1 year ago
You are the same kind of asshole as he is if you think that way! ,,, By the way Gibbs did shake BB's hand. Loser.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
I think alot of people miss the point. Professional sports implies alot more than just your "take it on the chin" type attitude. It requires sportsmanship and honor.... something that today the Pat's didn't display when it was 45-0. C'mon guys -- if you are leading 45-0 -- do you go on 4th down? Its obvious who the victor is... I don't disagree with the Pats going for the kill and stomping on their opponents... but this was synonymous to a Marine going beserk and shooting extra rounds into an already dead Insurgent... Just give it a rest -- save some bullets -- and be respectable about it. Sure, the Pats broke no rules -- but they certainly suffered in terms of class in my book. I guess I watch football for the entertainment value. I got none at that point...
If people are gonna defend the Pats -- defend them on something that is defendable... Behavior, class, national TV, entertainment -- it all plays into it. I certainly wouldn't want to say to my kids -- now thats how you play football -- go do that on your school team, at your playground, etc...etc.... Too deep for some of you guys? Maybe your taking football a little too seriously then...
Edit Comment Cancel
Ken Pens about 1 year ago
What goes around, comes around. You run up a score and the day will come when because of injuries, trades, retirements, etc, you no longer have the talent and another team that you "whupped up on" has the talent and they proceed to embarass you, i.e., The Patriots.
As a team, The Patriots are the dominant team in the NFL as a football team, as far as "class" is concerned, they have very little. Belichek proved he has zero class.
Edit Comment Cancel
Roy MacB about 1 year ago
That's just plain stupid!! How many times did the Pats get tromped on in the last 30 years? This is a mans sport so if you don't want to watch the whole game maybe you should try tennis or ??
Speaking of " Class " how would you know ? You just showed that you have none by talking about someone else.!! I don't recall hearing Bill Belichick ever bad mouth anyone anywhere. The trouble with you is that for some unknown reason you are jealous of him and the team ???? Give your head a shake man.
Patriots Nation GO PATS GO
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
If the Pats had kicked the field goal instead of going for it on 4th down, you'd all STILL be arguing that they ran up the score simply because it was 48-0. Comparing a Patriots touchdown to pumping bullets into a dead insurgent is one of the most moronic comments I have ever heard and it gives me little faith in the future of this country and perhaps this entire species. Have some perspective you idiot.
Edit Comment Cancel
Roy MacB about 1 year ago
How could anyone compare a football game score to shooting a dead insurgent without being a complete NUT !?
I pay to see my team play football for 60 minutes and I mean the superstars ,, not the second string. Some people think that if the Pats are well ahead by the half that we shouldn't be able to see Brady , Moss , stalworth or Welker the rest of the day because they are so great?? Then why have these guys on our team? The Pats did what every team does and that is get the best players they can and now they have them and we arn't supposed to see them play a whole game ???? I also think that there are some people out there including coaches and managment that are pissed about the Pats getting these guys to play in NE. These guys are heading to NE because of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady and the likes of them on this team. They even take pay cuts just to belong to this team ! So,,if you want to play in this league you have to play against the Patriots and you might get beat bad,,,real bad,,,so is that the fault of The Pats for having and excellent team and coaches ? I say let them play and who cares what the score is just keep on playing and maybe in the last 5 minutes let the second string have some practice but they might score and then what ??
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Belichick kept his A-team in to make them work hard - they can't go soft the week before Indy. They need to be sharp and remember what it feels like to play four full quarters. Also, by running up the score he was sending a message to Indy - The Pats can score at will, and the Colts had better be prepared for a full-on Pats assault.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Loved your column, Forrest. I hope more self-respecting Patriots fans start to question Belichick's attitude. This won't change until someone gets hurt, or the Pats fanbase revolts.
I believe there are two valid and sacred reasons for not continuing to throw the ball late in a ballgame that has already been decided: 1) By that point, everyone wants to go home. Both teams want to get off the field and not risk injury playing irrelevant minutes. The fans have lost the emotional hook that makes an NFL game exciting-- once the outcome is decided, all but the most maniacal fans are ready to move on to the next challenge. 2) Our children still learn their sportsmanship lessons from professional sports. If this had been a Pop Warner game, there would have been parents physically confronting coaches, and rightfully so.
The point of sport is to compete. Once the competition has been decided, run the ball to keep the clock moving and end the game sooner for all concerned. It's not just honourable-- it's smart football. Anything that keeps the clock running brings the team closer to victory. Fourth down conversions in the fourth quarter when ahead by 4 scores are disgusting displays of disrespect for the game of football, not just your current opponent. If Brady and Belichick are enjoying these moments late in the game when they seem to be trying to humiliate, not just defeat, then they are not sportsman by any definition.
Edit Comment Cancel
Nathaniel Moreira about 1 year ago
Thanks--it is refreshing to read a cizilized, grammatically correct arguement.
I agree completely--you made comments Forrest did not that are as equally valid as his, one of which is really more important: don't get your players hurt.
I promise you this: Brady gets hurt late into one of these games when the Patriots are up by 30 and guess what team is looking for a new coach?
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
When you' re getting smoked by an opponent you take out the opponent's best weapon. Washington should have blitzed and put a helmet on Brady's knee. The next time they got ahead of an opponent they might think twice about running up the score...
Edit Comment Cancel
RICK LOVETT about 1 year ago
IF YOU WANT CLASS, GO TO SCHOOL, THELMA AND LOUISE WAS ON TODAY, ALL YOU PINK PANTY WEARING SISSIES SHOULD HAVE WATCHED THAT, IT SEEMS MORE YOUR STYLE.
WOULD YOU LIKE SOME CHEESE WITH YOUR WHINE.................YOU ALL HATE THE TRUE DYNASTY THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE THIS DECADE....................OH YEAH, GUESS THE RED SOX ARE UN SPORTSMANLIKE TOO BY OUTSCORING THEIR OPPONENTS BY LARGE MARGINS. ALL I CAN SAY IS GET USED TO IT.
Edit Comment Cancel
David Williams about 1 year ago
All I can say is did you go to school in the first place to learn that you don't need to use ALL CAPS to make your point? Or is your name really RICK like Andre' Woodson's name actually has an apostrophe at the end of it?
EXREEEEME! lol
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Gee, let's see. If the Patriots went for the easy three points, that would have been less offensive than giving the defense a chance to stop them? Or maybe they should have just started taking a knee mid-way through the third quarter? Give me a break, folks. I'm not a Pats fan (go Jags!) but if you're looking for charity, take up bingo instead!
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
What planet are you from? "Both teams want to get off the field and not risk injury playing irrelevant minutes"? Is that why the 'Skins drove for a TD with five minutes left in the game? Running up the score would be kicking the sure FG instead of giving the 'Skins a chance to stop them.
Fanbase revolt? Are you on drugs? I'm sooooo sure Patriots fans would rather see their team winning by a FG!
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
"If this had been a Pop Warner game, there would have been parents physically confronting coaches, and rightfully so." Agreed. BUT IT WAS A PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL GAME ON NATIONAL TELEVISION. Classless is paying $100 for a ticket and then having your team take a knee in the third because it isn't fair to score another touchdown.
Edit Comment Cancel
Nathaniel Moreira about 1 year ago
I don't believe anyone here is convinced that the Patriots should have begun taking a knee in the third quarter, but when (literally) all of your FRANCHISE players are on the field, you are not looking out for the best interest of your future team (since you brought money into it) by keeping them there.
Fans don't care about whether the first team is on or not when you are winning 52-0, by the way.
Edit Comment Cancel
Joshua Shive about 1 year ago
I can't believe that everyone is getting so worked up over this game and the season, i mean come on if the Cowboy beat the redskins i bet yall would have a different perception of the situation but they can't. I hope the Patriots beat every team they play by 40 or more points because quite frankly they deserve it, if you are that good who cares what everyone else thinks. Run up the scores who cares who likes you they can just hate when you put that fourth ring on your finger. I like the way Bill Belichick is going about things, if the NFL wants to pick on his team then he will pick on everyone he plays. And last if they don't want them to run up the score then stop them. Oh im sorry i forgot they can't.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Why is no one asking: "Hey, Joe Gibbs: Why did your team play so lousy today? You are a three-time championship coach, are you not? Your team is comprised of highly-paid professionals who are among an athletic elite, is it not? You did remember that you had a game today and who exactly you were up against, did you not? So why did you and your team play so lousy today?
At the level at which these teams play--in all professional sports--there's no excuse for turning in the kind of performance the Redskins displayed today. If being thoroughly out-played and out-maneuvered is the price they have to pay as professional athletes, then perhaps they'll start living up to the term "professional athletes" next time they take the field.
Edit Comment Cancel
Nathaniel Moreira about 1 year ago
I would love for one of those not-so-professional-athletes" (according to you, anyway) to tackle you. I would love to see the punter tackle you and see what would happen, let alone a defensive end. I'm sure Sean Taylor would love to have a talk with you about that.
The Cowboys played great against the Patriots and they lost by over 20...so maybe it has a little bit more to do with the Patriots offense and a little less to do with the Redskins (previously) top five ranked defense, wouldn't you say?
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Leave the Pats alone. They are good end of story. So what they ran up a score, and??????
People pay to watch a good game. The Pats gave them one.
Joe Gibbs even said in a post game interview HE could find nothing wrong with the team. get that THE TEAM....I think the two coaches have a personal vendetta..maybe that is why there was no handshake anyone know about that?
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
great comment
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
I agree that the New England Patriots hurt the Redskins feelings and hurt the feelings of others watching the game by scoring a WHOLE LOT OF POINTS!
Therefore, I recommend that the NFL install a mercy rule. Whenever at least one fan watching a game feels that it hurts too much to watch a horrible team get traunced by a good team, the refs should kindly request that the winning team send in their 4th string - this ensures that 2nd or 3rd team doesn't score 'cause that would be even MORE painful to watch!!
PS - Joe Gibbs will move on and will always be remembered as one of the greatest coaches in history!
Edit Comment Cancel
Roy MacB about 1 year ago
Yes he will, now go play some tennis and leave us men to talk FOOTBALL,,,,you BABY !!
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Why is actually playing for all four quarters "running up the score"? If the opposition plays pro football, they stop them and they don't score. This isn't high school, these are athletes paid millions to compete. Is there some big secret that they don't want to work too hard and the Patriots are showing what happens if you really play hard? For the money they make, they should all be playing hard.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
WTF are you talking about? Crossed the line?
ALL of the other NFL teams, coaches, players, staff in the beginning of the Season who accused PATS of cheating "crossed the line." EVERY Team videotapes... it's been happening for YEARS!!! it happens in High-School, College and... surprise surprise, The Pros.
Now, all these teams are gonna Complain cuz they're Getting SCHOOLED, and SCORED ON? D Up Stupid Millionaire players!!!!
Pats are making every team, coach, players, and staff Pay for pretending the Pats were the only ones videotaping...
Play Like Pros... stop complaining like Little Leaguers...
52-7 baby!!! Kill em Pats!
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
in reply to post 1 who said "I've been a staunch supporter of the pats going for it late, but this time I can find no excuse. I have great admiration for Gibbs; I'm not sure what Belichick has against him. There's a fine line between keeping your 1st stringers on fire and being a jackass. Even if he wanted to say "f you" to the rest of the NFL, I think Belichick crossed the line today."
WTF are you talking about? Crossed the line?
ALL of the other NFL teams, coaches, players, staff in the beginning of the Season who accused PATS of cheating "crossed the line." EVERY Team videotapes... it's been happening for YEARS!!! it happens in High-School, College and... surprise surprise, The Pros.
Now, all these teams are gonna Complain cuz they're Getting SCHOOLED, and SCORED ON? D Up Stupid Millionaire players!!!!
Pats are making every team, coach, players, and staff Pay for pretending the Pats were the only ones videotaping...
Play Like Pros... stop complaining like Little Leaguers...
52-7 baby!!! Kill em Pats!
Edit Comment Cancel
Bill Fecteau about 1 year ago
The Patriots rushed for 160 yards! The 'Skins just couldn't stop 'em, so do people expect the Pats to start taking a knee in the third quarter? All week I got to listen to all the wagging sports tongues talk about how Washington could test the Patriots, and now the Patriots are the bad guys for wihpping the Redskins. I respect Joe Gibbs, but the better team won today and that's that. Here's a question for everyone: if the Pats had only been winning games by about 3 points, would anyone still be upset about the score today? In about 3 weeks the Pats should have the division locked up; shuold they sit Brady then? If someone got their feelings hurt, they need to learn to live with it. That's life! We're trying to take the competitiveness out of sports and succeeding at the HS level - let's not hate on the pro's for winning games. What next? Take the trophy away from the Red Sox because they just won a couple of years ago?
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Dear Forrest....
You're very neutral in your response... if you're a Pats fan, you wouldn't care if the Pats ATTACK every team by Points.
The PATS were attacked by every team in the start of the season with all the SpyGate ordeal.
This [scoring attack] is the PATS answer to those attacks to them, and as a Pats fan, you should support it wholeheartedly.
Now, it the Pats weren't attacked in the beginning of the season, and then happened to Run-Up the score.. .then anyone can say something. But thats not the case... they were accused and attacked... and now its PAYBACK!
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Dear NFL Teams,
Payback's a *itch!!!
Quit whining, Play for the Whole Game!!!
We are......
- Love,
The Patriots
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
GUYS -- I was at the game... I can tell you -- people didn't care for the 4th quarter antics of our beloved Pats. I love the Pats -- but you know I have to agree -- it was unnecessary. Anyone who is militantly against my opinion should've been there. People chuckled -- shore. But just as many were like "lets get home -- its getting late." One dad said to his son, "There's nothing more to see here..." I think he got it right.
Edit Comment Cancel
Zander Freund about 1 year ago
That's an important point.
This isn't about being a Pats fan or a Redskins fans it's about being a football fan.
When you're up by 38 points in the fourth quarter, your starting quarterback should be out of the game. This is important not only in terms of not rubbing in the wound against the other team, but also to make sure your field general who has gotten you this far doesn't end up with a career ending injury for no good reason.
You play the game to win and the game had already been won. If the Redskins scored two touchdowns in a matter of minutes, Bellichick could have always put his stars back in the game.
I think a lot of this has to do with Spygate. I think Bellichick wants everyone to know that the Patriots are by far the best team in the league cheating or no cheating. That's surely the idea here: he doesn't want people to think the Patriots are anything less than the best team the world has ever seen. He doesn't want an inkling of doubt in people's minds about that fact. He wants opposing coaches to fear the Patriots and the people who say their success is only possible through cheating to shut up already.
The problem as I see it is that Bellichick is essentially letting his personal sentiments get in the way of what is right for both the Patriots and for the game of football. This isn't the BCS there is no reason you have to run up the score in order to succeed. Bellichick's actions yesterday left a bad taste in everyone's mouth and put Tom Brady's season on the line unnecessarily.
I mean: what if Brady had hurt his shoulder in the fourth quarter and hadn't been able to play this weekend against the Colts? Bellichick would have felt like a fool.
The man needs to put things in perspective. The goal of this team is to win the Super Bowl, not for Tom Brady to break the touchdown record (something he'll probably do even if he only plays three quarters a game) or for the Patriots to post an undefeated record.
Seems to me like Bellichick is a man on a mission. He's angry about the criticism the Pats took over the videotaping and wants to prove a point.
That said, I think the point has been proven. The Patriots are the most dominating team in the NFL without question. They don't just beat bad teams they demolish them.
After they beat Indy this weekend, I think Bellichick would be wise to get back to the generally accepted NFL protocol (when the game is out of reach, pull your starters) and not worry so much about how many points the Pats score each game, going undefeated, or Brady's touchdown record.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Y'know -- I'm not a Skins fan -- and I don't care about the Pats. But, I thought it was funny how Troy Aikman commented how he was the competitive type -- and so he understood what the Pats were doing... implying (as some have said already), if you can't take it -- you shouldn't be on the field.
I respect that. But, you know what -- no one knows what the Pats are gonna do. I bet if Gibbs knew that the Pats were gonna pound it on those two 4th downs (despite the score) -- I bet he'd just forfeit the game and save the Pats the trouble. At some point -- I think Beli-boy forgot how to be a sportsman...
BTW, I like the Insurgent analogy. I think it fits the Pats to a tee. ;)
Edit Comment Cancel
Nathaniel Moreira about 1 year ago
I forget the exact comment (CBSSportsline) but Troy Aikman also ask on TV why Bellicheck was sending Moss and Brady back on the at 38-0. Just a thought. When teh guy who won the Superbowls and is a competitor by words from his own mouth, you kinds have to wonder when he begins to question it as well.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
So many people are just born whiners.
FYI - the NFL teams don't pull first stringers out of "mercy" for their opponents - pulling your first stringer IS disrespectful enough to your opponents, don't you whiners understand?
The first stringers were pulled ONLY to avoid injuries to them. If the pats are not so concerned about it, and decided to put on one scoring show after another, I say all the powers to them! They gave the ticket buyers their money's worth. At least they respect the opponents' ability to play football more than the Colts and other hypocrites.
Face it - the Pats are a group that appreciate and respect their opponents more than other teams, and they want to get the record to right the "tainted championship" nonsense. They have EVERY bit of rights to do what they did. You whiners should just shut up and enjoy the show.
Edit Comment Cancel
Zander Freund about 1 year ago
No one is doubting whether they have the "right" to do what they did. It's not as if anyone has suggested that Bellichick be fined for this.
But there's a big difference being doing what you can get away with and doing the right thing. For both the sake of the Pats' season and in the interest of being a sportsman, Brady and Moss should have been on the bench when they got the ball back up 38-0.
"The first stringers were pulled ONLY to avoid injuries to them. If the pats are not so concerned about it, and decided to put on one scoring show after another, I say all the powers to them!"
Even if one were to agree with your analysis here, how in the hell could the Pats not be "so concerned about it?" The season is only halfway over. They have the most potent offense anyone has seen in awhile. Who in their right mind would send their two stars back onto the field and risk them getting injured just to score a few more points?
Doesn't make any logical sense really. The only explanation is that Bellichick has a personal point to prove here. As I've said before, it would probably be best for the team, and the NFL at large, if he put these personal concerns aside and remembered that the mission at hand is to win a fourth Super Bowl championship.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Simply put, if you RESPECT your opponent, you keep your first stringer on field instead of taking them off. You play a good game from start to finish. NOW THAT IS SPORTSMANSHIP.
Nobody said that Tiger Woods should just win his championship by 1 stroke instead of embarrassing other golfers (come on, it's the last hole, who's gonna make a comback??); No one said that Federer should just let Andy Roddick win once in a while to show sportsmanship.
I can't believe how many people failed to realize that. These guys need to have their brains checked.
Edit Comment Cancel
Zander Freund about 1 year ago
Every sport has certain traditions that don't necessarily apply to other games. The idea of not running up the score is a tradition which has emerged in the NFL, for two reasons: 1) It helps the dominating team try out new talent and rest their star players, and 2) It prevents the losing team from being completely demoralized.
Individual sports like tennis and golf are different because of the fact that reason #1 simply does not and cannot exist. Roger Federer can't pull himself when he's up 6-0 6-0 on Andy Roddick and put in a substitute to formally finish him off. Federer and Federer alone has to finish the game.
There's also another difference with games like Tennis and Golf compared to the NFL: time. Football is different than these two games because there is limited clock time and thus we can all agree that certain things just aren't possible. It's possible to come back 38-0 at halftime hard as all hell, but possible. It's certainly not possible to do it in one quarter.
Even if Federer is up 6-0, 6-0, it's still possible that Roddick can make a comeback. All he has to do is play extremely well, and hope that Federer chokes. But no matter how well the Redskins played in that last quarter, they couldn't possibly have won the game.
I don't think anyone's saying that Bellichick should have purposely gone 3 and out with 10 minutes left in that game. But it does seem to make sense again, both for himself, his team, and for Gibbs and the other team to pull your star players and let your backup Quarterback get some experience once the fourth quarter begins and you're up by six scores.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Hey guys, I thought the Pats won the game on the field... (duh) Skins got whooped -- no doubt -- but I think we all saw that was clear in the 3rd quarter. But, I lost ALOT of respect for Coach B. Some of you crazies who defend the way the team ran up the score -- are on drugs. I say that because I think something should tug at everyone at some point (if they have any class) that y'know -- we've decisively destroyed this team -- lets continue to play like winners -- and just get through the game. I'm not opposed to the score being 177-0 if need be (so I thought that comment by a poster earlier about our country being soft was pretty lame too) -- but only within the confines of sensible sportsmanship (I'm a strong believer in honor and good sportsmanship). Those fourth down plays were totally unnecessary and YES -- they should've kicked a FG. What was the freakin point -- were the Skins threatening? Did the Pats miss a day of practice?? Did the fans shout for more? No. No. and uh... no.
I'm glad Gibb's didn't shake hands with Belicheck. And I hope Belicheck goes home tonight feeling a little empty in his over-enflated score (though I doubt it). On and I think we can safely say the Pats are the best team in the NFL -- if that means anything anymore.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
I'm sure Pats would've taken knee if the Skins had taken a knee every time they got the ball after falling behind 38-0. Since the Skins couldn't have possibly come back anyway as you Pats haters say, what's the point of risking injury to your own players AND Pats' players? Is that good sportsmanship? You lost, so just give up. If you didn't, how could I just let it go? It's that simple.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
While I agree that there is nothing to be in an uproar about with regards in keeping your 1st stringers in versus your 2nd and 3rd stringers... I do disagree with the play calling. BTW, do us all a favor and don't compare football (the best team sport out there) with some solo-snob-sport like tennis or golf. I agree that the Pats should play from start to finish... But if anyone has watched the NFL for years -- they know that the last quarter was an insult to everyone watching. Why go on fourth down when conventional wisdom indicates that there is no need. There is only one reason -- cuz the coach of the MIGHTY Pats is a jerk. He didn't have to do that... BUT HE DID.
Some of you said the Skins fans would complain even if they kicked a FG. I'm a Skins fan -- and while I hated to get trounced by the Pats -- I'd just take it like a man...the Skins defense was completely and comprehensively dismantled by Brady....period. But I think the fourth down calls were cheap and uncalled for... Doesn't take away from the fact that the Pats CRUSHED the Skins. But, I can say it did take away from the game's luster tonight...
Again, not taking anything away from the Pats beating the Skins. But, I'm glad I'm a Skins fan -- cuz I know our coach won't pull crap like that.
Edit Comment Cancel
Zander Freund about 1 year ago
One other thing worth mentioning is that it also takes away from how much credibility Tom Brady's presumed touchdown record will hold.
If all other coaches in NFL history followed a certain protocol which essentially meant that their star QBs didn't score numerous unnecessary touchdowns and it is widely recognized that Bill Bellichick did not follow that protocol this season then people will automatically discredit Brady's record.
I think it's bad for sports when you have records that people doubt the validity of (see the Bonds/McGwire asterisk). Brady can get that record without Bellchick running up the score and he's only screwing his star QB over in the minds of the fans by having him go for it on fourth and keeping him in the game so long.
Edit Comment Cancel
Kevin Hrad about 1 year ago
great comment
Edit Comment Cancel
kl easter about 1 year ago
Fool Joe Gibbs is already in the hall of fame, know your facts or stop writing.
Edit Comment Cancel
Adam Amick about 1 year ago
Nice piece... Even though I'm a Redskins fan. Looks like I need to just go back into the closet in that regard until Little Danny Snyder sells the team to someone who has a clue. God Bless Coach Gibbs.
Edit Comment Cancel
Joshua Shive about 1 year ago
Bill Belichick for Coach of the year and Tom Brady for MVP because those two know how to put points on the board and thats what wins football games. I'm not a patriots fan but damn i love watching the Patriots beat the shit out of everyone they play just so yall haters can have something to say. Go with what Joe Gibbs said, "I FEEL THE PATRIOTS DID NOTHING WRONG, THEY HAVE A GREAT COACH AND A GREAT TEAM." if the Coach doesn't care why should you because you can't stand the fact that they are so good. I love it. I think im going to get me a patriots cap tomorrow just to piss off some more people.
Edit Comment Cancel
Dark Helmet about 1 year ago
Wow - I read every post and was amazed at the contrasting opinions. I was more amazed though at the (logic) some folks used to justify similar opinions that New England should have been a babysitter for a team that was highly praised defensively hours before kickoff. I have been a Patriots (capitalized because it is a proper name) fan since the Steve Grogan (#14) era and I am always happy when the Patriots win, no matter the point spread.
I have difficulty understanding the negative (how I perceive them) comments, specifically those regarding "running up the score". The apparent logic is, at some point, NE should have altered their game plan to purposely prevent themselves from scoring. That is funny. If a team does not play their 2nd and 3rd string players when there is a point cushion, when should they when they are losing 52 - 7? That is funnier. Coach Belicheck was punishing Coach Gibbs? I fell out of my chair!
For all you little people, the Peace Corps is hiring.
I apologize in advance if the following borders on pontification, but I am just a high school graduate. I remember a game last year near the end of the season when NE led the Colts by almost thirty points and the Colts went on to win the game. The Colts subsequently went on to win the Superbowl. Could that not have happened today with Washington? Immediately after the coin toss, is not every team expected to win? If not, why do these teams play?
Since most of you posting 'negative' comments are obviously over qualified NFL coaches, my simpleton questions for you are;
1. if team A is really good, and team B really bad, should team A insult team B even more by purposely playing bad, or as some of you braniacs put it, "go for field goals on 4th and 1"?
2. Still following the evil genius logic, at what point spread should team A initiate a self imposed melt-down to ensure team B does not leave the stadium with boxes of Kleenex and wool blankets?
3. For the proclaimed NE fans, quintessential over qualified NFL coaches, and medical scientist all rolled into one, what papers have you published proving your super pill will make New England the perfect team you always wanted to be a fan of; the team that will win within a pre-set margin and be diplomatic about it?
4. Since your brains are significantly larger than the average human, how will you solve the planetary perils to ensure my children s children live long and fruitful lives on Earth?
5. What do you intellectual giants plan to do about the colony collapse among honey bees, especially since the majority of human food consumption relies on their pollination of crops?
What makes me laugh harder when I read your ludicrous please show them some mercy comments, is that going into this game, every sportscaster on television, every sports column in the newspapers, and on every sports Web site, the consensus was the same; New England's gaudy seven-game statistics -- the 39.9-point average, 432 yards per game, 41 touchdowns, etc. -- have come against five of the NFL's bottom six defenses...this weekend however, the unbeaten Patriots play the fifth rated defense in the Washington Redskins. This should be a good game.
You folks that cry about the Patriots running up the score on a lesser team are probably the same folks that cried decades ago when inmates were forced to perform manual labor such as picking up trash on the side of our roads. Since the United States prison population now lives better than most middle-class families I am positive you folks will succeed in your quest to get an upper score limit and sissy diplomacy policy instituted within the NFL.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
By your post -- we can tell you are just a highschool graduate.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Does anyone remember Suberbowl XXII? Redskins 42 Broncos 10
Who was the coach? Joe Gibbs
Why do the Patriots go for it on 4th down? Because that's the way they play the game and they play all 60 minutes of it.
The Patriots never got any respect until they won their 3rd Superbowl and this year everyone puts an asterisk on those games. Make no mistake, the Patriots are on a mission this year and don't be surprised if they blow everyone away and show NO MERCY.
Don't feel sorry for the Redskins. Feel sorry for the Jets when they come to Foxborough on Dec 16.
Edit Comment Cancel
Roy MacB about 1 year ago
How true!,,,I just wish I could be in Foxborro for the Jets game. I can't wait to see " Mangini the Rat " when he steps out of the tunnel Dec.16th. Man I just pray for snow and real hard snowballs. I'd just love to shove a couple right down that " Fat RAt's " mouth but someone else will take care of it I'm sure!
Patriots Nation GO PATS GO
Edit Comment Cancel
Fuad Conteh about 1 year ago
People forget the fact that the Pats lost to the Colts after taking a 21-3 lead. That should be a motivator to score as many points as possible til the final two minutes of a game. Plus, everytime a team gets the ball on offense, the primary goal is to score points, not punt the ball. Afterall this is professional football. Players are paid to play the game. If it was high school or college football, that's another story.
Edit Comment Cancel
Nathaniel Moreira about 1 year ago
21-3 at the half is not 38-0 in the fourth quarter...at least I don't think so anyway.
My bad.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
I'm not a Pats fan and had no problem with the final score, considering all the TV/Media Analysts stated that the Skins had a very good defence and this would be a true test for the Pats. Looks like the Pats paased that test!!!
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
If I'm paying for a ticket or spending my time watching a game I want to see good football. In fact, the whole reason I started watching football was seeing the Patriots first superbowl victory (that was very good) and have been a Patriots fan ever since.
What I want to know is why aren't people getting upset over the teams that are losing by big numbers? Thanks to the draft, they have the same opportunity to get competitive players so I don't see why they should be getting stomped so bad by the Pats. It's not like the Pats are gods that have descended from heaven to play mortals in an unwinnable game of football; they just got their act together better with the same players any other team could have (some teams even have ex-pats). After these blistering defeats, I'm wondering if any of these other coaches are really worth their paycheck?
Now I understand where the complainers are coming from. They want to see chivalry on the field. However there is no stopping the game just because you feel like you've already won or can't win. The clock ticks for 60 minutes and that's how long you have to play for, good or bad. Could you imagine what kind of stadium riot would happen if a losing team decided to forfeit in the third because they didn't feel they could win? The paying customers would be furious. (Ever been to a concert where the band performs one song then calls it quits?) Then why should a winning team stop playing hard because they already feel they have won?
And so what if they play hard till the end of the game with first stringers? I want my money's worth and I thank them for it. So what if people think Belichick is extracting revenge for "spygate"? Paying a $500,000 fine, I'm sure he wants HIS moneys worth too.
Thanks, ~R
Edit Comment Cancel
Adnan Tezer about 1 year ago
Forrest I can't tell you how refreshing and honest your article was. The fact that it came from a Pats fan is even more impressive and I have the highest respect for you as a classy sportsfan. I have some friends in town that are Pats fans and they can't defend it either after yesterday. Kudos to you for your honesty and objectivity. Fans like you make this team a little bearable and make me feel somewhat bad that I wish Belichick so much ill will. Excellent commentary and brave at that. I look forward to reading future articles.
Re: this weekend, Pats are 4 1/2 pt favorites at Indy. I'm taking Indy in this. I'm not sure whether just to cover or win straight up but the Colts as dogs at home is crazy and will no doubt anger that team. Should be the game of the year until they meet again in the Super Bowl errr AFC Champ. Game.
Edit Comment Cancel
Dark Helmet about 1 year ago
"By your post -- we can tell you are just a highschool graduate." I like that; a brief to-the-point rhetorical statement.
Some advice before you fail another SAT; "highschool" is two words - "high" and "school".
I watched some videos and read some postings this morning, mostly from the likes of ESPN and NFL.com, and it appears most are not concerned about yesterdays score. And, as a few post before mine have stated, we (ticket holders and cable and satellite television subscribers) pay to see a football game, not a bunch of bed wetters running around the field with towels hanging from their wrists asking each other, "can I get you some cheese to go with your wine?"
Historically until the final whistle blows, anything goes and the game is not over. The philosophy of every game (football or otherwise) is to score as much as possible, prevent the other team from doing the same, and advance to the next level.
Edit Comment Cancel
Nathaniel Moreira about 1 year ago
PS Do you know what the founder of the OLYMPIC games once said?
"The most important thing is the Olympic games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."
The application to this current situation is this: second and third stringers should be playing in order to avoid injuries and to give the team more depth, thus making the TEAM BETTER.
I would love to hear what you would have to say about Bill B. if Brady got his leg smashed in by a defensive lineman in the fourth quarter. Hm?
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
What an idiot.... highschool and high school are BOTH legitimate. Go get your dictionary, kid...
Edit Comment Cancel
Kevin Hrad about 1 year ago
What's with all of the Pats fans hard-ons and their "That's what Mangini and the rest of y'all haters get for calling the Pats cheatrs!!!!" revenge rants? Who the hell cares about that? The Jets suck and everyone already knew the Pats and Colts were the top 2 team in the league - no different than now - before the season started. No one is shocked.
Also, anyine who talked up the Redskins before the game was either an idiot or promoting a game that was nationally televised and a sure blowout. The spread was 17 points (come on now) and that's what the consensus from anyone who knows anything about sports was - money goes where your mind is not your heart is. I took the over. Anyone who didn't, well, they lost their money and deserved to. I would have taken a spread of 21.
Not necessary to group everyone equally who thinks the game is lame after the score is 38-0. There is no entertainment value at that point unless you are worried about fantsy football points or whatever else. Everyone who doesn't agree 100% isn't necessarily a pitiful whiner as you'd like them to be. I could care less what the actual score was. I knew all I had to know when it was 24-0 nothing at half. I turned on the Bucs-Jags game and actually watched a good competitive game. Watching the 2nd half of the Pats game would have been a waste of 1.5 hours.
Everyone knows that the Pats are awesome and historically awesome. I can't remember seeing an entire team so solid as the Patriots are this year. What are all of the Pats hard ons getting out of their posts? Let the media say what they want - they always need a story. If Belichick's prioritizes point totals and record books over injury possibilities, go for it. If Brady were to somehow get hurt you would probably be writing about how big of a jagoff the guy is.
Edit Comment Cancel
Nathaniel Moreira about 1 year ago
Truer words were never spoken. You rock dude.
Edit Comment Cancel
Kevin Hrad about 1 year ago
I read through the entire list of responses and nobody mentioned how Belichick has tunnel vision on record books. He wants he and his team to take every record ever assembled. It is unbelievable how many TD passes Brady has from a few yards away and even his rushing TDs. Tell me there was another reason that Brady threw a TD pass to Welker to give the Pats a 45-0 lead in the 4th quarter other than the 3+ TD record BS? It's not like they couldn't have run the ball in the endzone with ease. Yeah, I get it, that's their game plan and you can't stop it....etc. That comes to an end after a while when you get pass TD to rush TD ratios like they are when the team has so many TDs. It's no longer a coincidence, and it's not like all of the pass TDs are from 20 yards away. I don't care about their agendas, but I don't need to hear about the passing attack when the run can accomplish the same thing. Same goes for Schottenheimer's campaign for L.T. last year. I'm not interested in L.T. or Brady statues getting erected because of coach's play-calling agendas. Brady's rushing TDs are just like L.T.'s passing TDs last year. Brady's pass to Welker is just the same as L.T. jumping the pile for TDs when they're up by 30 last year with a more than capable Michael Turner on the sideline. Whatever.
Everyone should take in what that person WHO WAS ACTUALLY AT THE GAME had to say, with people disintersted and all. I came to this story because I wanted to see what people outside of the media had to say. It seems all of these Pats hard-ons came here using this site as another outlet to voice their approval to the greatest moment of their lives - a Ptriots win. Chill out. You make me sick and remind me of Cubs fans. That's not good.
Lastly, I can do without Pats fans and media continuing to froth over Brady. Yeah, he's proven he's one of the top 2 passers in the league. Great. How about having the league's best receiving crew (throw Watson and Faulk in there is well), the best O-line, and probably the best defense?...the team is a machine and let's stop slapping our nuts over Brady 7 years running. I hear Montana used to have awesome protection like that and I saw what Aikman and E. Smith's dominant line did to opponents in the 90's, and we are seeing the same thing here. The drop and cozy pocket Brady gets on essentially every play is remarkable. With all of that talent running around waiting for pass to come their way, and with Brady's accuracy, it can't be stopped. Not just Brady.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
I'm fed up with all you Pats who are sore winners. What do you have to be so resentful about when someone mentions that the Pats could've been classy in their play? No one is telling the Patriots to stop playing after its clear they are beating an opponent by 40 points. But, its obvious its hit a chord in this country on HOW they played with what the Pats did to the Skins, because every sports network has addressed it ad nauseum.
Bottom-line, people play the game differently and as long as its within the confines of the rules -- you should respect it. That means, if a team decides to just try and get through the game and not try to pound it into the other team after its clear they've won -- that is JUST AS LEGITIMATE as if a team decides to run up the score.
People at work here are generally split (actually more like 60-40 -- favoring that the Pats should've played "normal" football). Whatever. I'll paraphrase what one of my friends said -- which alot of the people in the office agree with. If the Pats are gonna be American's team (like the Cowboys were or the 49niners in their heyday), people want to see a team with more than brute strength -- but character and honor and all that. They want to identify with the team and its clear from this forum that many people here don't like the style of play the Pats adopted in the 4th quarter. I guess I can respect that.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
There's a picture of the post-game handshake in the Boston Globe. It just didn't get picked up on TV.
http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/10/29/more_questions_than_answers_for_redskins/
Edit Comment Cancel
alex m about 1 year ago
If the Pats beat the Eagles by 52 i won't be bitching about how they should have taken it easy. You should be wondering why your defense can't step up, throw in some young guys and let them get some experience against a 1st class offense. What a bunch of little girls, maybe Brady wants to create an unbreakable record, maybe LT shouldn't have been allowed to run for touchdowns when the Chargers were winning by too much last year.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Just want to say that I find it ironic that these days it seems amateur athletes/coaches seem to display more professionalism then their very-well-paid counterparts. How's that for perspective?
Here's another: the Pats totally played within the confines of the game. No one is arguing this point. I think though, like ANY game thats been created, there is a sense or spirit to the whole creation.
I think thats what people are howling about... The Pats played to a point where they superceded the spirit of the game (took away from the spirit of the game). When you do that -- you undermine the whole nature of the game and what it was intended for (entertainment, sports, and a generally good time). Granted, NFL is big money, so all that means nothing. But, its kinda sad.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Joe did shake hands with Bill. It was very brief.
Edit Comment Cancel
chris maynard about 1 year ago
I only wish the Pats scored a hundred points. After the way Belichick was dressed down by the league and the national media, all must now bow to the mighty Pats and repent!!! Screw the league. Grow up and stop them, and stop your crying!!!
Edit Comment Cancel
Kevin Hrad about 1 year ago
thanks, Chris, for piling on to the same responses from the morons before you. "I wish they scored one THOUSAND points!!!!!" One by one you pop out of your orgy and make the same stupid comments.
Belichick is a jerk, that's not up for debate. Patriots are awesome - neither is that. Nobody here cares about the video taping, again not up for debate. But thanks again for adding nothing here. Their point total on Sunday did nothing to change anyone's opinions on those subjects. I'm not impressed by Brady sneaking for a TD in the 4th, as much as you say that is meaningful. It's excessive and unnecessary, but to each his own.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
What you Nancy's are overlooking is this:
Both Pat's 4th's were WELL within Field Goal range. What you're saying is that Bill should have just taken the points.
By "going for it" on fourth, Bill was actually saying, "I'll NOT take the easy points, instead I'll give your defense ANOTHER chance to keep me from scoring anything."
You can't blame Bellichick for the fact that Washington didn't (or couldn't) take either of those extra opportunities to stop New England. In "going for it", he was actually giving the 'Skins the chance to keep the game close(r). In any event, if he kicks the 3 on both of those, you're going to tell me you wouldn't STILL be out here today crying in your cups about him running up the score?
I'd bet if he had his QB take a knee on both of those downs, you'd be here today talking crap about how he "disrespected" you.
Get a life, grow up, it's the really-real world out there, and this's the NFL!
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
1. The Pats are completely dominating other football teams. I think everyone should acknowledge that they are playing incredibly well and that, in spite of the Colts also being undefeated, the Pats are probably the best team in the league. Further, they are one of the best teams we've seen in a very long time.
2. There's a difference between mercy and sportsmanship. Taking a knee when you're up 38-0 early in the 4th quarter is mercy, and would be completely inappropriate in professional sports. Likewise, kicking a FG on 4th down when you're up 38-0 early in the 4th quarter, instead of going for it, is sportsmanship. It seems to me that most are asking for the latter, rather than the former.
3. Teams often run out the clock to ensure victory. Running is ball control. Teams also run out the clock when they're up big and have already ensured victory. Both are typically encouraged in the NFL.
4. Teams take out their starters to prevent injury. I don't wish injury on anyone. I do, however, wonder why more Pats fans wouldn't want their starters pulled. The point is to win, and then keep winning. Preventing injury seems like it'd be a good idea for a team that wants to keep winning. Perhaps "proving a point" is more important though. It's a caculated risk, I suppose.
5. Although the Patriots' coaches, players, etc. can do whatever they want, it's probably foolish to not expect criticism. Like it or not, they are unfortunately being painted as the villian. Subsquently, their fans continue to play them as the victim, which leads to further criticism and dislike. Repeat cycle.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
I admit it. I (a skins fan) would've cried foul if Brady took a knee.
Personally -- I didn't think 38-0 was running up the score -- we just couldn't stop the Patriots. And, I KNOW I wouldn't even be wasting my time writing on this silly post if that was simply the case.
But, going for it on the FG-range 4th downs was a low blow -- no question. You can say whatever you want -- but I seriously doubt Coach Bellichick was thinking of giving the Redskins a chance when he went for it on 4th down. He knew without a doubt he had beaten the team physically and mentally... and was just looking to add insult to injury. If he thought the Skins were gonna stop him -- he'd gone for the FG. So you can try and spin it any way you want -- but I've been a coach and I know how these things are.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Everyone is missing the point and pointing fingers in the wrong direction. The Pats won't say it publicly, but they have seen the same season total stat projections that every media outlet has presented in the last several weeks. They are on pace to break every major offensive record in the books. They want those records, but know it only takes a couple mediocre games later on to miss them. They are not going to leave TD on the field now knowing that it may leave them one TD short after the 16th game of the season. So... Bill has nothing against Joe Gibbs or anyone else in the leage, but when you have a shoot at 'Greatest Team Ever' status, you can't afford to leave points on the field!
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
You've got it exactly right!
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
If thats the goal -- I think I've lost even more respect for the Pats. To me thats the wrong focus. Their focus should be to win the game (every time they play) for the fans. Afterall, we're the ones who are paying their salaries. Just my $.02.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
If thats the goal -- I think I've lost even more respect for the Pats. To me thats the wrong focus. Their focus should be to win the game (every time they play) for the fans. Afterall, we're the ones who are paying their salaries. Just my $.02.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Agreed. Being the greatest should be a natural result of just trying to win. The other way around is just an unhealthy compulsion.
Edit Comment Cancel
Jason Hays about 1 year ago
I think the Pats were obviously running up the score, but in the NFL these things catch up to you. Just wait until the Patrioits are ahead 55-3 and Brady gets hit and breaks his leg or something...
There are two ways to run up the score; on purpose, and because you are superior and can't help it. The Patriots are trying to kill everyone and will try to do that to Indi next week. If you have your backups in and are running the football that is one thing, but a qb sneak in the 2nd half with a 38-0 lead. The only defense I have is if you kick a field goal it is 41-0 and that too seems like running up the score.
Just run the football with you water boy when you have a big lead Bill.
Edit Comment Cancel
Roy MacB about 1 year ago
Brady could get hit and break a leg anytime,,??? Whats' that got to do with it.?? So,,why get into scoring possition if you don't want to score? God,,what a bunch of BABIES ,,,,,If there is anyone who is worried about Brady running up the score ,, maybe you should be watching Figure Skating with your wife and kids cause this is a mans sport. I hope that the Patriots smash every record they can and because they earned them !
The Patriots are The Very Best Football Team In History,,,,,,,,,,,Bar None !! Jealousy will always follow greatness.
Edit Comment Cancel
Kevin Hrad about 1 year ago
the first half of comments are mindless and worthless. It is not until the last half of these responses that an intelligent thought was being used. The issues at hand are isolated and the last 20 or so comments capture what's going on. record books, etc. NOT competition-related. The Pats haven't had 10 minutes of competition all year. It has nothing to do with being "a crybaby" or whatever else. I'm not a Skins fan at all. Common sense tells you that the game was ridiculous and excessive.
52-7 told me nothing more than the score at halftime did - the game was a blowout and over. The rest is all about stats and record books. I'm not interested in stat-padding, and actually despise it. I'm guessing these pro-Pats hard-ons loved the Ricky Davis triple-double attempt too and would have awarded him the rebound he so desired. shower yourselves with champagne and flip the Brady TD pass tally sheets. keep it.
Edit Comment Cancel
alex m about 1 year ago
i can see why someone wouldn't like players unnecessarily adding to their stats but in this sport you don't really know how long you will be able to perform. Look at McNabb, he was having a great season last year and still isn't quite right after the acl injury. At his age he doesn't have much time to become an elite qb again. Brady could get a career ending injury next year so can you blame him if he wants to achieve everything possible while he still can.
Edit Comment Cancel
Roy MacB about 1 year ago
The Pats or any other teams don't pick who they will play so if they have to play a low ranked team should they have a different approach to them and give them a few scores just to be nice guys.? Stats and records are kept so we can tell who or what is the best or worst. Is it not right to want to be the best at what you do? Myself I would want to be known as someone who tryed to be the best I could be at what I do. I'm sure that Tom Brady wants to be the best he can be and that's what he is doing by scoring late in a game that is a blowout. Football is a hard game and few survive past the age of 30 in this league so why not go for the records while you can,,,someone else will . It reminds me of Wayne Gretzky in his last 2 years breaking every record he could before he retired. I was so sick of listening to all his records every day that I didn't want to hear about him anymore. But,,,the one thing I was pissed off about was that he seemed to be selfish about it all as he gathered records for just about everything he could possably get. I was wrong and I think that if that's what you want,,go for it,,and forget what people say about you because you only have a few years at football to do it.
The Patriots teams won 3 Superbowls in 4 years and with teams that nobody thought had a chance at it! They did it because of guys like Tom Brady that doesn't give up ever nor does Bill Belichick. This whole team as a team concept is proof to everyone that a team is more than one Superstar player that uses up most of the salary cap money . Tom Brady has given the Patriots his best years and now he wants the records to go with his rings!! I say Go For It like most of the great players do that have the records while you are still healthy and young.
There will always be " Cry Babies " everywhere that bitch about just about everything they can. They are the people that never do anything with their lives worth talking about.
patriots Nation is the Best GO PATS GO
Edit Comment Cancel
James Hudson about 1 year ago
Hey, the only reason that I justify this running up of the score being a Pats fan is that everybody thought that we cheated. So, Bill Belichick decided to say, "Hey, you think we're really not that good? Well, let's prove it to you." It's kind of a revenge type thing I guess.
Edit Comment Cancel
Kevin Hrad about 1 year ago
the only people concerned with the video taping drama are Pats fans and apparently Belichick. nobody else has cared for 6 weeks. What the hell would make you think that other fans, writers, etc. didn't "think we're really not that good"? Everyone knows the Pats are great and in reality, you can't get away from talk about how good the Pats are. No one needed that proof. Anybody who thought the Skins were going to put up a good game was fooling himself. Who the hell are the Redskins? What makes them anything more than an above-average NFC team? If Pats and their fans want to bask in their glory, that's fine. Other fans are not interested in the Pats and fans celebrating themselves. They want to see a great team compete, and even better, 2 great teams compete against each other. Hence the huge hype coming for this week's game. Give me one reason why anyone would watch or care about that game during and after the 3rd quarter.
I can play rookie level on Madden against an absent 2nd player and win 96-0, but it's not going to be much fun after a couple minutes....unless I'm just trying to type my name into the top scores. Anyone who wants to watch me do that is lame.
Edit Comment Cancel
Roy MacB about 1 year ago
So,,,why play the bad teams at all? Why have a league ? Why should we keep score ? Only play the real good teams ? Why look for better Plaers if you can't use them ?Why,,Why,,Why,,,
Why watch the game if you can't stand losing ?????
Edit Comment Cancel
Kevin Hrad about 1 year ago
to this douche...
I choose not to watch games that are not interesting, or choose another game that actually has some meaning and isn't completely over already. If you like watching uncompetitive games, go for it dude.
If I can't stand losing? Where in my comment did you read "I am a Redskins fan"? Get your head out of your ass you worthless cheerleader
Edit Comment Cancel
Roger Quillen about 1 year ago
These players are getting paid millions to play 60 mins every game. Washington was in the top 5 Defense and lost 52 - 7, when the Pats played the Browns, Pats only got 34 points, Browns better than Skins? Where is the defense on the teams that play the Pats? Have them step up and then there will no running up the score. Running up the score is NOT A ISSUE, Tiger in golf, he has won by 10 or more strokes, Jordan with the Bulls, these plays are getting paid, so let them play the WHOLE GAME. Did all the teams in the 80's and 90's that played in the Super Bowl run up the score?
Edit Comment Cancel
Roy MacB about 1 year ago
This is the New England Patriots ! There isn't any other way for them to play the game. So now ,,if I'm hearing things right,,,The Pats get crapped on if they lose. Now they are crapped on if they win ???
Every team in this league wishes they were the Pats right now and they would be doing the same thing.
Edit Comment Cancel
Roy MacB about 1 year ago
Patriots Fans Notice : The First
"" Eric Mangini Day ""
Dec.16 th / 2007
Foxborro, Mass.
The Event
Boston Veres Eric Mangini
Weapons
REAL HARD SNOWBALLS !!
Edit Comment Cancel
Kevin Hrad about 1 year ago
Roger - Jordan with the Bulls? Jordan would be on the bench if the Bulls were up by 25 in the fourth quarter. every time. That argument was terrible. Now Kobe vs. the Raptors is another story....so was David Robinson in his final game to win the scoring title over Shaq when he had 72 points or whatever. Not an accident.
The Redskins are irrelevant. Their defense is nothing special.
It's as much about running up the stats as running up the score. Give me a ligit reason why Brady is passing to Welker for a TD if this is not the case.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
The Patriots rushed for 160 yards! The 'Skins just couldn't stop 'em, so do people expect the Pats to start taking a knee in the third quarter? All week I got to listen to all the wagging sports tongues talk about how Washington could test the Patriots, and now the Patriots are the bad guys for wihpping the Redskins. I respect Joe Gibbs, but the better team won today and that's that. Here's a question for everyone: if the Pats had only been winning games by about 3 points, would anyone still be upset about the score today? In about 3 weeks the Pats should have the division locked up; shuold they sit Brady then? If someone got their feelings hurt, they need to learn to live with it. That's life! We're trying to take the competitiveness out of sports and succeeding at the HS level - let's not hate on the pro's for winning games. What next? Take the trophy away from the Red Sox because they just won a couple of years ago?
Edit Comment Cancel
. about 1 year ago
This wasn't about running up the score for me, it was about pure stupidity. When you have the win in hand you sit your starters; why risk them? What if Sean Taylor was coming on a blitz when Tom Brady ran up the middle on 4th down when he should have already been out?
I understand that Belichick is trying to prove that his team is this all-powerful juggernaut, but they can't risk to lose an important player when points aren't needed.
Edit Comment Cancel
Roy MacB about 1 year ago
How would he be risking injury to Brady by leaving him in the whole game ? Did anyone touch Tom in this game ? Did anyone come close to him ? Players risk injury all the time in every game so whats different about letting him play the whole game,,,man,,it's in his blood to play hard and long,,that's what he is all about.!! Belichick,,is the very best coach in the NFL and you are calling him stupid ???
Maybe you should use your brains a little before you call someone like Belichick " Stupid " !
GO PATS GO
Edit Comment Cancel
. about 1 year ago
Oh how dare I say Belichick made a dumb move! I've sinned!
Look, you can't assume that anyone on the team won't get hurt during the game, even if its not during the play. Maybe some Redskin player gets pissed off and delivers a late shot? Who knows.
All I'm saying is that you DO NOT risk your best players when you've already won the game! It's pointless, and it is impossible to get anything positive from it. Just look at the Colts, at least they had the brains to take Peyton out when they had the game clinched at 31-7 - not even as dominating as the Pats' 38-0 lead.
Belichick should know better, don't be blinded by your fan affiliation and just see that there is no good that can come from leaving a starter in when the game is clinched.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Jordan doesn't run up the score -- he scores to win and thats enuff -- it speaks for himself. Do not compare Brady's Pats with Jordan's Bulls... There is a difference between greatness (Bulls) and a great fad (Patriots).
Y'know someone was complaining about how the Pats get dinged for winning (and dinged for when they lose)... If thats happening -- its because the Pats brought on themselves. They could've been the class-act everyone wants them to be -- but they ALWAYS take the low road. If Pats are getting tired of the criticism -- take an introspective view for a change at your team. Trust me, alot of people want to like the Pats. Heck, I liked them until I watched this game... Every other game -- I thought it was marginal to say they were running up the score... This game was blatant.
And btw, revenge for how the NFL treated Belichick for spying? Please -- thats so childish. Its his own fault. If thats the way the Pats play/think -- victory will always be bittersweet. Personally -- I could care less about the spying...
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Patriots fans have to face facts. What they did showed poor sportsmanship. Now, based on this thread, most of them don't seem to care.
Sometime in the future, maybe this year or maybe later, when someone "accidentally" breaks Brady's leg as payback, maybe they'll realize that going down this road wasn't the right thing to do. I hope that doesn't happen.
Edit Comment Cancel
Tim Hart about 1 year ago
Can you imagine Bill Belichick (after a team he coached was blown out) allowing his players to focus on and speak about how offended they were that the other team kept playing hard for the entire game? One reason Belichick's teams win is that he teaches his players not to focus on irrelevant issues that distract them from recognizing their own flaws and working like heck to correct those flaws.
Of course fans can focus on it all they want. It doesn't distract us from our beer.
I am a Patriots fan and I do recall that Belichick has - for a number of seasons - played his starters very late in games that appeared to be "over" (big Patriot leads). I noticed that because purely from a risk of injury standpoint, it bothered me. So this is not purely a "screw the videogate criticizers" move. This propensity is in Belichick's blood. From a "sportmanship" standpoint it doesn't bother me a bit. I don't think the analogy to youth sports is apt because the losing players are grown men who should be able to lose big without their feelings being hurt. Again - if the losing players are focussed on Belichick's actions instead of their own situation, then they are not doing their jobs.
Edit Comment Cancel
Joshua Shive about 1 year ago
All i have to say is these football players get paid millions of dollars to play the game, no one should have any kind of sympathy for their embarrasment. I mean come on they get paid more money then you will probably ever see, who cares if people get embarrassed. If it was me and people payed me that much money then i would play to the best of my ability and if i got embarrassed then who gives a shit i'll go sit in my private spa with my flat screen on the wall probably 60 inches and forget about it.
Edit Comment Cancel
Joshua Shive about 1 year ago
Anybody who wants to keep saying that the Patriots are wrong for running up the score listen to Terrel Davis a True Professional Football Player and look what he has to say. http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d803bc832
Edit Comment Cancel
John Grecko about 1 year ago
**************** Brady and Belicheck ********
Astericks for all superbowls and records achieved under
Belicheck. I'm going to buy the football Brady uses to break
Peyton's record, and stamp a big Asterick on it as the Pats fans
cry about how everyone cheats so its okay for the Pats to cheat.
****************************************************
***************************************************
Get used to them Pats fans cause you will see a bunch more in
your lifetime. LOL!!!! I will be laughing about this post for some
time. Enjoy your tainted records!
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
**************** Brady and Belicheck ********
Astericks for all superbowls and records achieved under
Belicheck. I'm going to buy the football Brady uses to break
Peyton's record, and stamp a big Asterick on it as the Pats fans
cry about how everyone cheats so its okay for the Pats to cheat.
****************************************************
***************************************************
Get used to them Pats fans cause you will see a bunch more in
your lifetime. LOL!!!! I will be laughing about this post for some
time. Enjoy your tainted records!
Edit Comment Cancel
Roy MacB about 1 year ago
You might want to check out which forum you are on??? This one is about running up scores ?? I think you are back in time about 7 weeeks,,,things have moved on and it's Oct.30th today. I havn't heard anyone mention cheating since Sept 16th.
Edit Comment Cancel
Joshua Shive about 1 year ago
Records are records when people look back 20 years from now and they will se these records and thats it and they will know who is the best football team to ever set foot on the field, hahahaha i will enjoy this when the Patriots roll over the Colts.
Edit Comment Cancel
Roy MacB about 1 year ago
Don't they already know ? Just look at what they have done in 8 weeks. Just think of what they could have done with Brady if he had these receivers for the last 6 years. Maybe evryone should think about that for a moment !! Toms having a ball out there now that he has the best guys at the other end of the pass . I'm pretty sure I would run up the score myself if I was him. It is sort of like buying a Hemi Cuda and only being able to drive it at 30 MPH for 5 years and all of a sudden soneone says OK lets take it to the dragstrip. I think that's what this whole team is doing and I don't think that is showing off but rather letting it go all out and it must feel great.
GO PATS GO
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
The Redskins should have jammed or held the receivers and blitzed Brady and hit him high and low. Who cares about getting a couple of penalties, make them pay for playing this way. Risking injury to your top players is mindless as one key injury can ruin a season. If Brady gets injured, the Patriots will not beat the Colts and will not go to the Super Bowl.
Edit Comment Cancel
Roy MacB about 1 year ago
So,,lets get this straight,,,,You are saying that if you can't win your team should try to injure the other guys?? God Boy You Are A Class AAA Asshole ,, I hope you don't ever want to coach a kids team in any sport.
By the way ,,, Moron ,,, The Skins couldn't blitz the Pats because Brady has the best offensive line in the game and he gets rid of the ball before anybody can get to him. Watch the game next time maybe you won'y say such stupid things.!!
The Patriots are the very Best NFL Team Ever!! I bet you will choke over that but it's true and you know it.
GO PATS GO
Edit Comment Cancel
Kevin Hrad about 1 year ago
"It's in Beilichick's and Brady's BLOOD to score points and give it all they've got for the whole 60 minutes......"
get real you f'n hard-ons. who says shi* like that?
I didn't see the Red Sox stealing bases in game 1 when they were up by 10 or whatever. If you do that, you get beaned the next time you're up. In hockey, soome Goon would crush you and probably lay you out on the ice. In the NBA, you get a "hard foul" going up for a layup, which, although the NBA is a pu**y league, can cause some serious injury. What's the NFL's version of that? Could be uglier and dirtier. Not promoting that at all, but understand they are pissing off a lot of people and that scenario is entirely possible. That's what that dude meant on his post yesterday before someone got offensive, again.
You can right all of the spastic messages riddled with exclamation points that you want. You can keep telling me that I'm crying despite me making it very clear several times that I don't give a sh** about either the Redskins or Pats. I have a very onjective view on the situation so don't think you are insulting my emotions by continuing to scream your coc*s off about the Pats. What I'm presenting to you are facts - you can dislike them, choose not to accept them, but understand they are facts:
1) Patriots are one of the best teams ever....blah blah blah....!!!!!!....most of this is true outside of the obvious idiots on this message board.....no one can take away from the all-around talent on that team and I don't think anyone has tried to
2) Belichick is an a-hole
3) Pats have chosen record books at the expense of unwritten rules about sportsmanship
4) Pats have chosen record books at the expense of injury possibilities
5) As millions of sports fans and plenty of NFL personnel share my opinion, it is possible that the Pats' decisions on Sunday may come back to haunt them, whether or not you wish it upon them
Now, you can add to the list, but you can't subtract. I figured maybe putting this in list form would make my objectivity here clear.
Edit Comment Cancel
Norbert Cartagena about 1 year ago
"Going for it on fourth down not just once but twice was simply uncalled for and was a prime example of poor sportsmanship."
Actually, this is crap. See, fourth down conversions are generally less common than not. If they had punted the ball, then they'd be badmouthed for... what, giving the Skins bad field position? What if they scored field goals, would they be maligned for doing running up the score. "Look! They've got 47 points because they've hit 3 field goals! Bastards!"
If the 4th down had not been converted, then the field position would play to the Skins' advantage, which would have made the game much more interesting.
I'm sorry, but I see absolutely no problem with seeing the Pats do what they've been doing. Hell, for those of us who don't care for either team (I'm a Bucs fan, myself) it makes it fun to watch, in a WWE sort of way, where you know who's going to win and you don't care.
But they'll lose next week to the Colts. And that'll be the end of the undefeated Pats.
Edit Comment Cancel
Kevin Hrad about 1 year ago
This was nonsense:
"Actually, this is crap. See, fourth down conversions are generally less common than not. If they had punted the ball, then they'd be badmouthed for... what, giving the Skins bad field position? What if they scored field goals, would they be maligned for doing running up the score. "Look! They've got 47 points because they've hit 3 field goals! Bastards!"
If the 4th down had not been converted, then the field position would play to the Skins' advantage, which would have made the game much more interesting."
The field position would play to the Skins' advantage, which would have made the game much more interesting? Are you smoking dope? Do you know the rules of football? You can score in multiples of 8 at the most dude. You can't score a 30-pointer and "make the game interesting". Everyone who read your message had some brain cells that rolled over and died.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
screw that dude ..... if the 'Skins and Gibbs wanted the Pats to stop scoring they should have done it on the field. don't wait until after the game to talk about running up the score. it is their job to stop the scoring or to score just as much as their opponents... i can only agree with your point about risking injuries to starters ...but the argument about running up the score is trash ... tell it to the 'Skins defense and their coordinator !
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
1. You didn't get it straight. He wasn't saying they should try to injury them because they were losing, he was saying they should try to injure them because of their poor sportsmanship. There's a difference. Regardless, I don't condone trying to injury anyone, on any level of sports. It's ruthless, and the epitome of poor sportsmanship. So yes, that dude is a class AAA asshole.
2. I agree that Brady has the best line in football.
3. It's difficult to call a team the "best ever" after only 8 games. They are certainly on pace though. Dallas and Washington are the only two good teams they've faced so far -- and they beat them easily. However, the combined record of their remaining opponents is a pitiful 14-30, and they've only faced 3 teams overall with a winning record. Further, 5 of the teams they've faced -- CLE, NYJ, BUF, CIN, SD -- are among the worst pass defenses in the league. Let's at least wait until they beat the Colts, and go 16-0 before the discussion of "best ever" even begins. They get to play MIA, BUF, and NYJ one more time each, but will have some more difficult matchups too, like PIT and NYG. Although I fully expect them to beat the better teams too, perhaps we should wait until they actually do it before saying that your claim is true?
Edit Comment Cancel
Byron Gunby about 1 year ago
I like what you had to say, however I'd want to say a few things of my own on your points:
1. I dont think that the idea was to injure Brady due to poor sportsmanship, but simply that the columnist is stating that one fluke play or slip-up and Brady's season (and effectively, New England's season) is over. I must agree with you, that I do not condone injury to any player. I mean, even if my team is playing the Vikings or Bears, I wouldn't say, "I hope Tavarius Jackson snaps his ankle" or "I hope Thomas Jones blows an ACL". That's just not cool.
2. I also agree with this point. There is no weakness anywhere in that line, ANYWHERE. And until some defensive line comes up with a way to isolate key players, I dont think that Brady's going to get sacked or hurried too often. If he has time to throw the ball, you can pretty much count on a completion, unless there are very good corner tandems out there (which there are---Bailey and Bly, or Harris and Woodson) which MAYBE, and I say MAYBE, can break up a pass, or minimize the damage of a completed pass.
3. I also agree that a team is the "BEST EVER" at the midway point of the season. Should they duplicate their first half of this season efforts into the second half, then by far they are one of the "best ever" teams. As for Indy, I just love it how they are getting no credit for their 8-0 start. All the talk and spotlight is on the Patriots, and I love how modest Manning is being about it. :) I am curious to see who gets the spread for this week's game. Indy -6.5? Or is it going to be NE -6.5? Or maybe even Indy -2.5? I don't know, I'm not enough of an analyst to say. However, I do know that this is probably the game of the season coming up, and it's going to be a treat for everyone who gets to see that game. However, back to what you said, I agree that we have to see some more before projecting that they go 16-0----but at this point, that doesn't seem to be unattainable.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
The whole question of the Patriots 'running up the score' is a joke. It is just a sop for the national sports media. It's a farce. It just gives everybody something to bitch about.
It proves that people have very short, selective memories.
Nobody said a thing about the Colts, Payton Manning and Tony Dungy running up the score in 2004.
Their average margin of victory was HIGHER in 2004 than the Patriots is currently, and not one word was uttered about the Colts running up the score by anyone, particularly not in the national media.
Please put that one to bed.
IMHO Bellichik and the Patriots ARE flipping the bird to the NFL. When the 'spygate' story broke, many
individuals in the national sports media and individuals within the coaching ranks of the NFL, piled on Bellichick and the Patriots.
This provided him with all the ammunition he needed to motivate his team.
The question of 'tainted' Superbowls. Stories and tapes regarding the incident leaked by the NFL itself.
Questions of other vaguely specified nefarious activities......
All powder for the cannons my friends.
What we are seeing is the payback to the rest of the NFL.
I am not a Patriots apologist. He broke the rules, he got caught. He and the team must team pay the penalty.
However, he does plan on leaving the rest of the NFL a bloody smear on the field this year.
It's going to be interesting to watch.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Let the classless Pats run up the score. I really can't see the Ravens or Steelers putting up with that
crap when they play Billicheat. Marsha Brady will be taken out on a stretcher, his season and possibly his pathetic career over and 90% of football fans everywhere will be cheering!!!!!!!!!!
Edit Comment Cancel
Derrick Snodgrass about 1 year ago
The terminology is all wrong here and thus casts a negative view of what the Pats are trying to accomplish.
Instead of, "Running Up The Score," I prefer the term, Practicing Execution.
The Pats' "secret formula" is that they, as a group, want to be the best they can be.
I don't think the Pats even looked at the scoreboard until one second AFTER the game was over to find out their efforts yielded 52 points and allowed only 7.
They just have the minds of champions; Every Day, In Every Way, I'm Getting Better & Better.
Edit Comment Cancel
Thomas Williams about 1 year ago
I'm just gonna paraphrase what Da Coach said after the game.
If you don't like them scoring on you, do something about it.
Edit Comment Cancel
Kevin Hrad about 1 year ago
all true, I'm not sticking up for the Redskins or any other team. This is not a fairness plea. Just clarifying the Pats agenda.
Don't be naive and think they didn't know the score until the game was over. seriously...
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
Yes, the Skins were giving up yards, and if the Pats continued to make first downs without being stopped from getting into the end zone, that wouldnt have been an issue. but when they had 4th and 1, obviously, anyone who has a comfortable lead (let alone a 38 point cushion) would go for the field goal and make it 41-0. This would still be 41-0, people! The crazy thing about this was that belichick was not satisfied with that. Not only did he go for it then, he went for it in the middle of the 4th quarter with the score at 45-0. That was not "just playing"...it was an unabashed attempt at trashing the opposing team and its head coach.
Yes, if they are not stopped on 3rd down, there would have been some sort of an excuse to keep going. But converting 4th downs so late in the game is ridiculous.
It is unfortunate that Belichick is making his own statement at the risk of his players. That is the biggest part of his selfishness. I dont know if you heard the Mike and Mike show on ESPN this morning, but Mike Golic alluded to something very interesting. He said that if the teams dont like the way the Patriots are sticking it ot them, there is "sometheing" they can do about it on the field. This was obviously a hint at taking some really rough shots at the players, and ultimately, if Belichick keeps doing what he is doing, the frustration of the opposing team is going to end up hurting his star players and the Patriots season will end...not to mention that his players might get hurt really bad.
Belichick is a vengeful conceited jackass. Totally full of himself.
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
The more points you score, the less likely a miraculous comeback by the opposition. Granted, it does become impossible at some point, there's no reason not to play it safe. These players get paid enough to have their feelings hurt when they get clobbered on the field. This isn't youth rec football - Belichick's job is to win games and make the Patriots the best team they can possibly be by scoring as many points as possible.
Edit Comment Cancel
john doe about 1 year ago
Belichick and Co have Ravens in M&T stadium coming up.. PLEASE PLEASE RUN up the score in M&T stadium and see what happens!!! AT is already mouthing off about his old team..
I don't think Ravens will will BUT unlike the Joe Gibbs.. BB will make sure a message is sent if bellichick wants to go for pad the points 4th down with 40+ points or more on the score board..
Edit Comment Cancel
Anonymous about 1 year ago
I agree, the Ravens nor the Steelers will sit back and let Billicheat run up the score. I bet Billicheat will be afraid to!!!!!!!!!
Edit Comment Cancel