Is Bill Red with a hoodie?
Or was Red Bill with a cigar?
We gained’t sidetrack our just-in-case tribute to Bill Belichick with the no-win argument debating whether or not or not Belichick or Red Auerbach is the best coach in Boston sports activities historical past.
Different occasions.
Different sports activities.
Different males.
Bill Belichick is definitely the best coach within the historical past of the Patriots.
Of course, that’s like profitable the NFC South.
What is definite is that no head coach so efficiently dominated the NFL for so long as Belichick.
Belichick constructed a 20+ yr dynasty in New England upon the rock of Tom Brady in an age of free-agency and “parity.” And he made Brady potential.
A DNA examine of Robert Kraft’s six Super Bowl rings present half are the spawn of Brady (38, 49, 51) and half of Belichick (36, 39, 53).
Each gave one away. For Brady it was Super Bowl 46, for Belichick it was Super Bowl 52.
Super Bowl 42 was a communal disaster.
Belichick’s report of accomplishment, his mastery of the sport, his dishonest – actual and imagined, and command of the second stored everybody guessing. Usually flawed.
He gave us “5D Chess vs. Candy Land.”
The son of a World War II veteran and long-time Navy assistant coach, Belichick was virtually raised on the Annapolis campus of the U.S. Naval Academy.
Yet he turned the most-successful, anti-NFL-establishment radical east of Al Davis.
It fantastically drove The Shield nuts. Multiple guidelines had been modified due to strategic maneuverings executed by Belichick.
The Hoodie wrecked a number of franchises alongside the best way, just like the Jets, Colts and Chargers. And, like Brady, finally the Patriots.
Belichick stole the soul of practically each opposing coach, save for a couple of like Tom Coughlin, Doug Pederson and Mike McDaniel.
Just watch the clip of Rams coach Sean McVay fan-boying Belichick earlier than Super Bowl 53. McVay stumbles over his phrases in assembly Belichick earlier than The Big Game.
Belichick, in the meantime, later checks with lead referee John Parry about when and the way lengthy it can take for the oculus roof to shut above Mercedes Benz Stadium. All in an effort to determine through which path the Patriots ought to kick off. If crucial.
That could also be Belichick’s denouement of excellence for the reason that Patriots haven’t gained a postseason recreation since.
Belichick’s numbers as a head coach in New England are worthy of recitation.
6 Super Bowl rings
9 AFC Championships
17 AFC East hats & T-shirts
24 seasons
30 playoff victories
266 regular-season victories
Now right here’s one you could not haven’t seen: 10% of his 120 regular-season losses with New England have come this season. An spectacular quantity on each counts.
Speaking of losses, Belichick has as a lot incentive for these Patriots to win on Sunday as the longer term Patriots have for them to lose.
A Patriots loss to the Jets – their first in 16 tries towards Gang Green – would clinch at-worst the No. 3 general decide within the 2024 NFL Draft. A win might push New England all the best way all the way down to No. 5 on the draft board.
But a Patriots victory retains Belichick from falling right into a tie with Jeff Fisher and Dan Reeves for essentially the most NFL regular-season losses ever at 165.
Two dozen years of allegedly doing “what’s best for the team” comes down one snowy Sunday in January towards one other group whose season ended weeks in the past.
No. 3 Pick vs. Belichick Having The Most Losses Ever?
In true Hoodie kind, we’d anticipate nothing lower than BB game-planning this one prefer it was Super Bowl 36.
Don Shula’s magic variety of 347 victories (together with the postseason) stays out of Belichick’s attain till at the very least subsequent season. Belichick has 333. Shula’s mark was undoubtedly a purpose that Kraft stored Belichick round regardless of the Patriots’ playoff famine and 29-37 post-Brady report. Belichick owns 305 NFL regular-season head teaching victories, 266 with New England.
The actuality supplied by the Patriots on and off the sphere post-Brady was precipitated largely by Belichick’s actions (or inaction). There has been little room for reward.
Belichick’s record of NFL achievements is so robust, so dynastic, so deep, so immense, nonetheless, that the failings of those current years will likely be shortly cleansed by time. After all, he owns a ship known as “VIII Rings.”
Not all of the greats exit atop the leaderboard.
Shula’s closing recreation as a head coach was a 15-point Wild Card playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Brady’s final cross in a Patriots’ uniform was pick-six returned by Logan Ryan.
The closing entry on QB Joe Montana’s NFL recreation log is a 27-17 postseason setback as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Washington Wizards veteran Michael Jordan completed his profession with 15 factors in a 107-87 common season defeat at Philly.
Bobby Orr took three pictures on a pair of shot knees in a 1-0 loss to Vancouver earlier than hanging it up for good – as a member of Chicago Blackhawks.
You get the purpose.
We thanked Brady in 28 totally different languages right here when he retired from the NFL (for the primary time).
Belichick has earned as a lot from the Patriots, his gamers, and followers.
His legacy, nonetheless, will principally disappear when he does. His teaching tree resembles the one Charlie Brown introduced dwelling for Christmas (save for the Nick Saban decoration). Belichick has but to re-sign any draft decide since 2013. His equal concentrate on protection and particular groups on the expense of playmakers on offense has misplaced its place in an NFL that wishes factors, factors and extra factors.
Belichick has by no means been one in every of a sort. From his personal admission, he’s his father’s son in relation to soccer. He’s mirrored his NFL mentor Bill Parcells in so some ways
But he’s undoubtedly the final of his variety.
And one of the best.
Bill Speros (@RealOBF and @BillSperos) might be reached at [email protected].
Source: www.bostonherald.com