Shutdown Corner - NFL

On more than one occasion this year, Bill Belichick and the Patriots have run up the score on an overmatched opponent, and forced an opposing coach to sit there and watch his beaten team go through the motions while their heineys were being handed to them.

But when the shoe's on the other foot, and Bill Belichick's team has been beaten, he can't sit there and take the pain for a few seconds.

With :01 left on the clock, and his team just having failed on a last chance 4th down effort, Bill Belichick ran onto the field for a quick handshake, and then bolted for the locker room. Belichick's an important guy and everything, but I wasn't aware that the league had given him the authority to decide when games end.

There's time left on the clock, his team's been humbled, outplayed, and lost their chance at history ... and Bill Belichick doesn't have the stomach to sit there and absorb the pain until the clock read 0:00.

That's unsportsmanlike at best, disrespectful at least, and at worst, it makes him a big sissy.

Because Bill Belichick wanted to go hide when he lost, the field ended up being flooded with people, and the officials had to clear the area before the Giants could take their final snap and make it official. When you lose, you take your loss. You don't leave early because it makes you feel sad inside. Your opponent deserves more respect than that.

Anyone remember in 2004 when Randy Moss left the sidelines with two seconds left in a Vikings vs. Redskins game? Moss was selfish, a baby, a quitter, didn't respect his teammates, and didn't respect the game. Belichick just did the same thing, but did it on the biggest possible stage, and did it from the position of a leader of men.

Maybe there's something to be said for the inability to lose well ... most great winners don't lose well, and a sore loser is still a loser.

But still, if you're an adult, you finish out the game, and you give your opponents the stage and the respect they deserve.

digg delicious
more

13740 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. bigdaddy92163
    1. Posted by bigdaddy92163 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:06 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    i guess that the term 18 and 1 will not be copywritten by the pats guess the 85 bears
    have done got that one ha ha coundntb
  2. sco0op
    2. Posted by sco0op Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:08 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Belichump is such a loser...what a classless dude. Way to go Giants!!
  3. Concerned fan
    3. Posted by Concerned fan Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    The Pats coach departure says it all: BAD LOSER. I guess he is sorry he could not cheat his way this time.
  4. A Bag of Chips
    4. Posted by A Bag of Chips Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:45 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I don't like the Pats and I'm glad they lost. However, I don't read much into the last 2 seconds on the clock. I give Belichick the benefit of the doubt. I thought time had run out myself
  5. PartySweetie01187
    5. Posted by PartySweetie01187 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:27 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    great article and great point well made: Belichick should have stayed on the field. Take the pain. Give respect. Move on.
    I can't wait to see other comments.
  6. mysteakhouse
    6. Posted by mysteakhouse Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:23 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Pat-18/1 don't mean a thing...G-man-11/6 superbowl champs..WOW!!!!
  7. abenjamin27
    7. Posted by abenjamin27 Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:44 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    so much for the pats.all you all jock riders.get over it.GIANTS WIN.LOLOL
  8. JD
    8. Posted by JD Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:31 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Could the Patriots, have over looked the Giants more then they did. No matter what they say, they thought they had the game in the bag. This one loss, just nulified everything they did during the whole season.
  9. Ralphie
    9. Posted by Ralphie Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:19 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Someone in Africa will be getting 19-0 Patriot T-shirts. BAAAAAAAH!!!! Way to go Giants!
  10. Ralphie
    10. Posted by Ralphie Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:19 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    someone in africa will be getting 19-0 patriot t-shirts. baaaaaaah!!!! way to go giants!
  11. pips steelers
    11. Posted by pips steelers Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    post season prediction, belilcheck will lie to congress and be in jail within the next 18 months,just like sammy
  12. Black Wolf Standing
    12. Posted by Black Wolf Standing Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:08 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Just a thought:
    If Belichick actually thought the game was over, why didn't he shake the Winning Coach's hand? Or did I miss the hand shake?
  13. Black Wolf Standing
    13. Posted by Black Wolf Standing Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:08 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Never Mind. I did miss the Hand shake.
  14. Doomsday
    14. Posted by Doomsday Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:06 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Yet another classless move from the classless coach. When the shoe is on the other foot, he runs up the score. When it's his turn to deal with it, he runs home to mama...
    Don't for a minute put him in a cass with great coaches (I'm sure the Browns don't).
    God let them get all the way to 18-0 before matching them up with the the Wildcard Giants, and sending them a message - cheaters don't prosper, and winners never quit!!
  15. pips steelers
    15. Posted by pips steelers Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    are the giants the greatest team ever now that they beat the cheating pats
  16. mysteakhouse
    16. Posted by mysteakhouse Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:23 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Patriots,all those games that you didn't need to win,you won,the one that you needed the most,you didn't. Hats off to you Giants. WOW!!!!!!
  17. soonerlumberlady
    17. Posted by soonerlumberlady Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:33 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I could not agree more with this article. He has to be the biggest JERK in the NFL and there are alot of them. He didn't even have enough class to congratulate the Giants on their win at his interview after the game. I am so glad they lost.
  18. pips steelers
    18. Posted by pips steelers Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    are the giants the greatest team ever now that they beat the pats
  19. sid87
    19. Posted by sid87 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:50 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Brady bets QB ever? No. Pats best team ever? No. Belichick best coach ever? No. Pats a dynasty? No. Its funny what happens when the Pats can't cheat. These guys were in the same class as the steelers, cowboys and niners? Those teams were dominant. The Pats won their superbowls by a combined 9 points. I wonder if they had played those games without video help if we would be looking at another Bills team. They have been overconfident all year and they got what they deserved.
  20. Palko
    20. Posted by Palko Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:48 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Tiki...Where are you.....Eli didn't need you...funny how you are not part of the team and the Giants win the Superbowl...Now keep your mouth shut...goes to prove the Giants are better without you and you were the weak link....Go Big Blue..
  21. pips steelers
    21. Posted by pips steelers Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    are the giants the greatest team ever now that they beat the pats
  22. DECKER
    22. Posted by DECKER Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:21 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    The Pats pursuit of perfection.....so funny. Now Belichick has time to figure out how he is going to handle all the questions about his past of cheating..since his first Super Bowl in 2001.
  23. Mama always said
    23. Posted by Mama always said Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:20 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    oooo what? OKAY!!!! BAHAAHAAHAAHAHAAHAA!!!!!! 18 & 1!!!
  24. David S.
    24. Posted by David S. Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:04 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Weren't the refs already there informing him. It's not biased to write this, it's biased to think everyone but him knew the game wasn't over.
  25. DesL
    25. Posted by DesL Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:58 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Belichick obviously knew the time hadn't run out when the refs informed him and yet he still left.

Shutdown Corner

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

MJD

Shutdown Corner is an NFL blog edited by Matthew J. Darnell. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Teams

Customize to follow news and rumors on your favorite teams. [ Sign in ]

Related Photo Gallery

Y! Sports Blogs

Shutdown Corner Recent Readers