Sun Feb 03, 2008 11:12 pm EST
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.
Shutdown Corner is an NFL blog edited by Matthew J. Darnell. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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13740 Comments
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have done got that one ha ha coundntb
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I can't wait to see other comments.
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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?
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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!!
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