The Genius of Bill Belichick can’t be questioned

Patriots vs. Colt game was every bit worth the hype and more, so before we go into all the talk about Bill Belichick going for it on 4^th and 2 on he’s own 28^th yard line, or if the catch made by kevin faulk was not really a first down, or if Peyton Manning was a better play caller than the NFL Genius himself Bill Belichick, or how Rookie Sebastian Vollmer left tackle held dangerous defensive end Dwight Freeney in check, or How Joseph Addai after spraining both middle fingers on he’s right hand and then had them taped comes back into the game and contributes immensely to the ultimate result, or how come Bill Belichick took 2 timeouts before the 2 minute warning and didn’t have any when he needed it the most.

I can go on and on all day as there were too many story lines to this Epic battle but, as soon as the game was rapped up there was only one story every one was interested in: Bill Belichick going for it on 4^th and 2 on he’s own 28^th yard line.

I have a lot to say about this game, but I want my article to be read, so I’ll give you my 2 cents on this issue.

Bill Belichick is not a good coach, he’s a great coach and a great manager.

And am not saying this because he’s won 3 Super Bowl in the last 10 years although that doesn’t hurt, but because of what he’s done with the New England Patriots Franchise and a 6^th round pick Quarterback. This team has won 108 games the last 10 years (second only to the Indianapolis Colts (109)) and has 3 Super Bowls, 1 perfect regular season and it’s the pride of the NFL. (Enough kissing Belichick rearJ)

Here are the Facts: The Colts and the Patriots brings their A game when ever they meet, be it in the regular season or the playoff and they build their teams every off season with the other in mind. Furthermore, in the last 10 years this game has decided who gets home field advantage through out the playoffs; needless to say none of them want to loose this game.

Coming into the game Bill Belichick game plan was clear: prevent Dallas Clark from catching the ball and completely stop the colts run game (Both worked flawlessly), run the ball and take less risk on the passing game (once again, both worked flawlessly). So is safe to say the Patriots game plan was a success as most of the game they were up by double digit (24 to 7 in the 2^nd quarter and 31 to 14 in the 3^rd). But with all the injuries facing the Patriots defense and Peyton Manny no hurdle offense all game long those boy (Patriots Defense) were completely tired. And to prove my case, in the decisive 4^th period of the game Manny drove the ball down the field 80 yard 2 minutes 5 seconds for a touchdown and the next possession 75 yards in a minute and half for another touchdown, we all know Manny does this almost in every game but they had been able to slow him down for 3 quarter and then their legs gave up on them.

Now with over a minute to go in the game the patriots face a 4^th and 2, punting the ball means you dear Peyton Manny to go about 70 yards for a 3^rd straight possession. For any other coach the decision is simple (Punt) and hope and pray that you defense gets a second wind.

But this is not any other coach this is Mr. Bill Belichick he doesn’t care if it’s on he’s 28^th yard line or the 40 yard line. Contrary to popular belief he’s not a gambler when it comes to play calling, he only calls plays he knows the personnel on the field can run and he is almost never wrong.

Since the 2000 season Belichick has gone for it on 4^th down against the Colts in the regular season 12 times and got it 8 times, in the playoffs gone for it on 4^th down against the Colts 4 times and got it 4 times. Those are the odds Belichick was faced with Sunday night and if he had time outs left to challenge the call that catch would have been a 1^st down and everyone today would have been talking about the genius of Bill Belichick.

So the real issue here should have been with why he took all he’s time out and managed the game so poorly at the end and not with him going for it on 4^th and 2.

Lets be very clear here: am in no way saying that the play call was right, am saying to achieve greatness you’ve got to dance to your own tone and convince others to do the same. Bill Belichick coach of the New England Patriots has achieved greatness as much as any other coach in NFL history and he’s done it with less, so he deserves the benefit of the doubt every now and then and this is one of those situations.

Immediately after the game Rodney Harrison Super Bowl winner under Belichick decided to second guess he’s formal coach and that too has become big news.

Am going to keep this simple: Rodney Harrison is a broadcaster who played for the Patriots and now has to prove he can report on the NFL impartially, hence the jab at Tom Brady couple of weeks ago calling him a girl, and now on he’s formal coach. These are the things that will give him respect amongst he’s peers (Broadcasters) and guarantee him many more years on the job.

So every on should lighten up on Rodney Harrison he knows the game and he’s playing it well.

I would have said am disappointed on talk radio and ESPN for only focusing on the negatives of this great game or at least trying to manufacture a negative based on the Belichick call, but, its talk radio and ESPN and they know the fans and fans really only want to hear the negatives.

So here are the positive from the Colts vs. Patriots:

This was a game played for 60 minutes both offenses were in it to win it and the defenses never let up even after they were completely tired each team played like it was the Super Bowl and maybe it was.

How much more can we say about Rookie Sebastian Vollmer who held the dangerous defensive end Dwight Freeney in check and some times it was hard to tell he was a rookie.

Joseph Addai after spraining both middle fingers on he’s right hand and had them taped comes back into the game and plays like everything was just fine.

This game represented every thing the NFL stands for and other teams should really watch this game tape instead of their regular practice session and I guarantee they would have a more productive day. Both this teams face injuries to key positions but you couldn’t tell by watching the game, yet teams like the Bears, Redskins and many more keeps making excuses about injuries to their teams and it being the reason they put such sorry performance on the field every Sunday.

This game most of all showcased the greatness of both organizations and showed every one what can be achieved when you have great managers at the helm of your organization.

Like I always say: A good manager finds a way to get the best out of he’s personal for the least amount of money. A great manager surrounds himself with good managers.

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