When Belichick became a villain
Posted: Saturday December 15, 2007 07:28AM ET
It is difficult to pinpoint exactly how Bill Belichick's image crossed the Rubicon from envied champion to football villain. The "he's dead to me" treatment he gave to his former protege Eric Mangini last season seemed petty. When he shoved a photographer out of the way to offer an over-the-top embrace of Mangini after a playoff game, he came across as a bully, and had to apologize. A Jets official publicly questioned Belichick's mental stability when he abruptly resigned as the team's coach. Mangini, the whispers went, tried to recruit players and coaches when he was about to leave Belichick's side to coach the Jets. So perhaps Belichick had been wronged, instead of being wrong. One league executive said Belichick had long been distrusted by some around the league. "But he's getting more publicity this year," he said.
Bill Belichick, AP
Comments (130)
Now we know why his team always wins. He's got an "edge" over the others.
I think patronizes the cliche: There's no substitute for victory.
Ejaculator | 12/15/07, 07:33 AM
Report Offensive CommentHe is like a lot of men who have been successful and powerful in their fields, ie. General Patton, Bobby Knight and on and on. Quirky, obsessed if you will. His personal traits only add to the Myth if you are a Pats fan and make every one else hope that his team falls on its face with him imploding.
Regardless, you have to remember ( as he well knows) the Colts are the champions of the NFL, have been all season, and will be until someone takes the crown from them. Somehow Pat and Cowboy fans have forgot all this in their spear throwing contest. Maybe that is what drives him.
50yearfan | 12/15/07, 08:21 AM
Report Offensive CommentIt's the hoodie. Makes him look shady.
CoachK | 12/15/07, 08:40 AM
Report Offensive CommentBellichick became a villain when he gave Eve that apple.
IrishR#1 | 12/15/07, 09:10 AM
Report Offensive CommentLook at that Hoodie! Stylish
Basic Blues | 12/15/07, 09:15 AM
Report Offensive Comment50year fan,you are absolutely right.The Colts have flown under the radar, avoiding all the he said,she said non-sense that has taken over the NFL this year.
Beer-n-drums | 12/15/07, 09:18 AM
Report Offensive CommentWhen the below-.500 former coach of the Browns sold his soul to Satan and Bob Kraft, obviously.
(jk, no disrespect intended, just an easy target for a joke)
Ombudsman Cooz | 12/15/07, 09:34 AM
Report Offensive CommentWow, 50yearfan, General Patton and Bobby Knight in the same sentence? However, one was instrumental in stopping the mighty Axis machine and the other throws tantrums and chairs. I would never put Bobby Knight in the same sentence as Patton regardless of the comparison.
Soiled Skins!! Hooah! | 12/15/07, 09:57 AM
Report Offensive CommentShouldn't he be holding a red lightsaber and have one of those German stormtrooper helmets for this corny article? Seriously though they're scraping the bottom of the barrel for some dish on football.
Just the same I'm guessing there'll be at least 500-800 comments on this one.
Oso's back-Sort of | 12/15/07, 09:59 AM
Report Offensive CommentHe looks like the Dark Lord of the Sith but that's just poor marketing, he's really a peach.
boston_rob | 12/15/07, 09:59 AM
Report Offensive CommentThere most likely will Oso, and most of them will be from the offensive ones (you know who they are) and they will drag the Cowboys into it. As the Talking Heads said, "..same as it ever was. Same as it ever was." Or is it "..ever is?" I can never remember.
Soiled Skins!! Hooah! | 12/15/07, 10:11 AM
Report Offensive Commentwhats the over under on this thread ?
KPKahder-Dead Ponies Kick **** | 12/15/07, 10:29 AM
Report Offensive CommentRegardless, you have to remember ( as he well knows) the Colts are the champions of the NFL, have been all season, and will be until someone takes the crown from them. Somehow Pat and Cowboy fans have forgot all this in their spear throwing contest. Maybe that is what drives him.
50yearfan | 12/15/07
I keep saying the same thing.. 18-0 means nothing.. its the 19th one you have to get.
KPKahder-Dead Ponies Kick **** | 12/15/07, 10:30 AM
Report Offensive CommentCheck out the cowboy fan talking crap on the other Pats thread.
boston_rob | 12/15/07, 10:31 AM
Report Offensive CommentA cowboy fan talking crap? I don't believe it!!
CoachK | 12/15/07, 10:39 AM
Report Offensive Commentunheard of Coach...
KPKahder-Dead Ponies Kick **** | 12/15/07, 10:42 AM
Report Offensive CommentBelichik is only a villian to jealous media and patriot haters. In New england Bill Belichick is revered and respected as one of the greatest NFL coaches of all time. To those that hate him --- get a life you losers
Larry B | 12/15/07, 10:46 AM
Report Offensive CommentKP sorry the Colts arre not the Champs they are last years SuperBowl winners --- nothing more nothing less --- this is not like boxing where you are champion until somebody knocks you off. And as for the Colts, they are one and done in my opinion. You will not see them in the Superbowl for a lot of years.....
Larry B | 12/15/07, 10:48 AM
Report Offensive CommentHe's just a dickk of a human being.
dallasfanthickandthin | 12/15/07, 10:52 AM
Report Offensive CommentI disagree Larry. The Colts are the current Football Champions, just as the Sox are the baseball champs. Until someone else wins that Super Bowl, the Colts are the best in the NFL.
KPKahder-Dead Ponies Kick **** | 12/15/07, 11:04 AM
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