There's an old newsman's saying, "NEVER let the truth get in the way of a good story." Should I remind you that the player that intercepted Brady's pass as the first half ended in last years playoff game DID NOT tell his coach (as he handed him the ball) that he thought the ball was under inflated. What he DID SAY to the coach was, "Hold this ball for me for my souvenir collection." He even told the media that after the game but, of course, that would put an END to any story. Remember the first rule in reporting---"NEVER LET THE TRUTH, etc" Can you imagine how quiet the entire sports scene would have been for those 9 months if there was no INFLATE-GATE?? And it's still not over.....
The latest story to go "viral" is WHY did Belichick choose to kick off to the Jets in overtime. His answer was that he thought it was best for the team. PERIOD. Most people, media included, felt he was taking the ball out of Brady's hands. MY take on it was that the Patriots defense was doing a good job of holding the Jets on the last few series of downs and, if they kicked off to the Jets they would be starting from the 20 yard line and have to go 80 yards for a touchdown. AND, if the Pats received THEY would have to go 80 for a TD OR 50 to get in field goal range...BUT, if the Pats held them to three and out then they would get the ball about the 40 yard line and only have to go about 25-30 yards for a field goal that would WIN the game. AND, there was always the chance they could force a turnover and finish off the Jets WITHOUT having to risk any of their already hurting offensive players, BRADY included. By the way hasn't anybody noticed that the Patriots were down to their third string LEFT TACKLE. Let me remind you Brady's been getting beaten up quite a bit even AFTER he's passed the ball. (Referees, and league officials please take notice.)
The way it turned out the Pats were inches away from holding the Jets to that "three and out" scenario. On third and very long, Super bowl hero Malcolm Butler was called for pass interference on a very close call giving the Jets a new set of downs. If Butler gets to the pass receiver a split second later (inches actually) there's no penalty and the headlines would be claiming Belichick a genius because the Jets would have had to punt the ball away.
The fact is that many of the brightest minds in football have agreed that Belichick's move was a sound football maneuver considering the physical state of his offensive line (possibly even Brady) that ONLY BELICHICK knew about. Of course the media would never print that because then the story would die and they'd lose another chance to try to discredit him.
Belichick certainly doesn't deserve to be questioned about his on field decisions. Isn't anyone paying attention to those FOUR super bowl championships (not to mention the two that our Pats were robbed of.) The point is very simple...no Belichick, no super bowl championships. PERIOD!!
YES, I'm a member of the "In Belichick we trust" club but, more importantly,,,why aren't these writers and sports show hosts? Seems you can't trust them for real football knowledge when most of them are just trying to nail Belichick. I'd have to say the only ones to trust are guys like Bob Lobel, Fred Smerlas, Steve DeOssie (both former players) and one of my all-time favorites, former Patriot's all pro safety, Tim Fox. for true football game analysis.
My dear old friend (from way back in our Boston English High days) Will McDonough always said, "You can't have non-football people MAKING football decisions or criticizing successful football people in the media." How's the younger generation ever going to get to know anything about the sport of football? Now find the guys that DO know what they're talking about and pay attention. Now let's mop up in Miami and sweep the playoffs with a super bowl win against the Panthers.
P.S. Please Mr. Kraft, start the movement that will get our own Gino Cappelletti inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame (in his lifetime). He's averaged 7.4 points per game for his entire career. The closest to him has less than 6.0 points per game. He's the only man in pro football history to AVERAGE over 100 points per season for his entire career, never missing a game in that 11 year span. Everyone said that "Duke" Cappelletti did everything for the Patriots but park cars and sell popcorn. If not for all he did in the community thousands would never have come to see the Pats play football. That would have caused them to move out of town and, if that happened it could very well have signaled the end of what became the present day NFL....Think about it.....Stay tuned.....