How much has Belichek's image been tarnished?

[hifigator]

There isn't any real new news on this topic, but now that most of the dust has settled, I am curious how much his improprieties of the past 12 months have harmed his reputation. Just one year ago, most honest football fans would have considered him the best current NFL coach. Regardless, everyone would have put him on a very short list of the best current coaches.

Now a year later, his resume' isn't quite the same. In addition to having lost the big game finally, he has had several proven allegations of "cheating." Exactly how wxtensive the degree of cheating still remains, as well as how serious and/or effective the cheating was.

My question to you all is twofold:

How has your opinion changed, if at all, of Belichek as a coach?
How has your opinion chahged, if at all, of Belichek the man?

[hifigator]

I think when the first story broke regarding the videotaping of signals sent from the sidelines to the huddle, my feelings were basically, "so what?" Over the following weekend, I caught a radio show that featured both Howie Long and John Madden. Thankfully both of them were thinking of things the way I was. Sure, they know that there are "rules" against such things, but as Madden put it, "if I can see the signs, then I presume they can too." Howie Long said more straightforwardly, that trying to steal the signs is something everyone does. It is fully understood that you are trying to signal to your teammates with the understanding that the other team is trying to steal the signs. They both pretty much acknowledged that it is their own responsibility to change the signals and/or make them complicated enough that the other team can't figure them out.



In any case, the point is that I didn't really view that infraction as all that serious, nor did I credit this "cheating" with causing the Patriots recent successes in big games. Then came along a couple of other indiscretions. The one that jumped out at me the most was the videotaping of practices. That, at least to me, is a bit different. Once again, if practice had been open, then I would expect the coaches to understand that and practice accordingly. But if practice is "closed" then there is a legitimate presumption that you are effectively practicing in private. So at least in my mind, I viewed those allegations far more seriously.

Now I'm not so sure just how much these recent allegations have affected my views of the coach. He is obviously still an excellent coach, but given that what we base the elevation of "excellent" to "greatest" or "elite" status, is largely key performances in a handful of games, then it is hard to ignore the fact that such close games could easiliy have been influenced by just a few plays where the Patriots had a slight, but still unfair advantage.

Personally, I think he has tarnished his legacy as an elite NFL coach.

As for my second question, I never really considered the "man" much. I know he had a reputation for being difficult to deal with. I also know he has the reputation of not tellling the media much at all. He also has the reputation of not dressing up in a monkey suit on the sidelines. For these things however, if anything, I would actually give him MORE credit, not less. But when you combine these facts with what seems to now be a pattern of doing whatever it takes within or outside of the rules, my views have changed a degree.

What do you all think?

[Deleted]

I think there's already a thread that's beaten this subject to death.

The "Search" function of HoyaTalk is a wonderful thing.

[hifigator]

Buff, like I said, "now that the dust has settled" ....

On the heels of a story that we were beaten to death with, just like T.O. and his press conference, just like Barbaro last year and just like Roethlisberger's motorcycle accident two years ago, I thought maybe now we could get some more honest opinions. But thanks for once again proving my theory that it isn't really what you say, but who says it in your mind.

[HometownHoya]

No I think that its more like the subject has been beaten to death.

Obviously it doesn't help that you were the one to bring it up.

[kghoya]

pretty much nothing he can do...his cheating will always make the first paragraph along with the super bowl titles

[moe09]

I think it's a fair topic to bring up at this point.

I'll admit that I've never liked Belichek as a man. I've always respected the guy for what he did on the field, and him as a person, I even liked the fact that he wore hoodies, ('cuz it doesn't matter how you look, it's all about winning, so wear whatever you want as long as you've got more points on the board at the end of the game), but he always just seemed like a grouch, someone you definitely didn't want to spend time around.

That being said, you had to respect him. In 2001 he crushed my hopes of the Steelers making it to the Super Bowl, and I definitely think we could've beat the Rams that year. He made it look like the Steelers were flatfooted that game, and that always made me think that he was a great coach. Now, however, I've got to question it.

Not only has his credibility gone down as a coach, though, and his legacy tarnished in that regard, but what's more interesting to me is just how much respect I've lost for him as a person. Just continually denying not having any idea, and even Roger Goodell saying he doesn't believe his story to this day.. it makes me lose respect for him.

When he was winning, and I was under the impression he was doing it fairly, although I didn't like the guy I did respect him. Now, he's just lost all credibility in my eyes.

[Boz]

Meh.

Belichick will always be considered a great coach (deservedly, obviously).

He will also always be considered a jerk (in my opinion, also deservedly -- after all, he learned from the best).

He will have an asterisk next to that now (also deservedly, though I'm sure more coaches are deserving of that than just he), but asterisks don't obscure large gold, platinum and diamond rings.

I think a larger issue is...does this have any effect on Goodell's term as commissioner? He is just getting started in that, whereas Belichick already earned his reputation (good and bad). In my opinion, he handled this about as poorly as it could be handled. You can suspend all the Pacmans (Pacmen?) you want, but if people believe you will try to sweep larger integrity issues under the rug (again, just my opinion), that does not really augur well for a successful stint as commissioner of the most important sports league in America.

[moe09]

I completely agree, Boz, I was stunned at how poorly Goodell handled the situation. Especially as a new commissioner I feel he needed to lay down the law and take this challenge front on. Instead, he tried to sweep it under the rug hoping it would just disappear.

On the Pacmen issue... I think it's gotta be Pacmans, right? I mean, there really is only one..