Dan Wetzel:Bill Belichick's stiff-arm of camouflage campaign an unlikely coincidence

[Jackson 2]

I'm sure that Bill never imagined that his team's owner would call him a schmuck either.

Deservedly. And, as I stated above, Bill is my favorite sports figure ever. But there is no doubt he was arrogant in dismissing Goodell's written warning about camera placement, interpreting it his own way and neglecting to seek a clarification from Goodell. It all could have been easily avoided.

 

[ChessToCheckers]

Great article!

"It isn't so much that Belichick won't play nice. It's that he won't play at all."

I absolutely love our coach! His approach to everything football and the NFL* is almost as entertaining as watching the PATs. For me, the depth of his genius and the complexity of his game is a joy to behold.
He is what he is. No one else is even close! Indisputably the GOAT.

When he retires, I want the NFL* to rename "The Lombardi", "The Belichick"! Not sure Roger and the other 31 would go along with that!

 

[BTTA]

This is why he's such a perfect coach for New England. Particularly northern New England.

 

[RobertWeathers]

NFL gave back $6.8m? When did this come out?

 

[lurker1965]

I think his non conformist attitude is what lead to spygate. I can picture him getting the memo from the league and thinking that the new commissioner can't just make up new rules by sending a memo. It has to be presented to the rules committee and voted on. The rule says you can't video from the sideline to gain an in game advantage and it did not provide an in game advantage so he ignored it. They did not hide the cameraman. He was in full view of the refs, the league officals, their opponents, and tens of thousands of people in attendance. If the NFL had a problem with it, they could address it specifically with him. It wasn't a big deal in his mind and he never imagined it would turn into a major ordeal, huge fines, a loss of a first round pick, and idiots calling him a cheater for years to come.

I honestly think it went unread. Not just here but in 31 other offices.
Every year I got the "reminder memo" about our sexual harassment policy. Then I'd see it went to everyone and throw it out - as did everyone. (Not to single out sexual harassment, we weekly would get reminders of stuff like our Equal Employment Opportunity Policy, our No Firearms in the workplace, etc.)

 

[RobertWeathers]

If there is anything the NFL does that runs counter to BBs position or interests, he will not oblige. Not an inch.

 

[Fencer]

BB is an authoritarian leader who doesn't tolerate anybody telling him what to do.Fortunately, he does a great job of pulling that paradox off.

• A big part is that he prioritizes what's important and what isn't. So he doesn't truly micromanage folks.
• Part is that when the team does want to micromanage players' public images, the Krafts take care of that for him.
  
• Part is surely that with his military background, he at understands the concept of higher authority. (That said, he did make a somewhat insulting hand gesture while the President was speaking at his latest White House visit, specifically in response to a Deflategate joke..)

 

[1960Pats]

Deservedly. And, as I stated above, Bill is my favorite sports figure ever. But there is no doubt he was arrogant in dismissing Goodell's written warning about camera placement, interpreting it his own way and neglecting to seek a clarification from Goodell. It all could have been easily avoided.

There's plenty of doubt about what was behind Fraudger's fining the Pats such a ridiculous amount for a memo violation.

I know that Fraudger is a liar from his pathetic misrepresentation of Brady's testimony during Framegate, and I know that Kraft supports him. I think that Kraft wears the label of schmuck and not Belichick, especially in light of the further loss of draft picks that we have to endure for no reason.

 

[borg]

BB is the best. Stick it to the man.

 

[Jackson 2]

There's plenty of doubt about what was behind Fraudger's fining the Pats such a ridiculous amount for a memo violation.

I know that Fraudger is a liar from his pathetic misrepresentation of Brady's testimony during Framegate, and I know that Kraft supports him. I think that Kraft wears the label of schmuck and not Belichick, especially in light of the further loss of draft picks that we have to endure for no reason.

That's all nice and it's fiery rhetoric and I agree with your description of Goodell and your contention that Kraft deserves the label of shmuck for being duped by Goodell. It doesn't, however, change the fact that Bill misread the camera placement situation badly and Kraft's use of the term shmuck to describe him as it related to that mishandling was absolutely understandable. What I believe I and many others can do is be infuriated with Kraft's capitulation and then view it in the context of all of the great things he's done to make this franchise what it is today. I also believe that I and others can legitimately criticize BB for mishandling the camera issue and still admire and appreciate him as the best coach in the history of pro football. In my opinion, you can't do either.

 

[1960Pats]

That's all nice and it's fiery rhetoric and I agree with your description of Goodell and your contention that Kraft deserves the label of shmuck for being duped by Goodell. It doesn't, however, change the fact that Bill misread the camera placement situation badly and Kraft's use of the term shmuck to describe him as it related to that mishandling was absolutely understandable. What I believe I and many others can do is be infuriated with Kraft's capitulation and then view it in the context of all of the great things he's done to make this franchise what it is today. I also believe that I and others can legitimately criticize BB for mishandling the camera issue and still admire and appreciate him as the best coach in the history of pro football. In my opinion, you can't do either.

Of course we can criticize Belichick for mishandling Crygate, just as I have criticized him in the past for the 4th and 2 call at Indy, but the ridiculous penalty handed down by Fraudger and Kraft's capitulation and publicly calling Belichick a schmuck, are what brought the Pats memo violation to another level. I also see no evidence that Belichick is arrogant or that I haven't called him the greatest HC in the NFL, which I have on many occasions.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Of course we can criticize Belichick for mishandling Crygate, just as I have criticized him in the past for the 4th and 2 call at Indy, but the ridiculous penalty handed down by Fraudger and Kraft's capitulation and publicly calling Belichick a schmuck, are what brought the Pats memo violation to another level. I also see no evidence that Belichick is arrogant or that I haven't called him the greatest HC in the NFL, which I have on many occasions.

Its always irked me that Kraft called BB a "schmuck" as he is the farthest thing from. Anyyone who has done their homework on Spygate knows damn well why BB interpreted the memo the way he did.

If history has proven anything, if anyone is the schmuck- its Bob.

 

[Jackson 2]

Of course we can criticize Belichick for mishandling Crygate, just as I have criticized him in the past for the 4th and 2 call at Indy, but the ridiculous penalty handed down by Fraudger and Kraft's capitulation and publicly calling Belichick a schmuck, are what brought the Pats memo violation to another level. I also see no evidence that Belichick is arrogant or that I haven't called him the greatest HC in the NFL, which I have on many occasions.

Look, I have no intention of going back and forth with you over this. But, I don't believe Kraft "publicly" called BB a shmuck. My recollection is that it was revealed substantially after it actually occurred by someone who had a private or semi-private conversation with Kraft. To me, "publicly" suggests it was said during a press conference or news release. That's "publicly" and it wasn't.

 

[Spiral]

Another thing to consider is that he's a 100% Navy guy. Wearing OD is probably be like asking him to wear Jets green.

 

[1960Pats]

Look, I have no intention of going back and forth with you over this. But, I don't believe Kraft "publicly" called BB a shmuck. My recollection is that it was revealed substantially after it actually occurred by someone who had a private or semi-private conversation with Kraft. To me, "publicly" suggests it was said during a press conference or news release. That's "publicly" and it wasn't.

If you don't want to go back and forth then we won't. Let me just end it with this last comment and then you can finish. The important part to me isn't that Kraft called Belichick a schmuck publicly or not, it's the fact that he called him a schmuck at all. If I were Kraft I would have respected what Belichick has done for this team and not taken sides with the man who blew Crygate all out of proportion.

 

[1960Pats]

Another thing to consider is that he's a 100% Navy guy. Wearing OD is probably be like asking him to wear Jets green.

We will probably never know BB's true intentions. It used to bother me the way he avoided every question, but now that we see how that strategy transforms onto the playing field, his silence is indeed golden.

 

[doesntmatter1]

I think BB's true genius is in his simplicity. He takes the saying less is more to another level. Dresses for comfort and only cares about winning. Negative opinions dont bother him and he is approaching the age where he probably cares cares even less about minor mhings. He is 60 something.

 

[Tony2046]

NFL gave back $6.8m? When did this come out?

I hadn't heard that either. BSPN probably pulled one of their 12:03 am one time run reports.

 

[Jackson 2]

If you don't want to go back and forth then we won't. Let me just end it with this last comment and then you can finish. The important part to me isn't that Kraft called Belichick a schmuck publicly or not, it's the fact that he called him a schmuck at all. If I were Kraft I would have respected what Belichick has done for this team and not taken sides with the man who blew Crygate all out of proportion.

Since you offered me the opportunity to finish, I have never seen any evidence that Kraft "sided with" Goodell on Spygate. Capitulated, yes, but that's a far cry from "siding with" him. I think Kraft thought Bill was wrong and so did I. But, I've never thought the punishment fit the crime and I've seen/heard Kraft say the same. The punishment was ludicrously excessive. Finally, to suggest Kraft doesn't respect what BB has done for this team is irresponsible and contradicts mounds of evidence .to the contrary

 

[tasmlab]

Lol, poor BB! Anything he wears is pretty much destined to be a best seller no matter how unfashionable. The fact he wears that sweatshirt is what makes it a must have. I have two or three from a few years ago.

I bought my BB hoodie years ago and it's still my favorite shirt.

BB is best coach ever.

I digress, but when Deangelo Williams asked the league if could wear pink all year because his mom actually died of breast cancer, the league said no. The league doesn't give a **** about the causes, it's just marketing and flimsy, transparent marketing at best. (Williams ended up dying part of his hair pink instead)