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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- You've heard of Manny being Manny. Well, we now have Billy being Billy.
What's the matter, Belichick? You couldn't find Joe Gibbs' dog to run over while you were running up the score?
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| Don't let the smiles deceive you, Bill Belichick is out to destroy the rest of the NFL. (Getty Images) |
New England 52, Washington 7 ... and the Indianapolis Colts in deep, deep doo-doo?
Once again, Belichick ran up the score on a helpless opponent by running fake spike plays, going for it on fourth-and-1 and throwing deep, all while possessing gargantuan leads.
While en route to a dramatic showdown with the Colts this week -- it's the latest two undefeated teams have met in a season since 1921 -- and possibly pulling off an undefeated season and Super Bowl title, Belichick is simultaneously running his Worldwide Revenge Tour.
Don't make Bill Belichick angry. You wouldn't like Bill Belichick when he's angry.
We get it, Bill. You're mad the league ratted you out over Videogate. You're out for revenge. You want blood. You're De Niro in The Untouchables. You're going medieval and analog on people.
You are raising your middle finger to the entire football establishment.
Belichick is so angry right now he makes Malcolm X look like Kris Kringle.
We get it, Billy.
However, what Belichick did to the Washington Redskins in treating them like they were the Washington Generals was questionable at best. It is the second straight week the Patriots have run up the score unnecessarily and this time Belichick did it to one of the classiest coaches in the history of modern football.
After the game Gibbs did shake Belichick's hand, but it was an extremely quick handshake.
Last week the Patriots ran an unsuccessful fake spike play against the Miami Dolphins during a 42-point Patriots first half. Against Washington there was more wholly unnecessary bullying by Belichick:
• At 38-0, Belichick went for the first down on fourth-and-1 at the Washington 7 instead of kicking the field goal. Then at 45-0 he did it again.
• One fourth-down attempt was a Tom Brady quarterback sneak.
• While up 38-0, Brady threw a 2-yard score to Wes Welker.
• Again, leading by 38 points, Brady threw deep to Randy Moss for 35 yards.
It is true that the Redskins should have stopped them, but clearly this was a mismatch and it seems Belichick has no idea about the concept of taking a knee.
When asked about the two fourth-down plays specifically, Belichick said: "What do you want us to do, kick a field goal?"
Well, yeah. When did that become a crime against humanity?
"It's 38-0," he added. "It's fourth down. (We're) just out there playing. (We're) just out there playing."
Gibbs stated he had no issues with Belichick and if you believe that ...
"I have no problem with anything they did," said a shell-shocked Gibbs.
"I mean, they did run up the score," said Redskins defensive lineman Anthony Montgomery. "I don't hold that against them. It's football. I'd like to see our offense do the same thing."
Other people on the team were not so forgiving. One Redskins assistant coach, who asked not to be identified, said he believes that many in the coaching fraternity are paying close attention to Belichick's actions and are likely infuriated by them. NBCSports.com reported that one Washington player angrily confronted Belichick immediately following the game.
In fact, several Redskins players were seen by CBSSports.com saying something to Belichick. It was unclear what they were saying.
Quarterback Jason Campbell said: "You know, when we're in those situation we tend to back off a little bit because that's what we do. Their motto might be different."
Their motto is: If you don't win by 50, then you're not nifty.
The Redskins were so overmatched -- nice job with your most recent highly overpaid, crappy team Dan Snyder -- it was 24-0 at halftime. Washington's David Macklin on the sideline, while surrounded by towel-hoisting helpers, relieved himself into a Gatorade cup as fans gawked. It was the Redskins' best offensive play of the afternoon.
The Patriots tied the 2000 St. Louis Rams by scoring at least 30 points in each of their first eight games. Brady already has a career-high 30 touchdowns passes and an NFL-record eight games with at least three scoring throws. It is just one of many stunning statistics involving this juggernaut.
It was 31-0 early in the third quarter. The game became so ugly for Washington, someone sitting in Snyder's owner's box literally screamed at one point: "Throw the (expletive) ball!" Not certain who it was, but maybe the Redskins should make that person offensive coordinator.
New England's greatness and Belichick's ridiculous behavior only adds fuel to what is the biggest sports story this week -- bigger than the World Series in most parts of the country, even -- which is The Game.
The game called "New England-Indianapolis: This Time It's for Real." The game of the week, the game of the month, the game of the year, the game of the century, the game of the millennium. Bigger than Tom Brady's black book. Bigger than Bill Belichick's hoodie.
Can the country contain itself? Will we all explode in a Meg Ryan-like fit of anticipatory glee? Yes! Yes! Yes!
There does seem one certainty.
The Colts will be one of the few teams the Patriots won't be able to run up the score on.