Patriots and Running Up the Score

[Ian]

You know it really pains me to say this, because I've actually been a pretty big fan of both Tom Brady and Bill Belichek over the years. I've always admired the way they conduct their business up there, their dedication to excellence, and (of course) their success.

But this year man ... I don't know what's going on. Starting with the whole cheating scandal and the way Belichek handled that and now with this whole running up the score thing.

I mean there's a definite unwritten rule in the NFL that you DO NOT run up the score. Ever. Under any circumstances. Yet yesterday, in the 4th quarter, when they were up by nearly 40 points on the 'Skins and pitching a shutout, Belichek has Brady passing all over the place.

There was no doubt he was trying to score more points. That's just totally inexcuseable in my book. Very classless.

To me, it almost invalidates all the records and everything they're going to set this year because there's a reason no other team put up these kinds of numbers ... they had respect for their opponents.

[JPL]

I think this is in response to the cheating scandal. It's Belichek making a statement saying look how good we are we don't need to cheat we can score at will. I will admit it's very classless and eventually another team will get fed and start taking cheap shots at Brady or another star knocking them out of the game or season.

[Tygger7]

I totally agree with Ian & JPL's posts. I have a hard time respecting anyone in that organization at this point. Many will say (in regards to the cheating scandal) that "everyone does it". So just because "everyone does it", that makes it okay? I don't think the whole cheating thing was the issue...they are just mad that they got caught and are now trying to show how "superior" they are above everyone else in the NFL. I think the way the Redskins game was handled showed a complete lack of class. When you're that far ahead, why not rest your starters and give some of the 2nd & 3rd string guys a chance to play. Giving them experience would serve the TEAM better in the long run. The whole thing just leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

[ibrowse17]

As a coach, I can some what see the point of the other team's defense having to stop you. That being said, I do not agree with that fake kill the clock play which they have run two weeks in a row. I had always respected the Pats, and thought they had played the game with a lot of class. While I question their class, it can not be questioned that they are by far the best team on the field everytime they play. Let's see if it stays that way in the coming weeks. However, the NFL is a much different game than is the high school brand of football I have spent the past 17 years coaching.

[dolphinmickey9170]

What do you want them to do? Just stop playing offensively and hand the ball over to the other team so they can score a few points? Why would you do that? I see nothing wrong with scoring all those points. I don't agree with the cheating episode either, but what is wrong with scoring when you can?

[Donald A]

Honestly, I look at the Patriots as a classless group of losers. I am not a sore loser and am not jealous. In fact, I have nothing to be jealous about since how can I be impressed by this football team. If you are talented enough to win without cheating, then why did you cheat? If everyone does it, then why were the Patriots the only ones caught? I am sick of the excuses the organization makes and nauseaed by their lack of class.

[SBETigg]

Oh please. We need another "we hate the big mean Patriots" thread? Why not combine this with the other thread? It doesn't seem like we need a whole new thread on it when we have that one.

[SBETigg]

I mean there's a definite unwritten rule in the NFL that you DO NOT run up the score. Ever. Under any circumstances.

Ian, unwritten rules are not definite. If so, they would be written. Just saying.

[Ian]

What do you want them to do? Just stop playing offensively and hand the ball over to the other team so they can score a few points?

Not sure how much football you watch, but for ... oh maybe the last 100 years or so ... when teams have a big lead they RUN THE BALL!

I mean it's not like they had a small lead that could slip away. They were up by 40 POINTS in the 4th quarter. The game was put away and had been for a long time. Yet they still threw the ball downfield and even went for it on FOURTH DOWN at one point.

Look ... you can be a Pats fan and defend them if you want, but I can 100% assure you that virtually everyone on the planet knows that what they're doing is wrong and totally classless. It's been wrong in the NFL as long as the NFL has existed (and before that, as a matter of fact). It's not a grey area. You don't run up the score. Period.

And I'll tell you something. At some point, they're going to go up against the wrong coach or the wrong player and they're going to be made to pay. Someone's going to take a cheap shot at Brady or Moss or something. They're as complicit in this whole thing as Belichek is.

And something else ... the Colts show everyone how it's done. This season, even though they're the defending champs, they've had to sit back and listen to everyone talk about the Patriots. They haven't said a peep and have just gone about their business.

This coming weekend, when the two teams play each other, you can bet I'll be solidly behind the Colts. They may not win the game, but (as Christine already said) they won the class battle a long time ago. Tony Dungy has more class in his pinky finger than Belichek has in his entire body.

[SBETigg]

And something else ... the Colts show everyone how it's done. This season, even though they're the defending champs, they've had to sit back and listen to everyone talk about the Patriots. They haven't said a peep and have just gone about their business.

The Colts haven't had to say anything. They don't have people looking to take them down or making threads about how it's so unfair that they score points in a game. Even as defending champs, they don't have the same kind of Superbowl record in recent years to bring out the haters.

You didn't jump out to accuse the Colts of the same thing in week one, when they kept on scoring against a defeated New Orleans 41-10. And not a word when San Diego handed Denver their most lopsided home loss since '66, 41-3. But the Patriots keep on scoring and it's a big terrible thing to do? I agree that it did seem a bit much and the Redskins were clearly outplayed, but wouldn't it have been insulting for the Patriots to give anything less than their best on the field?

[dolphinmickey9170]

The Colts haven't had to say anything. They don't have people looking to take them down or making threads about how it's so unfair that they score points in a game. Even as defending champs, they don't have the same kind of Superbowl record in recent years to bring out the haters.

You didn't jump out to accuse the Colts of the same thing in week one, when they kept on scoring against a defeated New Orleans 41-10. And not a word when San Diego handed Denver their most lopsided home loss since '66, 41-3. But the Patriots keep on scoring and it's a big terrible thing to do? I agree that it did seem a bit much and the Redskins were clearly outplayed, but wouldn't it have been insulting for the Patriots to give anything less than their best on the field?

I agree Sherri.

[Maleficent's Dad]

Apparently Ian's not the only one thinking that what the Pats did was wrong.

ESPN ripped them today. There's quite a piece by Mark Schlereth which absolutely lambastes Belichick for his calls during the game. And that's just one segment.

There's plenty about it online, otherwise check out Sportscenter on TV.

Most seem to agree on this much: The Patriots are a GREAT team. But their on-field actions on Sunday were low-class.

[Hammer]

You didn't jump out to accuse the Colts of the same thing in week one, when they kept on scoring against a defeated New Orleans 41-10. And not a word when San Diego handed Denver their most lopsided home loss since '66, 41-3. But the Patriots keep on scoring and it's a big terrible thing to do? I agree that it did seem a bit much and the Redskins were clearly outplayed, but wouldn't it have been insulting for the Patriots to give anything less than their best on the field?

Sherri, I just went on NFL.com and read the recap of both games you mentioned. Honestly, don't know what Norv Turner was thinking, but I rarely ever do. I was rooting for Denver in that game. With the Colts first game of the season, the score was 24-10 at the start of the 4th quarter. Nice lead, but hardly insurmountable. Viniteri kicks a field goal, making it 27-10. The Colts scored a touchdown after eating up close to 3 minutes on a 5 play drive. The Indy defense scored the final TD on 83 yard interception return.

[Ian]

Honestly, don't know what Norv Turner was thinking, but I rarely ever do. I was rooting for Denver in that game.With the Colts first game of the season, the score was 24-10 at the start of the 4th quarter. Nice lead, but hardly insurmountable. Viniteri kicks a field goal, making it 27-10. The Colts scored a touchdown after eating up close to 3 minutes on a 5 play drive. The Indy defense scored the final TD on 83 yard interception return.

There's a huge difference between 24-10 and what amounted to 40-0.

As far as the San Diego game, I'm not excusing what they did, but it was also vastly different from the Pats game.

First of all, it was the first game of the season where the Chargers really got anything going. I think Turner may have let things get away from him a little bit in his excitement.

Remember, they were 1-3 at that point and had scored over 20 points only once. Conversely, their defense had given up 30 or more points in three of those games. Turner had a legitimate reason to give himself a cushion.

Also ... and this is a very important distinction ... the Chargers and Broncos are not only in the same Conference, they're in the same division! That's a huge difference from being an undefeated team, who's outscoring opponents by 3 touchdowns a game, playing a non-Conference team.

Edited to add two points:

1. Apparently, the Patriots also pulled the old "Oops the opposing team's headsets mysteriously stopped functioning." trick again. ESPN reports that. "
To make matters worse, Gibbs and the coaches lost their communication system during the game. They couldn't work the headsets."

2. Belichek is rampantly unapologetic. This is what he said when he was asked about it:

"I've been coaching too long," Belichick said. "I remember being on that side. When I was coaching defense it was my job to keep the score down, not theirs. When you're playing defense it's your job to stop them. It's not [the offense's] job to not score. It's like I tell the offense, what the [expletive] do you think I send you guys out there for? To punt? We have a punt team for that. That's not your job. Your job is to go out there and score points. If you come off the field and you haven't scored points you haven't done your job."

Classy, Bill ... very classy ...

[battlefield2freak]

The Colts haven't had to say anything. They don't have people looking to take them down or making threads about how it's so unfair that they score points in a game. Even as defending champs, they don't have the same kind of Superbowl record in recent years to bring out the haters.

You didn't jump out to accuse the Colts of the same thing in week one, when they kept on scoring against a defeated New Orleans 41-10. And not a word when San Diego handed Denver their most lopsided home loss since '66, 41-3. But the Patriots keep on scoring and it's a big terrible thing to do? I agree that it did seem a bit much and the Redskins were clearly outplayed, but wouldn't it have been insulting for the Patriots to give anything less than their best on the field?

thank you for pointing out that game with the colts just racketing up points agaisnt new orleans. i watched that game yesterday and they didnt run the score up. first of all the brought brady out of the game as usual and like they said on MNF countdown you dont just stop and give washington the ball. yes the patriots could have gone for the shut out by keeping brady in the game but no they brought him out and put cassel in which allowed the washington TD.

and they arent running the ball very much lately for a big reason. maroney is coming off groin injury, morris just suffered a chest injury so tats basically or running game. also what aout the defense? 3 forced fumbles (1 returned for a TD) and 1 INT aslo complimented by 3 sacks so stop targeing only the offense when the defense are stoping them every down amost. as a side note 17 pts. off those fumbles

im really under the impression many people on intercot just hate the patriots and will be as nasty as they can be to their fans and i dont appreciate that at all. you all need to understand that just because there is a football team that knows how to get the job done on both sides of the ball and dominate teams because they have some of the best players in the NFL dont get mad at us fans if you got a complaint take it to the NFL not here so stop trying to bring up the same old stuff again and again.

[dolphinmickey9170]

thank you for pointing out that game with the colts just racketing up points agaisnt new orleans. i watched that game yesterday and they didnt run the score up. first of all the brought brady out of the game as usual and like they said on MNF countdown you dont just stop and give washington the ball. yes the patriots could have gone for the shut out by keeping brady in the game but no they brought him out and put cassel in which allowed the washington TD.

im really under the impression many people on intercot just hate the patriots and will be as nasty as they can be to their fans and i dont appreciate that at all. you all need to understand that just because there is a football team that knows how to get the job done on both sides of the ball and dominate teams because they have some of the best players in the NFL dont get mad at us fans if you got a complaint take it to the NFL not here

Well said Austin!!

[dolphinmickey9170]

Not sure how much football you watch, but for ... oh maybe the last 100 years or so ... when teams have a big lead they RUN THE BALL!

I mean it's not like they had a small lead that could slip away. They were up by 40 POINTS in the 4th quarter. The game was put away and had been for a long time. Yet they still threw the ball downfield and even went for it on FOURTH DOWN at one point.

Look ... you can be a Pats fan and defend them if you want, but I can 100% assure you that virtually everyone on the planet knows that what they're doing is wrong and totally classless. It's been wrong in the NFL as long as the NFL has existed (and before that, as a matter of fact). It's not a grey area. You don't run up the score. Period.

And I'll tell you something. At some point, they're going to go up against the wrong coach or the wrong player and they're going to be made to pay. Someone's going to take a cheap shot at Brady or Moss or something. They're as complicit in this whole thing as Belichek is.

And something else ... the Colts show everyone how it's done. This season, even though they're the defending champs, they've had to sit back and listen to everyone talk about the Patriots. They haven't said a peep and have just gone about their business.

This coming weekend, when the two teams play each other, you can bet I'll be solidly behind the Colts. They may not win the game, but (as Christine already said) they won the class battle a long time ago. Tony Dungy has more class in his pinky finger than Belichek has in his entire body.

My comment wasn't meant as a derogatory remark toward you. I didn't know I needed to be scolded, which is how you have come across. I wasn't trying to be sarcastic or obnoxious. I was just asking a simple question. I have only the basic knowledge of football, I guess. I have been a fan since I was a yong girl. I appologize for not being completly knowledged on everything...and will furthermore, keep my thoughts and comments on football to my immediate family.

[Donald A]

And something else ... the Colts show everyone how it's done. This season, even though they're the defending champs, they've had to sit back and listen to everyone talk about the Patriots. They haven't said a peep and have just gone about their business.

This coming weekend, when the two teams play each other, you can bet I'll be solidly behind the Colts. They may not win the game, but (as Christine already said) they won the class battle a long time ago. Tony Dungy has more class in his pinky finger than Belichek has in his entire body.

My heart has always been with the Browns (I grew up in NE Ohio) and I actually haven't got on the Colts bandwagon. It's funny too, because the Colts practice like 3 miles from my house.

One thing I can say about the Colts is I have never, ever questioned their class. About the only thing you can say bad about Tony Dungy is he is not emotional enough, but even that isn't a bad thing as, honestly, there are more important things in this world than football. Everyone I talk to (including patients who go to his church) say Coach Dungy is the same on the field as off.

Sunday is probably going to be one heck of a football game. If I was a betting man I would say the Patriots are probably going to win. I know it sounds like an elem. school pep talk, but the Colts are the true winners because the class and character they have is much more important to me than a stupid game with one winner and one loser.

I should say, I have read these posts and there is a lot of passion there. I want to assure everyone who reads my posts that I am not saying anything bad about the Patriots fans and certainly nothing bad about people who frequent this board. I think what happens is people are passionate for their team and take stuff personal. First and foremost, I want everyone to know I mean no personal disrespect. This is just discussion from someone who thinks the way the Patriots operate is wrong.

[Ian]

The Colts haven't had to say anything. They don't have people looking to take them down or making threads about how it's so unfair that they score points in a game. Even as defending champs, they don't have the same kind of Superbowl record in recent years to bring out the haters.

You didn't jump out to accuse the Colts of the same thing in week one, when they kept on scoring against a defeated New Orleans 41-10. And not a word when San Diego handed Denver their most lopsided home loss since '66, 41-3. But the Patriots keep on scoring and it's a big terrible thing to do? I agree that it did seem a bit much and the Redskins were clearly outplayed, but wouldn't it have been insulting for the Patriots to give anything less than their best on the field?

I can tell based on your responses that attempting to sway your opinion on this is fruitless. You're clearly a Pats fan and will defend your team regardless of what they do or say.

Therefore, I don't really think it's going to be productive for me to respond to your post point by point. Suffice it to say that there are times when it is reasonable to continue scoring in a game and times when it isn't. The Pats do it when it isn't.

My comment wasn't meant as a derogatory remark toward you. I didn't know I needed to be scolded, which is how you have come across. I wasn't trying to be sarcastic or obnoxious. I was just asking a simple question. I have only the basic knowledge of football, I guess. I have been a fan since I was a yong girl. I appologize for not being completly knowledged on everything...and will furthermore, keep my thoughts and comments on football to my immediate family.

I didn't intend to scold you. Your post sounded to me like you were defending the Pats by saying it was okay for them to run up the score.

If you weren't aware that running up the score his highly frowned upon in the NFL, then I apologize. I must have mis-interpreted your tone.

[SBETigg]

I can tell based on your responses that attempting to sway your opinion on this is fruitless. You're clearly a Pats fan and will defend your team regardless of what they do or say.

If you weren't aware that running up the score his highly frowned upon in the NFL, then I apologize. I must have mis-interpreted your tone.

I am a fan, and a little defensive, but I was just as horrified and embarrassed by the earlier cheating allegations as anyone else, not defending that at all. This is different for me. You said it was an unwritten rule, which means it's really not a rule and not frowned on in any official way. Unofficially, perhaps, and I can agree that it just doesn't seem nice. I also think that people look for things to sneer at with the Patriots that they will easily forgive in other teams. I still don't think this would have even been an issue for you if it wasn't the Pats.

In the spirit of good sportsmanship, I can also add that Belichick could at least wear a nice sweatshirt to games. So he isn't a suit guy, okay, but the sweatshirt with cut-off sleeves, no less? Sheesh, Bill, I wouldn't wear that to the grocery store let alone in a professional environment. Okay? Better?