Comments on: Still Too Much Noise

By: Jon

Jon — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:01:27 +0000

Seems to me it’s not a national/New England split – it’s a numbers savvy vs. old traditionalists split. Most of the dumber jocks and the older columnists nationally (like King or Priscoe) hated the move. Most stats geeks applauded going for it or thought it was at worst a push. I thought Byrne’s comparison of media blowhards vs blogging wunderkinds at coldhardfootballfacts was pretty good actually.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:04:29 +0000

“Belichick knew that if Manning got the ball back, he would score.”

So why not let the Colts score a TD on their first play once they took over on the 28 yard line? Then the Pats have the ball with well over a minute to play to score a FG.

By: D-Man

D-Man — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:45:12 +0000

I disagree with the first post. Saying it’s “predictable” is analysis and it’s right on. The media side of the Boston sports scene is depressingly tedious, a huge pack of lemmings in neckties and suitcoats. This site is one of the few local sites that is not. And a vast majority of the people posting on it very often leave excellent insights, better, in fact, than a vast, vast majority of so-called “professionals.” At any rate, I do agree with Boston Dan: Belichick knew that if Manning got the ball back, he would score.

By: Jim Ed

Jim Ed — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:17:59 +0000

I didn’t even bother to turn on The Sports Hub or ‘EEI yesterday, simply because I knew it would be unlistenable. We all KNOW it was a devastating loss… Why do we need to hear a self-important host tell us this? I don’t want to hear 4 hours of rehashing the decision to go for it. Maybe touch on it for awhile, but also talk about the need to bounce back against the Jets this week…

By the way Bruce, I really like the “Top Ten” that you’re starting to do occasionally with the links.

By: MikeVicksPoodle

MikeVicksPoodle — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:10:15 +0000

Excuse me?

By: Tony

Tony — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:05:27 +0000

I guarantee you that the ’06 AFC title game was in the back of his mind when he made the decision, because when he punted on 4th and 4 at midfield with a little over 2 minutes left in that game, he lived to regret it. He probably said to himself, “If I’m ever in that situation again against Peyton Manning, I’m going for it and taking the game out of his hands.”

By: Chris in Illinois

Chris in Illinois — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:30:41 +0000

That said, I also don’t have a problem with criticism. But it’s been so overblown. For God’s sake, it’s not like Belichick shot someone’s dog.

By: Chris in Illinois

Chris in Illinois — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:29:08 +0000

The overreaction was predictable, and disappointing in its predictability. And the analysis has had no context. Belichick took a chance. It didn’t work. It was a season game. Belichick takes chances all the time. When he made the decision to go for it, I understood the call, and I was excited that he was willing to take a chance and go against the grain.

By: Boston Dan

Boston Dan — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:15:35 +0000

It’s really pretty simple – Belichick will never come out and say it, but I think he thought Manning was going to score whether it was 90 yards or 10 yards. His defense was beaten up and tired out. Winning the game meant keeping the ball.

Anyone comparing this to Grady Little is a complete ass. Much research has been done about success on 3rd and short 4th and short. Coaches that are afraid of taking the heat the way Belichick is will make the decision to punt that allows the blame to be focused on the players every time. Belichick hasn’t been going for in fourth down because he thinks it’s funny. He knows it’s a good percentage play.

How many times have we seen a punt and than watch the opposition march back down the field and cross the former line of scrimmage with just a few plays? It happens every week, multiple times. The Colts had already scored twice in under two minutes in the 4th quarter prior to the last opportunity.

By: Doc Michaels

Doc Michaels — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:48:18 +0000

Bruce I couldn’t agree more.

As much of a “really? REALLY?” kind of decision as it was, watching and hearing the comparisons to Grady Little, Bill Buckner and the Bucky Dent home run on TV and in print yesterday was just absolutely, positively insane. Did nobody notice those were all POST-SEASON games for crying out loud? One graphic on CSN said “Legacy Tarnished”! Even Dale Arnold was on yesterday talking like the team had no chance whatsoever of even getting the #2 AFC slot — when they’re only 1 GAME BACK with, what, 7 games left?

Nobody seems to mention how well the team played on balance for 95% of Sunday night. If they play that way the rest of the season good things will be coming their way.

It’s a time where I have no use for the local media around here either. The worst of times on both sides — especially the people usually more level-headed who seem to be relishing in the moment.