Staff Writer
The Brady-Belichick legacy has come a long way this past decade and a half. With a record of 148-43, Brady and Belichick have amassed more wins together than any quarterback and head coach combo in the history of the sport. They’ve been to five Super Bowls, winning three, and are going to their sixth together this year. They’ve often been seen as the class of the National Football League, with their success over the past decade and team first style of play, but their legacy together will forever be tainted, because they cheated.
The
cheater tag found its way to them back in 2007, when the Spygate controversy surfaced.
The Spygate conflict occurred when the Patriots were caught videotaping
defensive coaches’ signals at a New York Jets practice, a violation of league
rules. Belichick received a $500,000 fine, the largest allowed and ever given
to a coach in league history. The Patriots were fined $250,000 and were docked
a first round draft pick as well. The Boston Herald then reported that they had
videotaped the St. Louis Rams walkthrough practice prior to Super Bowl XXXVI in
2002. While the allegation was retracted, the accusation has stuck to the duo.
The
New England Patriots blinded us from the truth throughout the years with their
success (Brady has won at least nine games in every season he’s played,
including three 14 win seasons and an undefeated regular season), but even fans
are seeing the two for who they really are. The most recent controversy
surrounding the Patriots is being dubbed the Deflategate. After the Patriots
demolition of the Colts on January 18, the NFL reported 11 of the 12 footballs
used by the Patriots were under-inflated by two pounds each. Really, eleven
footballs? That’s not a coincidence, that’s not the weather, that’s blatant
disregard for the rules. Brady and Belichick knew exactly what they were doing
and didn’t think twice about it. That is twice they’ve put themselves above the
rules.
The
Patriots are winners, plain and simple, but they’re also cheaters. Belichick’s
response to the deflategate, “I don’t have an explanation,” is unacceptable. If
you don’t think the Patriots have cheated at other times as well, then where
have you been? Brady and Belichick are repeat offenders, and no amount of wins
or awards can erase that fact. They will both be in Canton someday, but their
violations will forever leave a stain on their careers.
