Belichick: Genius?

Three days ago, I would have been considered a madman for putting that question mark in this entry's header. Now that the Patriots have lost a game, and looked poorly doing so, suddenly everyone's questioning him again.

I'm not here to pile on. But I do think the issue of whether Belichick should have challenged Stephen Davis' apparent touchdown in the first quarter of Sunday's game is an interesting one.

The general consensus seems to be one of amazement that he didn't challenge. I don't agree. If he would have won the challenge, Carolina still would have had the ball, 2nd and goal with less than a foot to go. If I'm coach, I say at that point just give 'em the darned TD and give us the ball back.

Ruling the play a fumble was off the table because the whistle had blown, but for those of you interested in absolute justice, the fumble was recovered by an offensive lineman in the end zone, which would have been a touchdown anyway. And finally, the Pats played awful the rest of the afternoon anyway. It's pretty much a lose-lose-lose scenario for the Patriots.

So the play is ultimately inconsequential, and I don't have a problem with Belichick not challenging it. If anything, it showed to me that Belichick really is ahead of the rest of the world, because the rest of the world is screaming "Challenge!" when there's clearly no benefit to doing so.

Which is why I was surprised to read this morning that Belichick is now calling (or renewing his call) for cameras on the goal line. As if to say, the only reason he didn't challenge the Davis play is because there was a lack of cameras in the right spot. So much for my theory. And if that weren't bad enough, the article ends with this doozy from Belichick:

"The only way you're going to get a good, true evaluation of that play is to put a camera parallel to the goal line."

Parallel to the goal line? Actually, Bill, every yard line is parallel to the goal line. You could put a camera at the 50, and it would be parallel to the goal line.

(A bit nit-picky for you? Hey, I thought the man was a genius!)