Bill Belichick Got One Vote for NFL Coach of the Year, Cast by Bob Costas

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick got one vote among the 50 members of the media who selected the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year, and that one voter is none other than NBC's NFL studio host, Bob Costas.

Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe contacted Costas to ask why he voted for Belichick, rather than Falcons coach Mike Smith or Dolphins coach Tony Sparano, who were by far the two top vote getters, with Smith edging Sparano by one vote. Costas replied:

"I thought he deserved a nod for what might have been the best, or certainly one of the best coaching jobs of his career," Costas said. "He loses [Tom] Brady, and it's not just losing Brady, but also that [Matt] Cassel basically never played. It's not the same thing as losing Johnny Unitas and you have Earl Morrall. He brought the kid along."

I don't ever recall a coach getting any Coach of the Year recognition after a season in which his team's win total declined by five from the year before. Then again, I don't ever recall a coach leading a team to a 16-0 record, then losing his MVP quarterback in the first game of the following season, only to go 11-5 with a backup quarterback who had never even started a game in college, let alone in the NFL.

I probably would have gone with the plurality who selected Smith, but I don't have a problem with Costas's choice. The argument for Belichick as coach of the year is a legitimate one.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

1-06-2009 @ 1:07PM

GreatR said...

Belicheat needs Tom at QB, but Tom does not need Billy.

1-06-2009 @ 4:39PM

Laura said...

Do you even watch Football??? If you did you would see that "Billy" did just fine with Cassel and all the other replacements he had to deal with. I love Tom Brady...as far as I'm concerned he is one of the Best Quarterbacks out there but I'm afraid with the knee injury he may possibly not come back 100% but we will all still have "Billy". P.S. I hope Brady does come back to 100%, but I'm just trying to be realistic.

1-09-2009 @ 4:16AM

Wolfman said...

GreatR, You may need life, but life does not need trolls like you.

1-06-2009 @ 2:34PM

JTZ said...

Interesting that in the first season of Defensive players being wired to the Def coordinater so Belichick could not steal signals via his Spygate MO (actual reason for the innovation). Belichick AND his former assistant now head coaches could not make the Playoffs (Mangini, Crenell, etc).

1-06-2009 @ 8:27PM

jsharpe0047 said...

Ya know what else is interesting?
Using your logic he coached 18 games in 2007 without cheating, and won 17 of them. Sure I'll give you the first game of the season as one in which he did not abide by NFL rules. And guess what, I'd even guess he's still pushing the envelope and working on other ways to gain a competitive advantage. If there is a loophole or a loosely worded or enforced rule, I'd bet he's trying to find a way to exploit it.

I find it so INTERESTING, lets keep this jealousy thing going shall we?

1-09-2009 @ 4:45AM

Jizz to Zits, BB was the one pushing the defensive mics, now he has them, Hmm, Maybe he is better at figuring out other defenses and doesn't need singnal stealing and to eliminate others from stealing gives him a big advantage? Hmm? Stick that up your troll pipe and choke on the next decade of BB and Sb rings!

1-06-2009 @ 1:29PM

kevin said...

He is by far the best in the game right now.

1-07-2009 @ 7:26AM

KEN said...

NOT ONLY DID THE PATRIOTS LOOSE BRADY BUT THEY LOST A LOT OF KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OFFENSIVE LINE PLAYERS RUNNING BACKS, CB'S, LINEBACKERS, SAFTIES ECT YES THIS WAS BILL'S BEST COACHING JOB OF HIS CARRER HE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A LOT MORE VOTE'S IN MY EYE'S TO GO 11-5 WITH A QB THAT NEVER PLAYED SINCE HIGH SCHOOL SAY'S SOMETHING FOR BILL'S COACHING ABILITY AND THE QB CASSEL AND THE PATRIOTS AS A TEAM PERIOD

1-07-2009 @ 5:29AM

Wheezer said...

Hey Ken, your shouting drowned out your punctuation. Just sayin'.....

1-06-2009 @ 3:08PM

dj kahn said...

Interesting that during the whole Spygate scandal there was no shortage of consensus among NFL vets and writers that this type of scheming is perhaps just short of common, and has been around for a while. It was Bill's personality and personal conduct that made a division rival rat him out.

It's also interesting that this year's Patriots are historically the only 11-5 team to not make the playoffs.

SO MANY INTERESTING THINGS...

1-09-2009 @ 10:28AM

SojuMaster said...

Patroits are not the only team that has gone 11-5 and missed the playoffs. Try Denver 1985.

1-06-2009 @ 3:29PM

JZ said...

Belicheat, first season he cant steal signals (Def headsets) and he goes from zero losses to 5 losses and no playoffs.
Proves he is not a HOF coach.. And he should give back his 3 SB trophies.

1-06-2009 @ 4:34PM

Why is it that everyone thinks that the Patriots are the "only" team to cheat?? Is it because they are just truly jealous and have to use old news to stir a pot that can't be boiled?? Patriots got caught doing what everyone else has done in probably more discreet ways only they didn't get ratted out by Mangini. Get over it...move on with your life and try to enjoy the game instead of stewing in your grudge pot.

1-07-2009 @ 10:42PM

Maiya said...

I agree with you but I bet he still makes it, especially after the 17-1 season. Damn "The Hoodie"!!!!!

1-09-2009 @ 4:50AM

Gee jz. You think the loss of the best QB in history and 17 starters might have had SOMETHING to do with it? You are not a fan of football. Take a hike Nancy boy.

1-06-2009 @ 3:46PM

dj kahn said:
"It was Bill's personality and personal conduct that made a division rival rat him out."

You dont lose a 1st round pick and 500K for "personality". But, Yes, you will for "personal conduct" issues if they encompass cheating.

1-09-2009 @ 4:55AM

No, it was Mangina stealing BB's playbook before he left for the Jests that made him hate the clown. But you would not know that being an ignorant sl&t like you are poser. Go back to watching womens golf.

1-09-2009 @ 12:08PM

umm. . . .not sure you understand the post.

Sojumaster, good call. Don't know where I got the bogus info.

1-06-2009 @ 3:58PM

pstargalac said...

Yeah, here's what I find interesting.

They put the defensive signals into the helmets. Most of Belichick's best defenders got old or injured this year. He has one of the most terrible secondaries in the NFL at his disposal. As a result, the Pats were the #8 defense points-wise, and #10 defense yardage-wise, in the league.

They take away the reigning MVP and his starting running back. As a result, the Pats were the #8 offense in football points-wise, and #5 yardage-wise.

Belichick was dealt a bad hand, hit by major injuries at nearly every position. And what happened, as a result of all this "bad karma"? 11 wins, coming within a Jets FG of taking the division. Gosh, what a disaster.

What's interesting to me is that anyone would make fun of the best work ever by the best coach ever. That someone out there is still upset enough about the pointless, irrelevant Spygate crap to gloat about the Pats winning only 11 games. Like it's karma. Pathetic.