Those unstoppable Patriots

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick with quarterback Tom Brady Sunday. (DAVID DUPREY/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

I AM appalled by your distinguished sports columnists' uncharacteristic silence while the New England Patriots' head coach, Bill Belichick, continues to lead his team to one ugly win after another against lesser opponents, thereby spoiling what seems to be a golden age of sports here in New England.

It seems obvious that the narcissistic coach was angered when he was caught cheating against the Jets early in the season, and has decided to take it out on the league by running up the score whenever possible. His decision to go for it - twice - on fourth down late in the game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, while up by more than four touchdowns, showed little class and even less respect for the game.

I'm concerned that this type of boorish behavior will be copied by parent coaches on the Little League and Pop Warner fields everywhere, regardless of whether a "mercy rule" is in effect. There is nothing tough or great about a team or an individual that takes delight in humiliating an opponent.

Your writers and editors need to reflect on whether "Buffing the résumé" was the most appropriate headline for Monday's Sports section. "Rubbing it in" would have been more descriptive.

SHORTA YUASA
Dunstable

FROM MY youth I still remember two axioms. The first was "As GM goes, so goes the nation." Based on what is happening at General Motors and the country, it looks as if that axiom still holds.

However, the axiom credited to Pete Rozelle, "On any given Sunday, any team in the NFL can beat any other," needs the following to be added: "unless the team is the New England Patriots."

WAYNE W. LEMANSKI
Lenox