Final Belichick

So wait a minute, Belichick all of a sudden got religion on acting like a decent sportsman to the other coaches and just couldn't wait to congratulate Coughlin? I guess I could see why he was confused since he hasn't had much practice acting like an honorable competitor.

You know I love that BB plays his hand so close to his chest most weeks but we just choked in the super bowl! I would like to know that BB is as upset as I am, I still love the guy but the Pats will go down in history as the biggest choke artist of them all and he has nothing to say about it.

Actually the Yankees (from ALCS 2004) are the biggest choke artists of all time.

I don't see it as a choke job, its a big upset but thats why you play the game. Also, BB has close ties with Coughlin from there days together as assistants under the big tuna. Nobody said the Rams choked in 2001, it was just a well played game.

The talk of choking is nonsense. The game came down to a few plays that the Giants made and a few the Pats did not. Guess what, that's how every football game is decided. I am a big Pats fan and a very dissappointed one at that but we need to give credit to the Giants coaches and players, Often times here in New England we don't seem to understand that the other side has professionals as well. Let's not forget the Giants beat the #1 and #2 seeds in the NFC on the road and did it by taking them out of their games, same as they did to us.

The Pats will be back next year but for now we need to deal with the reality that we lost to a better team on Sunday. It was a great season that I will remember forever despite the sad ending.

Belichick and Coughlin are friends you moron.

Everybody stop the damn whining! Youcan't take anything away from the Patriots and what they accomplished this year. Remember it's a GAME that they are paid a lot of money to play win or lose. I question the strategy in not kicking the field goal at 4th and 13, and why in bloody hell was Plaxico Burress in single coverage? It could have gone any way, but it didn't. So what! We have men and women dying in Iraq, in a war that was foisted upon us by lies, and we are in the process of electing a new President. So frame the issue. Think of the Bears of 32 and 34. Perfect, until the championship, and they are still considered one of the GREAT teams of all time. The beauty of sports is there is ALWAYS NEXT YEAR. I would have loved tohave seen perfection, going through the lean years with the Pats, but it's not cancer. It's done, over, finis, so let it go and get on with it

@DatMel,

The time had run to zero you dolt. The referee put the time back on the clock after he had already shaken hands. Grow up.

@Kenny,
Clearly the significance of the game made it special but from an upset standpoint that wasn't the biggest 'choke' in sports history.

I would have liked to hear him clearly explain why he decided not to kick the field goal, if it was about field position then he should have been punting not going for it. I'm also disappointed that they didn't use 5 wides, how come no one asked about that? That was a very successful and popular formation for them the whole year.

apparently 2 WS championships and 4 Super Bowl appearances in 6 years isn't good enough around here ... what great New England fans we have!!!

Give me a break!!

I realize that I cannot identify with the emotions that the players have and will experience in their loss. With that said I would like to thank the NE Patriots for their great season and becoming such a great franchise. I have been following the Pats since the Grogan years, and I know what hardship is.

As a fan I am greatful for the current state of the organization, and want the owners, coaches, and players to realize how greatful I am as a fan to have them on our team.

Thank you for the memories (Kraft, Bill, Brady , and all the other players).....good, bad, and indifferent.

We are very lucky fans. I wish I could show my appreciation ...you have my everlasting support...whatever happens

PERIOD.

As a fan, I think BB is no king!! for him to leave the field when it was obvious that the head referee was telling him the game was not over was disrespectful to all of us watching. I was upset about the loss, but now I tried to explain to my 6 year old son who was crying, that good sportsmanship is more important than winning a game. I told him to look at Tom Brady he was out on the field shaking hands with the winners. Maybe BB needed some water to wash down all that humble pie he had been serving all season. When it's all said and done there really is only one loser!!!

What are you guys talking about? What biggest choke? Looks like you haven't been around the classic red sox chokes. Let's face it. This team clearly over achieved in an pathetic division and the league. The defense never had the kind of speed and quickness to have an effective pass rush. We need some impact DE and fast LBs. As it has been illustrated, we could use a more opportunistic defense in favor of the "greatest" offense in NFL history. Those teams never win championships and are relegated to the record books. Hope we are back and competitive next year and not go 16-0. In retrospect, you learn a lot by losing a couple of games. 14-2 is better than 16-0 if you can bounce back and win a championship.

As a Bears fan from Chicago, I normally would not have much interest in this years SuperBowl either way. However most of my friends and family were rooting for NY mainly because of BB. Him leaving the field confirmed his arrogance and bad attitude. You should win with class and it is just as important to lose with class. Of course he is angry and disapointed, and you want your coach to be fired up. But it is inexcusable for a head coach not to be on the sidelines when his players still are on the field. That goes for any football coach- nfl, college, hs, pee wee etc. Do you want your kids to look to BB as an example of sportsmanship?

How did they choke exactly? A team that they beat by 3 points 5 weeks ago, beat them by 3 points. There were outplayed.....why is that so hard for people to admit. When you say they choked you are taking credit away from the Giants.

How can people call this a choke? Brady drove down the field for the potential win and left the game in the hands of an average defense. Face it the Giants WON the game, the Pats didn't lose the game. Why don't ypu ask Brady how sore he is from the beating he took at the hands of the Giants' defensive linemen. GO BIG BLUE!!!!!

I'm a huge Pats fan but I think the giants just played a better game. I would love it if Randy Moss actually used his height and vertical leaping ability, not once this year did he catch a ball above his head except that one handed grab in mid season. All the giants receivers go up and get the ball...

the pats didn't choke!!they were simply outplayed,pure and simple.Although,it could be argued,their loss to the giants was off epic proportions;one that would be etched in not just football fans mind,but every sports fan in america.It's more like the once invincible mike tyson's lose to the no name buster douglas.Nobody wins them all

Kenny, what should he say about it? He is right that it is time to move on. If I know BB, he is already planning his moves for next season. He is doing his job like any other coach is at this time of year, SB winner or not. He is a man who is focused and we should be thankful for that. We have free agency on our doorsteps, the draft, the possiblity that some of our players will retire, et cetera. As far as choking, the jury is still out. I really don't believe we choked. We got manhandled by a young and aggressive team that played without fear. They are also a damn good squad as evidenced by our 3 point win and our 3 point loss. Choking is when you lose to someone you certainly should beat.

Sorry but the Patriots will not go down in history as the biggest choke artist, that honor belongs to the 2004 New York Yankees. Up 3 games to none and blow the series 4 games to 3. Go Jets

Well actually the Yankees in 04 was a bigger choke job sine all they had to do was win one in four games.

But hey, that doesn't really complement your argument so....

One of you knocks him for his sportsmanship and the other calls him a "choke artist"?! I don't see either of you two winners working on a Hall of Fame resume, so perhaps you should consider shutting up. You truly disgust me.

DatMel: SPORTS INVOLVE COMPETITION. Competitive streaks run deeper in some people than others. Not everyone has to follow some unwritten code of behavior or "sportsmanship" simply because some people think it's the way it ought to be. If you want to live that way, it's your choice... but it's straight up arrogance to expect everyone live by *your* code of ethos. Pathetic.

Kenny: You're the worst kind of fan there is: The ungrateful kind. Belichick has built and directed this team to three Lombardi trophies, this AFC Championship, countless records, and has created the first sports dynasty of this century. For you to even *think* about the phrase "world's biggest choke artist" after what he's done not only shows that you're fairweather fan but also just how ignorant you are of sports in general. THREE FREAKING TITLES in SEVEN YEARS!!! You want him to cure cancer while he's at it? Maybe bring peace to the middle east and discover the secret to cold fusion, too? People like you are the bandwagon clowns the rest of the country have been talking about for the last 20 weeks. Go back to Fenway where people like you reign supreme, college boy. Pretenders like you are a disgrace to this team that many of us have supported through thick and thin over the years.

Biggest Choke Artist of Them All? What are you smokin' Kenny? They lost a game that unlike many of them arguably came down to a single play. The Yankees losing to the Sox after being up 3 games to none and coming off a 19-8 thrashing is a choke. If you've been paying attention, everybody has been trying to figure out how to beat the Pats. The Giants were hot, having nearly beaten them in December. The Pats haven't been bragging about how great they are, because they know this is a very serious game that can break either way on a single play. It is just that the fans, who act as if they have something to do with the success, like to brag.

Bill is in a real crappy situation. He is being railroaded for everything he does. Every level minded person around the NFL can tell you that Bill isn't doing things that are unfounded or something that other people have done before him. I don't expect him to be a great person anymore. I think he is doing great for what has been dealt to him. This is not even close to the biggest choke in history. I think the yankees losing the 2004 ALCS is pretty big. The Pats beating the Rams who were 14 points favored in the 2002 Super Bowl. The pats were only favored by 12 this year, and most people could tell you that the game was going to be much closer. So, lay of Bill. It sucks bad, but we simply lost to a team that wanted it more.

choke and upset are two different things.

pats lost a great game by the slimmest of margins. congrats to the g-men, they deserve it. cant wait for next season

and kudos to ellis hobbs, who played much of the season with a groin (ouch!) injury and a sports hernia that will require surgery. although he is no #1 corner (and obviously shouldnt be on an island against plaxico w/ no help), all the hobbs bashers should at least give the guy credit...

new england fan you got beat by a team that made mistakes (pass interferance, 12 men on the field and an interception) you lost ! maybe bb didn't know there was still time on the clock, but there is no excuse for that pathetic interview after the game. your defense shouldn't have been so arrogant at the end of the game (taunting the GIANTS offense) they should have waited till the game was over before they celebrated.

I was going to say it, but Bouncer 617 said it for me. Some of you people need to look in the mirror and ask yourselves what makes you so great that you should criticize one of the greatest coaches of all time. Belichick cares about one thing, getting his team prepared to play winning football. and he does that as well as anyone who has ever stepped onto the field. He doesn't give a damn what anyone outside of his lockerroom thinks of him. He just does his job. Get a clue.

Bouncer, Steve:

I know 1 second sounds like a small thing but it means a lot in the context of sportsmanship. If Gibbs or Cameron had run off the field in the 4th quarter when the Pats were running the score up on them I would have thought equally poorly of them. Bill B. chose to engage in running up the score and the whole SpyGate thing and the harsh judgments you see being heaped upon him are the cumulative product of all of that. Had he conducted himself with a little humility during the season you wouldn't see any of this because there would be sympathy for him. Refusing to shake hands with the other coaches when you're beating them and then running off the field like a child when you're being beaten is just low class.

The real question is why they did not try to use their three timeouts with 30 seconds left to get into FG range to tie the game, not sure of the hail mary type of play calling from McDaniels.

Oh, one last thing, we're looking for some input on an appropriate name for the Tyree catch. "The Play" or "The Catch" seems pedestrian for so fine an effort. Since Boston has so many fine colleges and has been the home of so many great poets I thought it would be appropriate to ask you for ideas. I have to imagine you all saw the play in question.

What is wrong with Coach Bill left the sideline with .01 left on the clock? NONE!
The Giants celebrated, Bill met Tom half-field and congratulated him on winning the SB -- The clock was actually struck ZERO during that time. How people make something out of nothing. Last time I check, Coach Bill didn't get paid to do PR.

Are we really upset with BB for leaving with 1 second left with chaos on the field.? What a waste of energy. As it is said, the Giants made more offensive plays during the last drive than the Pats made defensive plays. Some of the plays were well planned others were just good fortune. Belichick, Brady and Kraft are focusing on next season, I am sure aiming for another Super Bowl appearance and Championship. Let's sign Moss and Samuel, get a little youth at linebacker, find a second quality DB and move forward.

Usually in a Superbowl the losing team and coach get whisked away and nobody hears from them again, I'm not sure I even remember coaches meeting at the end of the SB. They just made a big deal out of this because the media hates BB.

What I saw was a man wanting to rush over and congratulate an old friend, without stealing any of the spotlight. I also saw a guy who was pretty upset, and I know I was pretty upset, so I can understand what he was probably going through. They had four good chances to ice the 19-0, and didn't get it done, that's pretty painful.. cut the guy some slack. I expect more gfy to the media next season from BB, especially after all the 'spygate, rams taping, globe 19-0 book up for presale... the media is the real issue not BB, what he did was fine. He went and said congrats, then gave the Giants thier moment. Screw the media and all you haters, at least now we don't have to hear 'tainted' and 'spygate' every two seconds.