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Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichcick has the second most all-time regular season and playoff wins in NFL history going 333-178-0.
The Indianapolis Colts are once again tied to another controversial event with the New England Patriots. On January 27th, news dropped that shocked the sports world, as ESPN reported that eight-time Super Bowl champion and former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick will not be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Filed to ESPN: EXCLUSIVE: Bill Belichick is NOT a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
The six-time Super Bowl winning head coach failed to get 40 of 50 HOF votes, sources say.
With @SethWickersham t.co/qWtUwJXEgj
Outrage and confusion ensued from sports figures and fans alike, including Belichick himself, as ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. and Seth Wickersham reported that, “Several sources who spoke with the coach over the weekend described Belichick as “puzzled” and “disappointed” by his inability to secure support from at least 80% of Hall committee members.”
In the same initial ESPN report, it was noted that former Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills general manager Bill Polian may be one of the chief architects of the committee’s controversial decision.
Bill Polian’s Denial of Involvement of Belichick HOF Snub is Merky
GettyBill Polian was with the Indianapolis Colts from 1998 to 2011 serving as President and General Manager.
With the initial confusion sparked by the committee’s decision, many were curious about the reasoning. As per his resume alone, Belichick has a first-ballot pedigree. It was revealed that Belichick’s exclusion could be some form of punishment for his involvement with the Spygate and Deflategate scandals he was linked to.
It was also reported that Bill Polian was influencing voters’ deliberation and told them that Belichick should “wait a year” before being allowed in.
While Polian would quickly go on to refute the initial reports of his involvement, his answers leave some uncertainty.
“Polian denied telling fellow voters that Belichick should serve a one-year penance for Spygate. He said he heard his fellow voters “float that idea” but insisted he didn’t agree or disagree with the proposal,” ESPN wrote.
“Polian added that he could not remember with 100% certainty if he voted for Belichick, saying he was 95% sure he voted for the coach.”
Polian would then go on to clarify, “I was shocked to learn Bill didn’t get in,” Polian said. “He deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.”
Polian’s inability to fully remember his vote has left some to speculate whether he’s being fully truthful. Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports analyzed two ways of reading Polian’s recent comments.
The first option is, “He’s lying and did campaign against Belichick, but is now covering his tracks now that his role in the snub has been highlighted to the general public,” Sullivan wrote.
The alternative is, “If he truly cannot remember if he voted for Belichick during a meeting that took place just two weeks ago, how can we depend on Polian to accurately and honestly remember Hall of Fame candidates’ careers after the minimum five-year waiting period (if not longer in some cases)?”
We may never know the full truth of Polians’ potential involvement in the committee’s decision; however, the outcome has reflected poorly on the Hall of Fame’s credibility.
Tom Brady and Others Speak Out On Bill Belichick’s HOF Omission
Several sports icons have expressed their bewilderment over the Belichick decision on social media.
Man there’s no way I read that right! Right? Ain’t no WAY Bill Belichick ain’t 1st Ballot HOF!! That’s IMPOSSIBLE, EGREGIOUS, and quite frankly DISRESPECTFUL!
One such icon would be former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
“I don’t understand it …. if he’s not a first-ballot Hall of Famer there’s really no coach that should ever be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.”
@TomBrady on Bill Belichick’s HOF snub w/ @BrockHuard & @TheMikeSalk on Seattle Sports. ⬇️
“I don’t understand it. I was with him every day. If he’s not a first-ballot Hall of Famer, there’s really no coach that should ever be a first-ballot Hall of Famer,” Brady claimed during a Seattle Sports radio appearance.
“He’s incredible. There’s no coach I’d rather play for. If I’m taking one coach to go out there to win a Super Bowl, give me one season, I’m taking Bill Belichick.”
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