The New England Patriots will never get completely out from under the dark shadow the Spygate scandal cast over their franchise, but winning another Super Bowl with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick wouldn’t hurt. And even if they accomplish that, people like Don Shula will always be around to remind us of the checkered past.
Shula took a shot at Belichick in a recent chat with Dave Hyde of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. When Belichick’s name came up in conversation, the legendary Miami Dolphins coach was quick to throw out a certain nickname people have for The Hoodie. Via Boston.com:
The embers of competition have cooled some. But they’re still warm, if you care to see them. The coach can still can bring it when he wants, like when a forgotten scab is picked with the mention of the current king, New England’s Bill Belichick. “Beli-cheat?” Shula says.
That’s a lot nicer than what Terrell Suggs said about Belichick two years ago.
The Patriots were caught videotaping opponents signals in Week 1 of the 2007 season. They went on to beat every regular-season opponent that year and won 18 straight games before finishing 18-1. While New England was 18-0 at one point that season, Shula’s Dolphins capped off their 17-0 season with a championship.
Most Patriots critics will point to the fact that Belichick and company have “not won anything” since they were caught cheating. While it’s true that they have not won a championship, they have had plenty of success as a franchise. Should Belichick and Brady capture another ring, the Spygate talk isn’t going to stop. The only difference is the “they haven’t won anything since…” narrative will need to be adjusted.
