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The Whiney Dolphins
I really do want the Pats now to go undefeated and shut these whiners up. While trying to sound like a good sport, Shula sounds just like the angry old man that he denies he is... What a joke.
By Scott Blake, Florida Today
MELBOURNE, Fla. — Don Shula said he wouldn't begrudge the New England Patriots if they go undefeated this season, equaling the feat his 1972 Miami Dolphins achieved.
But the former Dolphins coach said a perfect Patriots season would be "tainted" by the so-called "Spygate" scandal.
The Patriots were fined $250,000 and forced to forfeit a first-round draft pick next year for allegedly recording the New York Jets' defensive signals and relaying them to Patriots players on the field during a game in September. In addition, Patriots coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000.
The Patriots should have an asterisk by their name in the record books if they go undefeated, Shula said Tuesday, during a speech at Brevard Community College in Melbourne.
"We've been accused of being angry old men" when it comes to protecting the Dolphins' record as the only team in the Super Bowl era to go undefeated (17-0), Shula said.
That is not true, he said, but "we'll be watching with a great deal of interest."
In an interview after the speech, Shula said he was watching on Oct. 21 when the Patriots — now undefeated through nine games — pummeled the Dolphins 49-28 in Miami.
Belichick has been criticized for running up the score on opponents in the wake of the scandal.
Shula said he doesn't fault Belichick for sending star quarterback Tom Brady back into the Dolphins game with the Patriots leading by 21 points with just more than 10 minutes left to play.
"Belichick is a great coach," he said. "Brady is a great quarterback."
Shula said he doesn't buy arguments that Belichick's Patriots were singled out for spying when other teams do it. The severity of the Patriots' violation of league rules was evident, Shula said.
"Losing a first-round draft choice says a lot," he said, referring to the penalties imposed by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
MELBOURNE, Fla. — Don Shula said he wouldn't begrudge the New England Patriots if they go undefeated this season, equaling the feat his 1972 Miami Dolphins achieved.
But the former Dolphins coach said a perfect Patriots season would be "tainted" by the so-called "Spygate" scandal.
The Patriots were fined $250,000 and forced to forfeit a first-round draft pick next year for allegedly recording the New York Jets' defensive signals and relaying them to Patriots players on the field during a game in September. In addition, Patriots coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000.
The Patriots should have an asterisk by their name in the record books if they go undefeated, Shula said Tuesday, during a speech at Brevard Community College in Melbourne.
"We've been accused of being angry old men" when it comes to protecting the Dolphins' record as the only team in the Super Bowl era to go undefeated (17-0), Shula said.
That is not true, he said, but "we'll be watching with a great deal of interest."
In an interview after the speech, Shula said he was watching on Oct. 21 when the Patriots — now undefeated through nine games — pummeled the Dolphins 49-28 in Miami.
Belichick has been criticized for running up the score on opponents in the wake of the scandal.
Shula said he doesn't fault Belichick for sending star quarterback Tom Brady back into the Dolphins game with the Patriots leading by 21 points with just more than 10 minutes left to play.
"Belichick is a great coach," he said. "Brady is a great quarterback."
Shula said he doesn't buy arguments that Belichick's Patriots were singled out for spying when other teams do it. The severity of the Patriots' violation of league rules was evident, Shula said.
"Losing a first-round draft choice says a lot," he said, referring to the penalties imposed by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
ACK!
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