Why is this relevant to South Florida? Because Belichick’s troubles mirror the man whose record he’s trying to break – that is, Don Shula, who holds the record for wins by a head coach at 347. The Patriots’ head guy needs 18 wins to pass Shula, but at that this rate, it’s hard to see him doing so in New England, given his present difficulties. And it’s not just fans calling for a change – former Patriots’ players have joined the call, suggesting it’s time for him to retire, including linebacker great Tedy Bruschi, who was on three of the Patriots’ title teams. The biggest complaint fans and media have about the current team’s problems is the failure to draft and develop any offensive stars, making the job of winning games in this era’s NFL very hard to do. “The game has passed him by,” is the familiar refrain aimed at Belichick, who doubles as the team’s general manager, as well as being its head coach. You know who else had that barb aimed at him? That’s right, Don Shula, who also held both titles at a time when the salary cap and free agency strained even the most competent of NFL front offices. Yet Don Dolphin had more success in his later years, making the playoffs three times in his last five seasons. Patriot fans would settle for a .500 season at this point. Their similarities don’t end there – both men had the good fortune of working with Hall of Fame QBs,yetultimately failed, albeit for different reasons.
Shula because he could never surround Dan Marino with enough talent, and Belichick having difficulty winning since Tom Brady left town. It’s harder when the legend can’t, or won’t make the necessary changes, when results would suggest they need to be made.
In the end, there is no easy answer, folks, except to keep humming Don Meredith’s tune – because right now Bill Belichick’s performance is definitely off-key.
