 Coach of the year is....
Bill Belichick, New England.
In this case, cheaters win.
Like when a player is suspended for failing a steroid test, Belichick's major transgression — having his staff illegally videotape the New York Jets' signals in the season-opener — weighed heavily against his candidacy.
And Belichick was still the clear choice.
He masterminded the most impressive regular season in NFL history. But a 16-0 record isn't the only thing that sets New England apart. The Patriots play smarter than any other team and never beat themselves. No other squad changes its schemes and personnel as much on a game-to-game basis without a drop-off. Injuries are never an excuse because New England's substitutes are so well prepared.
If you owned a team, which coach would you rather have on the sideline entering the playoffs?
Belichick is expected to win this award but he won't be a unanimous choice. There are voters who will hold "Spygate" against him or harbor animosity because of Belichick's smugness and droning news conferences. (The snide comments made by some of my peers during Belichick's postgame news conference after Saturday night's 38-35 victory over the New York Giants were embarrassing and unprofessional.)
Others believe the honor should be given to a coach whose team greatly exceeds low media expectations. Green Bay's Mike McCarthy, Cleveland's Romeo Crennel and Buffalo's Dick Jauron are worthy selections under that scenario. I would have given all three more consideration had the Patriots finished a mortal 15-1 rather than 16-0.
But they didn't.
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