Author Archives: The Chancellor of Football

SUPER BOWL III CHAMPION 1968 NEW YORK JETS: The Demons From Super Bowl III

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Article Reissue: 4, May 2014

“With the Super Bowl upon us, everyone is sharing pictures of the previous games and box scores. Thats amateurish. Who doesn’t know Joe Namath’s guarantee?? This was written on a rainy Friday in 2010 between classes looking at the ring and the first story that popped in my mind to tell what no one knew. The Colts didn’t get a ring… Past stories have much more meaning when given context and the butterfly effect after the event. Not the same old story either. Over the years I added video to help shape it. In fact it was this short written many moons ago that touched former players from the ’60s & ’70s who to contact me & catapulted Taylor Blitz Times into existence…”

One of the great things about the NFL and its history are the stories behind the men. Unfortunately the greatest lessons come from those that come up short in big games. Everyone loves a David v. Goliath scenario when the underdog pulls off an upset. When a landmark incident takes place like Super Bowl III, all eyes follow the winner who have vanquished a favored foe and the game is revered and talked about for years to come.

Super Bowl III has been rehashed, talked about, re-shown, and re-released in 1997 (as a video broadcast) for a generation to see for themselves a landmark game that changed the course of the NFL. It validated the AFL , its history, along with legitimizing the merger between the two leagues. It was the centerpiece to a  Hall of Fame career for Joe Namath and allowed Weeb Ewbank to become the only coach to win a championship in both leagues. Yet what does all this fallout do to the men who lost that event?? Is the harm irreparable for  the men who came up short in Super Bowl III?? How easy is it to forget and move on??

Surely the Baltimore Colts could go on and win another championship and set things straight, right?? Here are the accounts of  Bill Curry, Mike Curtis, and the late Bubba Smith. As you listen to the recount through their eyes, you will get a different feeling about Super Bowl III than ever before.

Copy of Joe Namath's Super Bowl III ring.

Copy of Joe Namath’s Super Bowl III ring.

What is ironic, these are interviews celebrating their Super Bowl V championship for the America’s Game series. What makes these poignant is the honesty reflected in their voices. What makes these stories resonate is this was a game 45 years ago and made even more impactful is this was the last interview for Bubba Smith to talk about this with his passing away in August 2011.

CHAPTER I:  The updated story from our upcoming book as written July 12,  2010 and showcased online:

SUPER BOWL III RUNNER UP 1968 BALTIMORE COLTS
Wow Talk about shock and awe!!!

The Jets 16-7 win over the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III was one of those events that defined an era. Everyone has spoken of the great accomplishment, the AFL arriving on the big stage but so few people talk about the vanquished 15-1 Baltimore Colts and Don Shula. The loss was so devastating and embarrassing that the NFL didn’t issue a championship ring. A team that was 3hrs away from being the greatest team in NFL history received THIS WATCH when they failed to win the game…wow! Think the NFL thought highly of their championship season? Now before you ask, the answer is yes the teams that lost Super Bowls I, II, and IV did receive rings.

superbowliiiwatch

Let’s take you back to 1968…The Colts were motivated to win it all in 1968 because in 1967 they had the BEST record ever to NOT make the playoffs:11-1-2 including a win over the Packers who would go on to win Super Bowl II. The Rams had an identical record and won the tiebreaker for giving the Colts their one loss. The Colts were in the Western Conference and for the better part of the 60’s couldn’t unseat the Packers. Except in 1964 when Paul Hornung was suspended for gambling, yet the Colts were upset in Cleveland in the Championship game. Yes you heard me correctly…the Packers and Colts were in the WESTERN CONFERENCE back then. So Vince Lombardi steps down and the Packers run out of steam and the Colts go 13-1 in 1968. So in TWO seasons they had only lost 2 games going 24-2-2. No regular season overtime back then hence the two ties.

Like other teams I’ve mentioned, this team that DIDNT win it all was the strongest Baltimore Colts team ever. They had a defense that set the league record for fewest points allowed in a 14 game season with 144 points. They held 11 of their 14 opponents to 10 pts or less including 3 shutouts. The great Johnny Unitas got hurt and Earl Morrall replaced him and became league MVP at quarterback. They had Tom Matte and Jerry Hill as arguably the best running tandem in football. Their only regular season loss in 1968 was to the Cleveland Browns who they would go on to blow out 34-0 in the NFL Championship game IN CLEVELAND. So with that it was as though they practically had an undefeated season and were lauded as the best team in NFL history.

Then came January 12th, 1969…wow!! One look at this watch shows you how embarrassed the NFL was to lose to the upstart AFL. The corporate pressures, corporate culture and such were so great that within 2 years coach Don Shula was gone. Within 4 years Carroll Rosenbloom would swap franchises with Robert Irsay, become owner of the Rams, would later marry Georgia, drown and she became Georgia Rosenbloom-Frontiere owner of the Los Angeles / St. Louis Rams. Of course this legitimized the AFL and NFL merging as well. Everyone talks about the champion but take a look across the river and pay attention to the team that loses it. The after affects can be frightening…

Would all of this have happened had the Colts WON Super Bowl III?

CHAPTER II: A vignette of what was shared by Bill Curry, Bubba Smith, Mike Curtis, and Ernie Accorsi as the events and aftermath of Super Bowl III were recounted in 2007.

CHAPTER III/EPILOGUE: Again, what makes this unique are the events that take place hastening Don Shula’s departure, where he became the NFL’s All Time winning coach in Miami and not Baltimore. Even after winning Super Bowl V, Carroll Rosenbloom was still disenchanted with being the owner of the Baltimore Colts and swapped franchises with the Rams Robert Irsay in 1972.

super bowl iii3Was it ironic or a part of the story, that after winning Super Bowl V, the Baltimore Colts made it to the AFC Championship to defend their title?? Who did they lose to 21-0 to bring about the end of an era (1958-1971) where the Colts were among the NFL elite?? Don Shula and the Miami Dolphins in the Orange Bowl. Another irony is Don Shula went on to become the winningest coach in NFL history in the stadium where Super Bowl III was held. The Orange Bowl. Don Shula went on to exorcise his demons. As for Carroll Rosenbloom, Ernie Accorsi, Bubba Smith, Mike Curtis, and Bill Curry??

So remember to pay close attention to the men and these moments. What will become of the principles of a landmark event for those on both sides of the equation?? A compelling study in the psychology of man and sport.  This is one of the reasons we love bringing you these real life stories with such richness.

Now before you scoff this is the view of former players whose lament intensified with age, try this view from many of the same players on the 25th anniversary of Super Bowl III. This was right before Super Bowl XXVIII in January 1994.

Thanks for reading and share this with those who love football and football history. Teach them something that scores on ESPN won’t tell them.

Super Bowl III Logo

Top Ten Single Season Defenses in NFL History : #7 1977 Dallas Cowboys

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Article Reissue: 27, June 2014

“In this study every season’s #1 defense, record setting defenses, trend setting defenses, and every Super Bowl & NFL championship defenses dating back to 1960. The nod would lend to those post the AFL/NFL merger of 1970. That wasn’t enough as now lets take each defense and cover what they did vs Pro Bowl QBs that season, 1,000 yard rushers, and playoff teams and talk about their effectiveness along with their statistics. Here turnovers forced is a big marker. Nothing watered down so a favorite team can’t be given favor. So The Chancellor of Football took over 200 defenses and boiled it down to this 11 article series and this is the 5th…”

For all the talk of the Gritz Blitz and the Orange Crush Defense in 1977, it was the year of The Doomsday Defense II. They faced off with the Denver Broncos down in New Orleans in Super Bowl XII and the better defense won. They carried their season statistical domination into that game and forced a then Super Bowl record 8 turnovers. This was the last NFL champion to finish #1 on defense and #1 on offense. In giving up just 229.5 yards per game, most don’t realize that was better than the 1978 champion Pittsburgh Steelers (260.5) or even the great ’76 version (237.5). That is both sides of the liberal passing rule changes of 1978 so…..

After Craig Morton was benched, Hollywood Henderson and Doomsday treated Norris Weese to a rough outing. Super Bowl XII

After Craig Morton was benched, Hollywood Henderson and Doomsday treated Norris Weese to a rough outing. In Super Bowl XII

Unofficially that year was the little known fact that DE Harvey Martin recorded 26 sacks. The league didn’t start keeping that statistic until 1981 or that would still be a record. It was arguably his best season as he was named All Pro and made the Pro Bowl. Surprisingly he was only joined by SS Charlie Waters, OLB Hollywood Henderson, FS Cliff Harris, and DT Randy White.

Yet this group does have some knocks against it. They only faced 3 top ten offenses that year and gave up  212 points  for the season. The highest of our top ten. However they were 2-1 in those games and were the first Super Bowl champion to face their eventual Super Bowl opponent during the season. Winning the finale 14-6.

So why are they in the top ten??

The number one reason this group is here is this was the height of The Flex Defense. Their dominance was felt in a season long display. They held 7 of their 14 opponents to 10 points or less then became the first team since the merger to hold their 3 postseason opponents to 10 points or less. One of those was the #3 ranked offense of the  Chicago Bears and NFL rushing champion Walter Payton. He was held to 60 yards on 19 carries in a 37-7 win in the divisional round.

The havoc they raised in Super Bowl XII with 4 sacks, countless hurries that led to 4 interceptions on the biggest stage didn’t hurt. When half your line, DT Randy White and DE the late Harvey Martin, become the first defensive linemen to win Super Bowl MVP, that puts on an exclamation point on the season.

Supe Bowl XII Co-MVPs Randy White and the late Harvey Martin.

Supe Bowl XII Co-MVPs Randy White and the late Harvey Martin.

Other talents such as Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson who made his 1st Pro Bowl, made names for themselves as well. They would defend their championship in the following Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers where they ranked #2 in defense to the Steelers ranked third. That’s another story for a different time.

landry.2Epilogue: This was the crowning jewel in the late Tom Landry’s coaching career. Where he engineered a majority of the tactics to bring the 4-3 to be the modern staple of defense in the NFL. It was his ability to innovate that defense and come up with the Flex Defense to read and react as well as keep the Middle Linebacker (Bob Breunig) free of potential blockers.

Dedicated in the memory of both Tom Landry and Harvey Martin.

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My man Hollywood’s parting shot:

Hollywood Strikes Back!

Terrell Owens & Bill Belichick’s First Ballot Hall of Fame Snubs

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Can you tell the story of the National Football League without ______?? Were you among the best at your position for a 5 year period?? What historic feats did you perform during your career?? Feats…not one… feats! It goes beyond just the numbers…. its not The Hall of Accounting. Its the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Rarely do you hear from me on who should be a 1st ballot selection for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, I just get excited to see that player or coach to get in. Until now. There isn’t a world where Bill Belichick and his 6 Super Bowls and 333 victories, just short of Don Shula’s 347, should be in Canton the second he was up. I waxed philosophically just a few articles ago why I thought the Buffalo Bills should have hired him. Its abysmal to have media members who vote enact a vendetta against a player or coach who earned their way to cementing their legacies in the PFHoF.

No one anywhere appreciates the PFHoF as I do as I have written letters and articles here advocating for players and coaches. What bothers me is now we’re going to have media members pay back Belichick because he was caustic in press conferences. This isn’t about your personal feelings, this is about honoring the integrity of The Hall and you’re a steward to ensure those deserving make it. Especially when it comes to coaches who are more advanced in age retirement wise vs players. He is 73 years of age and tomorrow is not promised.

You want the Hall of Famer to be able to enjoy the honor among family, teammates and furthermore to be ambassadors of the game. I watched the late Kevin Greene addressing an All America High School team and saw how those players eyes wide and quiet enough to hear a pin drop. You knew they understood they were listening to greatness. In a world devoid of this due to immediate and empty social media type popularity we need more to inspire others to aspire to be the best they can be.

Those who had the greatest careers and deserve to be in on the 1st ballot earned that right. A competitor wants to be the best and have that one up on their contemporaries. To have that stripped away by some writer who was jealous of your success and voting against you to get some revenge is horrible. Are there prejudices that are rearing their head as well?

I thought this when Terrell Owens was passed over when he was up to make the PFHOF on a first ballot in 2017. I applaud him for standing up but held indifference when he decided not to attend the 2018 ceremony and had his own at University of Tennessee Chatanooga. I owe T.O. an apology as I thought he should have attended the festivities in Canton. In the weeks leading up to the ceremony I rememeber having a back and forth with his former receivers Coach Ray Sherman and 49er teammate Derrick Deese on my old Facebook page that went on for several days. Not going in on the 1st ballot cut T.O. deep.

I was invited to attend the enshrinement ceremonies and went to everything. The Gold Jacket Dinner, Enshrinement Ceremony, Jerry Kramer’s party the day of Enshrinement, and the Sunday Round Table Discussion with the enshrinees. On social media I heard so much venom from white fans and I worried it would carry over to the events. I applaud then President David Baker as every time he addressed the audience he made sure to mention Terrell Owens respecfully and when there were murmurs in the audience (Gold Jacket on Thursday) he reiterated “he is a Hall of Famer and we respect his decision and he’s welcome here!” and set the tone the rest of the weekend. I got the chance to thank him for that at the end of the  ceremony.

That Saturday getting ready for the Enshrinement Ceremony I watched TO’s ceremony online at his alma mater and it was bittersweet. He should have been in Canton but due to voters who were holding a grudge didn’t vote him in on 1st ballot.

Its time to reorganize the Pro Football Hall of Fame voting. We need some new blood in the arena and some independent voices need to be included who love this game and not leave it to just sportswriters. I, The Chancellor of Football would like a Hall of Fame vote.

After thanking then PFHoF David Baker

Too many old timers are holding grudges, forming subcommittees negotiating “vote for my guy and I’ll vote for yours.” They’re also campaigning against players and coaches which is an embarrassment for Canton.

In 2016 I can remember Kenny Stabler being selected posthumously who should have been in years before. There wasn’t a dry eye in that Gold Jacket arena when his grandson came up to to the stage to accept his HOF crest. Think to Steve McMichael’s enshrinement at home in Chicago. Or former Bengal Reggie Williams today expressing the angst and disappointment his teammate Ken “The Rattler” Riley felt on being overlooked by Canton for many years. He was another voted in posthumously.

Lets stop playing games when legacies are at stake. Make an exception and put Belichick in!!

Kiss the rings.

Overcoaching: Vol 3. Super Bowl XLIX Edition

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Reissued Aritcle: 9, February 2014

“One of the dumbest calls in Super Bowl history that robbed the Seattle Seahawks from establishing a dynasty. Became the turning point in the way Russell Wilson was seen as a leader. He lost his PFHoF status on the goal line in Pheonix and his descent in stature began at that point. Its impossible to see the Seahawks v Patriots in the Super Bowl and not think back to the game and that stupid call at the goal line. Do you realize the play run was the exact same play concept the Tennessee Titans ran that didn’t work in Super Bowl XXXIV?? They just ran it with Kevin Dyson cutting behind TE Frank Wycheck. Gave you the link. Go look… but after you read this…”

Super Bowl XLIX was a great game but the end left a lot of fans empty as Seattle opted for a pass from the 1 with seconds left to play. Immediately I railed it was the worst play call in Super Bowl history on social media. Many former NFLers agreed. So after a small hiatus my thought hadn’t changed and now it was time to revisit another classic case of overcoaching in the NFL.

First off… if anyone thinks the Seattle  throwing that pass at the one yard line was the right play call, then they think Vince Lombardi called the wrong play on the final play of the Ice Bowl. Its that simple. One of his philosophies played out at the goal line during the final seconds of both the 1966 & 1967 NFL Championship Games.

Lombardi’s philosophy was in a pressure situation, players would make mistakes in Tom Landry’s complicated offense. The Cowboys had the ball at the 2 with less than 2 minutes to go down 34-27. They had momentum and had just scored on the drive previous. True to form T Jim Bokeim had a false start… remember they did a lot of shifting on the line. On the final play, which was a rollout, RG Leon Donohue ran past Packer LB Dave Robinson instead of blocking him. Robinson hurried Don Meredith into a game ending endzone interception.

The rubber match for the Ice  Bowl (1967 championship) saw the reverse as the Packers were down to the 2 yard line with less than 2 minutes to go. After two plays and a final timeout, Green Bay was at the 1 with :16 left down 17-14. Where Tom Landry was heard yelling “watch Starr on the rollout”, Lombardi’s Packers went with a QB sneak to win the game. A simplified play.  Years later in recalling Lombardi’s philosophy, G Jerry Kramer said “When the game or life is on the line, you don’t gamble and you put your faith in the defensive player’s chest.”

A philosophy the Seattle Seahawks had believed in until the 1 minute mark of Super Bowl XLIX. Some new age philosophies have made coaches overthink and overcoach situations lately. Ever since that Monday Night game where Brian Westbrook had that breakaway run at the end of the game against the Dallas Cowboys and slid down to run out the clock, people have been overcoaching end of game scenarios.

03_ball_grand_canyon_1_hi_nat1366However I said it right after…that was the same play call the Titans went with in Super Bowl XXXIV when Mike Jones tackled Kevin Dyson at the 1 yard line also. That stacked receiver slant is 0-2 in late Super Bowl moments. Truth is they should have run the ball twice with the read option and kept it on the ground. They should have immediately run a play after Lynch made it to the 1.

Fist lets take a look at the early stages of the game when Marshawn Lynch scored to tie the game at 7.

You’ll note the first run Lynch face initial contact at the 9 ans made it to the 6 1/2 yard line. Then on the touchdown he faced initial contact at the two and powered to more than a yard into the endzone. He’s the best contact runner since Corey Dillon and he was constantly falling forward during the game.

Now we get to the fateful last plays of Super Bowl XLIX.

Had Seattle rushed to the line of scrimmage with the 1:06 left (after Lynch made it to the 1) New England may have let them score (another bone head new age move) to ensure Brady would have a chance with the football and more clock. Don’t tell me Belichick doesn’t think that way because he was lauded for his taking a late game safety against Denver 10 years ago so the Patriots would get the ball back with time and field position… Had Seattle got up and rushed to the line, New England also wouldn’t have sent in their goal line 3 corners package where Seattle would have been better suited to block. Wasn’t that why Pete Carroll said they were wasting a play??

By not rushing back to the line the Seahawks overcoached the situation. There comes a time where coaches have to drop those silly play charts and coach on guts. Lynch had gained positive yards after contact on all of his runs. Even his last carry he broke a tackle at the 4 and made it to the 1. Had they hurried and faced the same defense the next play you don’t think he scores from the 1?? That same personnel he powered through for their first touchdown and 3 yards after contact.

Bill Belichick was saving all of his timeouts and let the clock run down to :32 seconds before Seattle snapped the football.

Yet alas Malcolm Butler ended the Seahawks bid for back to back Super Bowl championships. Coaches have to get back to owning each situation and score first and win the game. Don’t sit and speculate when you can or even if you will score on a later play. You just have to trust your defense. If you can think back to Super Bowl XLVI between the Patriots and the Giants, Ahmad Bradshaw tried not to score when he “accidently” fell in the endzone. Taking a 17-15 lead, the Giant defense held off Tom Brady in that one. You have to rely on your defense.

Another clear case of overcoaching and now Seattle has to let this fester as they ponder an opportunity lost. It could fuel their trip to Super Bowl L in San Francisco’s new stadium. Stay tuned…

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Super Bowl LX: Sam Darnold Has A Chance To Become An Elite Quarterback

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Sam Darnold is arriving at Super Bowl LX much like Jim Plunkett arrived at Super Bowl XV many moons ago. A 1st round draft pick who was a bust & the team that drafted him jettisoned him off like garbage. He had become a punchline with his “seeing ghosts” comment while being interviewed after a game in New York. Had stops at Carolina and San Fran before taking the Vikings to a 14-3 season last year and then dumped for unproven JJ McCarthy. The Vikings opting for #9 unstated told us they believed Darnold’s last 2 games in ’24 over the first 16.

Minnesota had their best record dating back to their 2009 NFC Championship Game run with Brett Favre at the helm. However all year long fans (and quietly the Vikings brass) waited for the shoe to drop & the jittery knock kneed Darnold of old would show up. He didn’t until a winner take all for the NFC Championship Game against Detroit where he had his worst game of the season. On a Sunday Night with the nation watching he went 18 of 41 for 166 yards in a 31-9 undressing in a game that didn’t appear that close.

It all fell apart with a 27-9 loss in the wildcard round to Los Angeles. Darnold was sacked 9 times and never had his team in the game. They were down 24-3 at the half and the Vikings had seen enough. In the offseason they gave him a low ball 1 year contract and Darnold left for Seattle. Had he really turned his career around? Was the ’24 season he had in Minnesota a mirage??

  • ’24 Vikings season: 361 of 545 – 4,319 yds 35TDs 12 ints. (7.92 yds per att.)
  • ’25 Seahawks season: 323 of 477 -4,048 yds 4,048 yds 25TDs 14ints. (8.48 yds per att.)

The truth of the matter is that gaudy 8.48 yards per attempt is 2nd in the league to Drake Maye. If you’re new here I wrote out on Dec 9th “The Lie Behind Quarterback Passer Rating & Several Useless Statistics” where I told you yards per attempt is the statistic that equates to team success not passer rating… well #1 and #2 in yards per attempt are facing off in LX or 1st vs 11th in passer rating … yet I digress

The truth of the matter we kept holding our breath waiting for Darnold to falter in the end like he did last year, check it… how he has dating back to the 2018 draft. Its not that he rode the coat tails of his team to make it to Santa Clara, he outgunned Matthew Stafford in a career defining NFC Championship Game. Throwing for 346 yards going 25 of 36 with 3TDs. When he came out and hit Rasheed Shehee with that 51 yard bomb 0n the first drive you knew he came to play. He was laughed out of Sofi Stadium losing to the Rams and ultimately his job and came back to excorcise several demons.

To see him stay the course, make the adjustments in his career when he could have slunked away as the draft bust he came to be known for, its impossible to not pull for him. He just stared down his bully in the NFC Championship Game and carved a Ram defense up that gave him nightmares in ’24. He is one game away from validating his 3rd pick in the NFL draft status with his performance in LX.

LOL Now he is in a Super Bowl where fellow draftees who have won NFL MVPs in Lamar Jackson & Josh Allen have to sit and watch and neither have made it this far. Neither has 1st pick in the draft Baker Mayfield. He wins this game and you have to call him an elite quarterback. Period. With new information we have to change our perspectives.

You’re one game away. San Darnold… Your mission, should you choose to accept it…

Super Bowl XLVI Preview:Bill Belichick & His Place In History

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The best coach of the last 50 years and possibly in the history of the NFL

Reissue of Article: 31, January 2012

“With the disgraceful indignity of not being a 1st ballot Hall of Famer this week,I thought it a great time to rehash an article discussing his place some 14 Super Bowls ago. If I was telling you he would rank with Vince Lombardi had he triumphed, where does it leave him now he coached in another 4 Super Bowls after this game winning XLIX, LI, and LIII. He even lost another one to the Eagles in LII. Think about that a second…

For the idiots saying it was all Tom Brady. Who do you think taught him all that situational football to be that prepared? Don’t be a dummy. Anyway…”

When you talk of the great coaches in NFL history, even the ardent Patriot hater has to put Bill Belichick on the short list. If his team leaves Lucas Oil Stadium with the Vince Lombardi Trophy, it’s namesake will be the only coach he can be compared to. It would be his fourth championship as a head coach and sixth overall. All of this coming in the modern era with player movement in true free agency?? Yikes!! You’d have to look at it like this… Vince Lombardi was the greatest coach in the first 50 years of NFL history (1920-1969) and Belichick would be the greatest from 1970 to the present.

How can we say that?? First let’s dispel the “Spy Gate” situation. In a game of simulated war with blitzes and bombs and protecting zone areas on a field / map: wouldn’t you expect some sort of espionage?? Dont forget that in 1958 John Steadman of the Baltimore Sun Times reported that Baltimore Colts owner Carroll Rosenbloom had an assistant watch the New York Giants practice before the NFL Championship Game. Rosenbloom assured him that if he were caught, he’d have a job for life with the team. Watch the NFL Films production on the 1958 Championship and you can hear it first hand.

A long time I watched Bill’s work.

Then somewhere in the 60’s to put an end to this, Pete Rozell put in Tuesday film swap day. That way the teams could share intel on each other to put the spy thing to bed. Yet everyone is always trying to steal other team’s signals. Fast forward to Bill Walsh in 1979 who was the first to script his 15 plays and have an elaborate sheet with plays in front of him.  He was the first head coach to be completely under a headset all game long. Whenever he would call plays he would use his play sheet to cover his mouth to protect himself from lip readers. This practice is still in place today. Watch the playcaller on the sideline and where once teams had elaborate hand signals, now hold up a play sheet. Quarterbacks have transmitters in their helmets now.

So quit hawking Belichick about that already. Now back to what we were saying…

If you look at his tenure against other coaches from 1970 on, you can’t come up with a more successful coach. He just made his 5th Super Bowl to tie Tom Landry. If he wins he’ll have tied Chuck Noll with 4 Super Bowl titles. Yet what sets him apart is only Tom Brady remains from his 2001 championship where Noll won with primarily the same players.

Hell, only 1 defensive starter remains from the 2007 defense that went 16-0. That would be Vince Wilfork. Noll never returned to the Super Bowl and only made 1 AFC Championship after the 70’s run. Belichick has won with 3 incarnations of the Patriots since 2001. Tom Landry and Don Shula did that but neither could get past 2 championships with Belichick going for number 4. Which would put him ahead of Bill Walsh who has 3.

So it’s at this point, the New York Giants are the gatekeepers to history. With this win Belichick will ascend to the rank of the greatest coach in the last 50 years of the NFL. Ironically he won his first two as a defensive co-ordinator for the New York Giants. Another irony is he doesn’t seem to be close to retirement. If there are other championships in his future he would even have to best Lombardi and be thought of as the greatest ever coach.

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