Belichick had just told his players on Monday, the last time they met, that they all had to step it up for the last stretch of the season by working harder, coming in earlier, staying later and watching more film. The very next time they come together these four are late and for Belichick it’s the last straw. Keep in mind, 53 of them were able to make it in on time despite the snow.

Adalius Thomas, veteran and self-proclaimed professional, wasn’t merely nine minutes late – he should have been there an hour earlier. He’s supposed to be leading the young guys on defense by his example, and he’s well-paid for his efforts. He doesn’t just “do what he’s told” like he said to the media around a dozen times today – he was told to be there early and he didn’t care enough to ensure that he even made it on time.

As funny as you think it is to cue the “Rain Man” and hoodie jokes, they’re way out of line. Belichick doesn’t discipline the team that way as a rule and the last player to be suspended for conduct was Terry Glenn during Belichick’s first year as head coach. Like with a lot of clubs, if players are late they get fined. Disciplinary actions are kept in house and he doesn’t publicly embarrass his players. Ever. Even blatant errors made by players during a game are never pointed out by him, and he frequently takes the blame for bad coaching when mistakes are made. In that regard he has more class and social skills than other NFL coaches. The only reason this action was made public was because Adalius Thomas was tweeting his unprofessional fingers off to his buddies (including those from other clubs), telling them what happened in his own locker room.

If I sound like a Bill Belichck apologist I guess the shoe fits, although he could care less what anyone thinks or writes about him. Most of the media I link to fall back on regurgitating the same old cliches or some derivative such as evil genius, boorish, arrogant, petty, vindictive, and what did you use… oh, yeah… “Rain Man type of retarded genius.” As Mr. Miyagi said, “Different, but same.” (Except most media members don’t use the word “retarded” anymore.)

A little journalistic research would have yielded a bit more than the narrow and false description of Bill Belichick that was settled on when writing this post. Like Belichick, it’s not about “rules being rules” as he can set or break or give reprieves on any of them, it’s always about what’s in the “best interest of the team”. That’s the driving factor in all that he does for New England.

because he’s not as gay as your profile picture. I guess I am a rules are rules kind of guy.

I changed my profile picture for you

this doesn’t seem like the best move he’s made. From what I’ve read about the situation Thomas did what is expected and called the coaching staff to let them know he was stuck in traffic because of the snow and he was running late. I understand he wants to light a fire under his team’s collective ass, but for once he seems to have missed the mark. The story is getting blown way out of proportion and I doubt this will have much of an impact on the success or failure this year. With the cupcakes they have coming with Carolina, Buffalo, an overrated Jacksonville and then the Texans on the road, they should still wrap-up the division. Plus in the playoffs does anybody want to face Brady, Moss and the Hoodie? I think not.

You know the fact that Adalius Thomas is even starting with no production should tell you about the guys they have sitting behind him. That linebacking corps is an absolute joke and for that you have to blame Belichick and his need to trade down in the draft which recently has been a huge failure. Of their nine 2007 draft picks, a grand total of one remains on the team.

This year entering the draft they needed help at the defensive ends and linebacking corps. They drafted LB Tyrone McKenzie in round three who’s a bit of a project and took nobody else and traded out of round one even with both Rey Mauluga and Clay Matthews sitting there for the taking. Patrick Chung is nice, but is nowhere near the playmakers those guys have been this year.

Belichick led his team to three Super Bowls, but it’s not like it was all him. Last time I checked they had this Brady guy that’s a pretty decent quarterback. Also you look a lot better as a defensive coach when you have real talent and players there. The Patriots recent poor draft history has lead to an average defense incapable of making big stops. Not saying it’s all Belichick’s fault, but it’s obvious not everything he does is right and that he can actually be wrong sometimes.