Don Shula Is An Idiot

He may be the winningest coach in NFL history, but Don Shula's recent statement casts doubt on the brilliance for which many people have praised him over the years (or maybe it's just the onset of senility):

"The Spygate thing has diminished what they've accomplished," Shula said in an interview with the New York Daily News. "You would hate to have that attached to your accomplishments. They've got it. [The penalty] tells you the seriousness or significance of what they found.... I guess you got the same thing as putting an asterisk by Barry Bonds' home run record."

You can argue that the Patriots' camera scandal (please don't call it Spygate, people) may cast doubt on the Pats' accomplishments in previous seasons. I will listen to you, then proceed to demolish your argument by pointing out there is no proof of how long Bill Belichick's practice was in effect and challenging the sense in revisiting records several years down the road in light of newly-received information. (Consider, for example, that the 2003 NFC Champion Carolina Panthers had several players on their roster who had likely used performance-enhancing drugs, yet you don't hear any calls to strip them of their conference championship.)

But for Shula to infer that the videotape scandal casts any doubt on the current season is ludicrous. We've been through this once before, people, but let's try it again: In the first game of the season, Jets security confiscated the tape being shot by the Pats' videographer during the first half, thus ensuring that Belichick would never get to see it. After that game, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell insisted that Belichick turn over his entire video collection for prompt destruction. Therefore, Belichick and the Pats received no assistance whatsoever from illicitly-obtained videotapes and their 9-0 record with 33 passing touchdowns is one hundred percent the product of their own unenhanced efforts. By the way, I mention once again that the practice would be completely legitimate if it didn't involve videotape but mere live scouting of opposing teams' signals.

All I can say is that the record-setting performances the Patriots have put forth so far (and the complete lack of any indications that their steam is about to run out) would be even more mind-blowing had the Pats still been videotaping. Shula can argue that the scandal tarnishes past seasons, but if he's suggesting it at all diminishes the accomplishments of the present season, he's off his rocker. (Shula's better off running steakhouses at this point of his life anyway.)