Bob Costas Has Some Odd Criteria When Voting For NFL Coach Of The Year

Tuesday, January 06, 2009


It seemed pretty cut and dry that Falcons' Coach, Mike Smith would win the 2008 Coach of the Year award, but that wasn't the case for one Robert Quinlan "Bob" Costas. See Costas' vote went to someone who's team didn't even make the Playoffs. In fact, it went to someone who's team did five games worse than they did last season. Yep, Costas voted for Bill Belichick, and here's his reasoning. Via The Boston Globe....

“I didn’t think he would win, but I thought he deserved a nod for what might have been the best, or certainly one of the best coaching jobs of his career,” Costas said. “He loses [Tom] Brady, and it’s not just losing Brady, but also that [Matt] Cassel basically never played. It’s not the same thing as losing Johnny Unitas and you have Earl Morrall. He brought the kid along."

“The winner is usually the guy whose team is the most surprising, and I wouldn’t argue against Smith, Sparano or [John] Harbaugh. You could make a good case for them, as well as others, like Jeff Fisher, Tony Dungy, John Fox and Tom Coughlin. I just thought Belichick did a phenomenal job, considering the emotional hangover that had to be there from coming so close to perfection [in 2007] and losing in such agonizing fashion, and then you lose Brady virtually from the opening kickoff of the first game. There is not just a strategic adjustment that has to be made, but you have to convince these guys not to say ‘to heck with it.’ There must be an incredible level of respect there for him to command that type of effort.”
I also think Belichick is an amazing coach (when he's not cheating...I kid), but to vote someone in for what he did with just one player makes absolutely zero sense. Especially when you consider the performances by the other candidates.

Oh and yes, in case you were wondering, Costas' was the only vote cast for the Patriots' Coach.

Vote for Belichick was cast by Bob Costas (Boston Globe)

21 Comments:

Usually I wouldn't care about stuff like this, but Tony Sparano lost by one vote. If Bob had voted for Sparano, then he could have shared it with Mike Smith, which would have been the appropriate result.

Ted Hill said...
Jan 6, 2009, 1:49:00 PM  

This is another example of that little twirp Costas trying to show that he's smarter than everyone else. Oh, and nice rug you're sporting these days, Bobby, who do you think you're fooling?

Anonymous said...
Jan 6, 2009, 2:17:00 PM  

Belichick deserved more votes. Costas is right on the money here.

Anonymous said...
Jan 6, 2009, 2:26:00 PM  

Once upon a time Costas/Trumpy kicked ass doing NFL games. Their success frightened NBC so much that Costas got pulled off NFL PxP.

We now see the end result: Costas has become another bootlicker just like Peter King and everyone at ESPN.

Anonymous said...
Jan 6, 2009, 2:38:00 PM  

Sorry Pats fans, but Bellichick does NOT deserve coach of the year.

Improving a whole team >>>>>>>>>>> Improving one player

Justin F. said...
Jan 6, 2009, 3:01:00 PM  

Actually, I don't think he's too far off base. I'm surprised that Belichick didn't get more votes, but it was a crowded field and I could make a case for each of the guys that he listed. My vote would go to Fisher or Sparano, but I'm not 100% against any of those guys. (BTW: I hate Belichick and the Patriots, but give credit where it's deserved.)

Anonymous said...
Jan 6, 2009, 3:05:00 PM  

"Someone who is team didn't even make the playoffs."

Anonymous said...
Jan 6, 2009, 3:07:00 PM  

They did it while losing Rodney Harrison, Ted Bruschi, Adalius Thomas. Not to mention Jarvis Green who missed a fair share of games. At one point the were down to Green-Ellis as their #1 RB, with Morris, Jordan And Maroney all out. It wasn't just one player that was hurt.

Peter said...
Jan 6, 2009, 3:31:00 PM  

"I also think Belichick is an amazing coach (when he's not cheating...I kid), but to vote someone in for what he did with just one player makes absolutely zero sense. "

This doesnt make any sense. He didnt get the vote just because he made Cassel good. He took a team that lost arguabley the best QB in the NFL, a team that started the most players in the NFL(41), and led them to 11 wins. This was definitely his best coaching job yet, and couple that with all the naysayers in September who shouted "HE CANT WIN WITHOUT BRADY!1!!" Sure proved them wrong.

Anonymous said...
Jan 6, 2009, 3:43:00 PM  

"Oh and yes, in case you were wondering, Costas' was the only vote cast for the Patriots' Coach."

Which is an absolute tragedy.

The guy lost the MVP of the league, their number 1 running back, their defensive leader and only solid presence in the secondary, and their best linebacker who was quietly having a great season. I'm not arguing against Sparano or Smith but saying that Belichick shouldn't get any votes is just plain ignorant. This was the best coaching job he has ever done.

By the way the Patriots had a better record than 2 playoff teams this season. They should have taken care of business in a few other games (most notably the damn Indy game) but to hold not making the playoffs against him... again, just plain ignorant.

Anonymous said...
Jan 6, 2009, 3:58:00 PM  

The Patriots were 5 games worse than they were last season playing the easiest schedule in the league this season. Even with Cassel, that schedule alone should have gotten them into the playoffs.

How can any of you mongoloids argue that he did a better job than what was done in Atlanta or Miami?

GMoney said...
Jan 6, 2009, 4:15:00 PM  

AA-Why are you referencing Cheating?? When someone says "i'm kidding", deep down they really aren't.

They went undefeated until the Super Bowl being AUDITED after a video tape shenanigan, that ended up being alot less than what ESPN jumped to assume.

And this year he goes 11-5, screwed out of playoffs with Cassell and the walking wounded....He shouldn't have won, but should have got more votes...I vote for Miami's turnaround.

Enough Spygate....Sound like an old man who doesnt watch the game but is summarizing "what all the kids are saying these days"

Anonymous said...
Jan 6, 2009, 4:18:00 PM  

"How can any of you mongoloids argue that he did a better job than what was done in Atlanta or Miami?"

Who's saying that? I for one am only responding to AA's assinine comments that Bill didn't deserve any votes, I thought he would get more personally. I thought Smith would get it, but you can't deny the job Bill has done.

Anonymous said...
Jan 6, 2009, 4:41:00 PM  

I would have probably given it to Sparano, but Belichick should definitely be in the mix. Season-ending injuries to Maroney, A. Thomas, and Rodney Harrison should be factored in as well. Eleven wins without Brady and no other injuries should have gotten him plenty of votes. The other injuries just added to it...and I'm no Patriots fan.

Anonymous said...
Jan 6, 2009, 5:07:00 PM  

He did losing Tom Brady (50 TD, League MVP), Laurence Maroney (No. 1 RB), LaMont Jordan (for most of the season), Sammy Morris (for 4 weeks), Tedy Bruschi (last 4 weeks), Adaillius Thomas (last 9 weeks), Gary Guyton (3 weeks), Rodney Harrison, James Sanders, Pierre Woods (last 4 weeks).

He started a 40 year old Junior Seau at LB and picked up Colvin off the streets. Ty Warren and Jarvis Green missed time, Wilfork and Saymour played injured.

The only spots that remained healthy all year were Ellis Hobbs (CB), Jerod Mayo (ILB), Mike Vrabel (OLB), Wes Welker (WR), Jabar Gaffney (WR), Randy Moss (WR), Dan Koppen (C), Matt Light (LT), Logan Mankins (LG). Every other position suffered an injury at some point.

and in spite of all that and a superbowl hangover, they still went 11-5, and were arguably the best team in their division (split with Miami 1-1 and had a +101 PF/PA split).

Belichick earned the Coach of the Year vote and probably would have got more if the Patriots won the division and if at least half the press didn't hate him (He only got 32 last year despite a 16-0 regular season).

Ghost. said...
Jan 6, 2009, 6:08:00 PM  

And besides, I would find it very difficult to vote for a coach who went from 16-0 to 11-5, did not make the playoffs, and did not even win the division. Couple that with the turnarounds seen in Miami, Atlanta, and even Baltimore, and let's face it, all 3 of those coaches have a WAY better case than Bellicheat, er, Bellichick.

And let's not forget about the solid seasons orchestrated by Tom Coughlin in New York, Jeff Fisher doing a solid job in Tennessee, Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh, John Fox's turnaround in Carolina.

I'd have Bellichick under all of those. And if the Pats truly were the best team in the AFC East, they would have won the division and have gone 2-0 against Miami, not 1-1.

Justin F. said...
Jan 6, 2009, 6:33:00 PM  

Hey does anyone know who is announcing the January 15th game on tnt, nuggets vs. suns?

Anonymous said...
Jan 6, 2009, 6:40:00 PM  

Nobody's saying that Belicheck deserved it more than Smith (except Costas I guess). But you have to be pretty drunk on the hatorade to say he shouldn't have gotten more votes than he did.

Yet another dandy of an opinion from Mr. AA. He's on a roll with them recently, it seems.

Anonymous said...
Jan 6, 2009, 9:46:00 PM  

The ultimate goal for every team is a championship. Even if we drop the expectations to say that making the playoffs is a satisfying result--and before you pounce, no, simply winning a lot of games is NEVER a satisfying result--Belichick still failed. Why should anyone reward failure?

Anonymous said...
Jan 7, 2009, 6:22:00 AM  

How in the fuck do you give Belichick a vote when you have two rookie coaches with rookie qbs make the playoffs and a team that should have been winless make the playoffs the next year? Fuck Costas he thinks hes so smart like Larussa having the pitcher bat 8th.

Anonymous said...
Jan 7, 2009, 8:27:00 AM  

WORSHIP AT THE ALTAR OF THE BIGGEST ASSHOLE IN COACHING!

WORSHIP!!!!!

Anonymous said...
Jan 7, 2009, 9:09:00 AM  

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