Running it Up or Just Being Aggressive?

There really is no equivalent of a manager or CEO “running up the score” in business. After all, you “keep score” in business with dollars, in the form of profit. In that sense, running up the score is just good business. Lately, however, Bill Belichick, the sometimes-vilified coach of the New England Patriots, has been accused of running up the score on his seemingly hapless opponents.

Belichick, for those unfamiliar with NFL football, was caught earlier this season tapping opposing teams’ signals in a manner in violation of NFL rules. The transgression cost the Patriots both a first round pick (if they make the playoffs, which is all but assured at this point) and $250,000, plus a personal fine of $500,000 for Belichick. Now, some football people are talking about Belichick running up the score in this season’s games and asserting that he is violating the “unwritten rules” of football.

Perhaps, but I would argue that unless the other team stops playing football, by literally leaving the field, a team should also continue to play, and play to the best of their ability. I think Belichick agrees and, given that many coaches were grumbling about the “illegitimacy” of the Patriots’ Super Bowl titles in the wake of “Spygate,” as the team’s signal-stealing controversy has been named, Bill might just want to show the other teams in the league that they simply don’t compare to his Pats.

Note that I’m not a Patriots fan, I simply happen to agree that there is nothing wrong with continuing to actually play football until time expires in the game, and playing to score or keep the other team from scoring. I mean, if running up the score is a real problem, why not institute a slaughter rule? Also, if it’s a problem, why don’t the teams getting crushed (see: Washington Redskins) STOP playing football to encourage the team rendering the destruction to do the same?

When a reporter asked Belichick why he decided to go for it on 4th down (twice), he responded by asking “What do you want us to do, kick a field goal?” You see, kicking a field goal in that situation could be interpreted as NOTHING BUT showing up the other team, so Bill had a point. In an era where we talk about professionalism, and place so much emphasis on it both in business settings and in professional sports, I wonder how playing hard and playing to win, for the entire game, can be interpreted as anything but professional.

Tags: bill belichick, new england patriots, nfl, professionalism

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