Article:Belichick Wins his Second Coach of the Year Award

Earlier today, Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots head coach, was announced 2007's NFL AP Coach of the Year winner. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we ALL saw it coming. Belichick and the Pats had a fantastic season, becoming just the second team in NFL history to finish the regular season with a perfect record (16-0). Twenty-nine of the fifty voters (a nation-wide panel of media members who cover the NFL) voted for Belichick. Bill has done a great job at leading this team to 16 wins this season, but I really think that there were a few other coaches that didn't have as many great players like New England that should deserve more credit. I am not saying they deserved Coach of the year honors more than Belichick, I just think we should recognize the other great coaches, too.

AP Coach of the Year

1. Bill Belichick, New England (29 votes)

2. Mike McCarthy, Breen Bay (15 votes)

3. Wade Phillips, Dallas (2 votes)

4. Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville (2 votes)

5. Tony Dungy, Indianapolis (1 vote)

6. Jon Gruden, Tampa Bay (1 vote)

I am shocked that Washington Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs didn't get a single vote. I think Gibbs should have gotten more votes than McCarthy. Gibbs kept the Redskins together through rough times in '07, including when they lost safety Sean Taylor a day after he was shot in his own house in Florida. Since then Gibbs, and the 'Skins lost just one game (17-16 loss to Buffalo). Washington is on a four game win streak, and after their 27-6 win over division rival Dallas (13-3), Washington clinched the sixth seed in NFC Playoffs, and has a good chance of upsetting the number 3 seeded Seattle Seahawks in Seattle.

I think it's pretty amazing that they have been able to succeed the last few weeks, especially Dallas, even though they were resting their starters that game. Washington's defense was beat up, and I really didn't think they would give up just 13.25 points a game in their last 4 games. I haven't even mentioned that three of their 7 games were against New England (16-0), Green Bay (13-3), and Dallas (13-3). Gibbs made just one HUGE mistake during the season, which cost them a win. The mistake came when Gibbs called two straight timeouts to try to "ice" the kicker against Buffalo, which gave them a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty, Buffalo's kicker then had an easy FG which gave them the 17-16 win.

Call me crazy, but I think Joe Gibbs should at least come in second place, ahead of Mike McCarthy (sorry, Mike). But, congrats to Bill, who won his second Coach of Year award in four years.