I'm not going to spend too much time on this one, because of all the absurd polls, surveys, and ballots out there intended to generate conversation and stir the pot, this one has to be the most ridiculous. But I'd be remiss if I didn't at least say something, so here we go.
According to a recent Sporting News survey, Bill Belichick is the 2nd most overrated coach in the National Football League, finishing behind only Rex Ryan in the contest for who gets the most undeserved credit. Ryan was the runaway winner with 35 votes, while Belichick received 16. Approximately four players from 27 teams across the league were asked a series of questions, and the numbers speak for themselves.
Or do they?
Let's take a closer look at this little survey and do some quick math. This survey consisted of 103 players from 27 teams across the league (the other five teams must have been busy or something). And the last time I checked, each NFL team had 53 players, and unless my calculator is screwing with me, 53 multiplied by 32 means that there are 1,696 players in the National Football League, not counting practice squads. I'm thus able to assume that this poll represents the opinions of 103 of the 1,696 active players at the moment, which comes out to a whopping 6% of the league. And of that 6% actually involved in this question, 16 - or 15% of 103 - thought that Bill Belichick, with his three rings, five Super Bowl Appearances, six AFCC appearances, highest winning percentage, and records out the wazoo, is the most overrated. Now math was never my strong suit, but if this poll is comprised of 6% of the league, and only 15% of that 6% are idiots voted for Belichick, that leads me to conclude that a grand total of .009% of the NFL is of the opinion that Bill Belichick is overrated.
I can live with those numbers.
And just so nobody thinks that I'm writing this article with my homer glasses on (which I obviously am. But don't tell anyone), I think that it's almost as absurd that Rex Ryan was voted most overrated. Yes, he may be the most overhyped and receive the most undeserved attention, but to view him as overrated seems very short-sighted to me. The fact that the Jets, who have zero offense and are without their best defensive playmaker, aren't sitting at 0-8 right now is a testament to the job he has done working with what he has and putting what little talent he has available to him in the best possible position. I don't particularly like Rex Ryan, but as a football coach, you could do much, much worse.
You want to talk overrated? Give me Norv Turner and Jason Garrett 100 times out of 100.
And even more strangely, the very same people who believe that Belichick isn't worthy of the acclaim he gets expressed that there is no other team they would rather play for than the Patriots. So while "the organization does a good job of bringing guys in and plugging them in different places and getting it done," apparently the man who masterminds all this is one of the most overrated coaches in the league. Got it.
I get that it's more fun to argue than it is to agree, but you can at least pretend to try, Sporting News. But I guess you got me to go on this little rant, so mission accomplished.