Now That John Harbaugh Put the Patriots in the AFC's 1-Seed, That 'Coach of the Year' Talk is Even Funnier
The cause. And the effect:
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Before we begin this PowerPoint, let me call your attention to the first slide: "THE WEEK IS NOT OVER." OK, so we're clear on that? We all understand that I understand that, while it is factually accurate to say the Patriots are the 1-seed in the AFC at the moment and would earn the playoff bye if the season were to end today, the season will not end today. Or if it does, it will because of a comet impact or China deciding today is the perfect day for a first strike or that supervolcano under Yellowstone finally erupting. Any of which sounds like a bad trade off. A Pyrrhic victory to be sure, even if I do get to die saying the Dynasty didn't end when Tom Brady left.
As you no doubt know, if the Pats win in Buffalo tonight, they go into their bye with some space between them and the rest of the conference for the top spot. Lose, and they drop back to fifth, with Buffalo back in first place in the division and New England in the top Wild Card spot. So let's proceed with that in mind.
Still, John Harbaugh gifted us the (for now) No. 1 seed. And it's only right that we acknowledge his generosity in this season of giving. There's been a lot of bad blood between New England and Baltimore over the years. Without question, the Ravens have been the closest thing the Pats have had to a rival over the last two decades. And Harbaugh in particular has been the coach that has given Bill Belichick more tough challenges than anyone else. He's also been Belichick's nastiest, harshest critic. He accused the Patriots of manipulating the scoreboard when Billy Cundiff went sprinting out on the field to shank a game-tying field goal in the 2011 championship game. He took an Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty in the 2014 Divisional playoff because he didn't understand the Pats' Ineligible Receiver formations. Then his team conspired with the Colts to create the Deflategate debacle. He then not only got that formation banned, a few seasons later he got the league to make leaping over the center illegal after Shea McClellin blocked a field goal on him in a Patriots win.
So yeah, if there's a Dick Nixon-like Enemies List of NFL head coaches, Harbaugh's name is right at the top. Which is what makes his brain shart yesterday so satisfying. And the only thing more LOL-worthy than his decision to go for the win when even a tie would've kept his team in the top spot of an insane AFC playoff hunt, has been reading the people who think he deserves Coach of the Year:
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I don't know if these people are still saying it after yesterday. After Pittsburgh tried as hard as they could to give Harbaugh the win but he just refused to take it. But he's certainly got my vote today. I feel like it's the least we can do after he was so giving.
Of course a case can be made for Belichick. Sitting in the 1-spot with a rookie quarterback, a roster that's been revamped at all three levels on both sides of the ball. Coaching the hottest team in the league over the last month and a half. Coming out of nowhere, from a 21% chance to even make the postseason six weeks ago to playing for the playoff bye as we roll into December. But an award like this is wasted on him. If Coach of the Year actually meant something, he'd have gotten it every year for the last 20. Besides, he wouldn't know what to do with the thing if he got it. It would end up in the back of a warehouse some place like the Lost Ark. Giving COTY to him would be like giving the Rolling Stones a Teen Choice Award. Not worth the calories they'd have to burn to even acknowledge it, never mind the idea they'd show up and give an acceptance speech.
No, give the award to Harbaugh. And if the Pats end up with the 1-seed as they hop on AirKraft One for the flight home, I might buy a trophy and personally drive to Baltimore to give it to him. MY COTY: