Wait until next year to crown Belichick a genius 

by Tristan Mishell
Sports Reporter

Is Patriots Coach Bill Belichick a Genius?

No, not yet. 

Since holding the Colt’s offense to just three points and putting up 41 points against the Steeler’s defense, Belichick has now become the bandwagon party.  It is remarkable that a person’s social status could change so suddenly.

Looking back at his time spent with the Cleveland Browns, it is hard to prove he is a genius. 

In five years with the Browns, Belichick managed 36 wins, 44 losses. 

One could argue that it was his team, the players he was stuck with. 

But could a genius coach not find a way around this problem? 

Such a great coach should be able to put his wins over his losses. 

Maybe he was not as knowledgeable at the time. 

Maybe that five-year gap between the Cleveland Browns and the New England Patriots was enough for him to go to school.

Or it could just be the fact this guy landed the perfect job. 

He got a talented team and has great coordinators. 

A talented team can make any coach look exceptionally brilliant. 

Mike Shanahan looked great until John Elway and Terrel Davis retired. 

Mike Holmgren was looking good until he went to Seattle to become a standard guy, leaving talented Brett Favre behind. 

Winning Super Bowls isn’t enough proof of genius; as a good friend pointed out, Barry Switzer won it after he replaced Jimmy Johnson (who looked a genius until he failed with the Miami Dolphins) as coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

The idea Belichick is a genius really cannot be proven at the moment. 

Not until next year anyway, when offensive coordinator Charlie Weis will be coaching at Notre Dame and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel will more than likely be coach of Belichick’s old failure, the Cleveland Browns. 

If Belichick can hold onto these wins after that, then the term “genius” may be acceptable.