Green Bay Coach Mike McCarthy Voted #2 Coach of the Year by Associated Press

Packers coach Mike McCarthy finished 2nd to Bill Belicheat of the New England Patriots. Only if you've been hiding in a cave all football season will you then be unaware the Patriots organization admitted to and handed over tapes of them filming opponent's defensive coaches and their signal-calling - something like that. Stealing. Illegally. This all broke loose after their first game - Belicheat was fined $500,000, the Patriots $250,000 and they lost a 1st round draft pick next season.

Now, I'm in a gray area regarding separating this flagrant NFL violation from the 16-0 season the Patri-cheats are having, but I'm also having a difficult time awarding their coach "Coach of the Year" accolades after what happened with "Spygate". Belicheat didn't have to cheat. He's got a good team. I think it's the arrogance that he felt he was above the rules of the NFL that irritates me the most AND THAT is the reason I feel he shouldn't get the award. That arrogance points directly to HIS character and giving "Coach of the Year" honors with that hanging over their head - to me - is sending the wrong message. What's-her-name...Marion Jones, the track athlete who admitted to lying about steroid use. She wasn't allowed to keep her medals or her records. She was essentially wiped off the books. But not Belicheat. What if the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federation - governing body for track and field) told Marion she could keep her medals and records? What about the poor son-of-a-bitch who is 1/1-100th of a second behind Jones in whatever record she has - is that fair to that person? To have your name second to someone who illegally used steroids to enhance her performance? Bullshit.

2nd year Coach McCarthy took a team that was predicted to finish 7-9, 8-8, maybe 9-6, and finished 13-3 with a has-been, worn out, old QB in Brett Favre. And he did it with less talent and he didn't violate any rules set forth by the NFL.