[prohornblower]

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I think that if a player actually did make a dirty hit on Brady that knocked him out for the rest of the season and possibly even his career, the backlash against him and his team would swamp the current antipathy directed toward the Pats right now - especially if it came out that a coach directly ordered for the hit. Run up the score or not, there is no place in sports for dirty hits that could result in serious injury. None, whatsoever. Anyone who says a serious hit designed to inflict debilitating injury on Brady or anyone else on the team is justified totally lacks perspective on the situation. This sort of unsportsmanlike conduct simply dwarfs anything the Pats are doing on or off the field.


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Not that I disagree, but you are asking 6'2" 250 pound linebackers to be "reasonable" on national television while they're being embarassed 42-0. Adults this large, playing an activity in which controlled strength is to be harnessed, might "snap" now and then and take out Brady's knee.

Belechick should be expected to maintain rationality while being calm, cool, and collected on the sideline of a game in which his team is up 42-0. Belechick should realize this, if he were smart, and proactively try to keep his team from running up the score. (Whether they are trying to or not).

He should look out for the physical interest of his players a little more than he's done to-date.

Stop with the fake-spike TD passes. If you are up by 4 TD's in the 4th, put Cassell in and run the ball more. Get backup guys some work and keep your superstars off the field. Run the clock out. Huddle up after each run and just waste time. It's not that complicated, really.

But to determine that a 250 pound beast flipping out and ending Brady's career would be "unreasonable" of him, well, I think that is too much to expect at this point.

I'm not saying it's right.