New England Patriots

Morning sports update: Former Dolphins lineman questions Bill Belichick’s ‘moral character’ in comparison to Don Shula

"His moral character leaves me kind of questioning."

Bill Belichick wearing a division champions hat during a Patriots postgame press conference after beating the Bills. Elise Amendola/AP Photo

By Hayden Bird

3 minutes to read

The Celtics are at home today against the Cavaliers at 4 p.m. while the Bruins are in Buffalo against the Sabres at 7 p.m.

The Patriots play on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the regular season finale with a chance to clinch a first-round playoff bye.

And in world news, Liverpool thrashed Leicester City on Boxing Day 4-0 to increase the team’s lead in the Premier League.

Dolphins’ great Manny Fernandez doesn’t like comparing Bill Belichick and Don Shula: Ahead of Sunday’s Patriots-Dolphins game, Hal Habib of the Palm Beach Post wrote a column discussing the possibility of Bill Belichick eclipsing Don Shula on the all-time wins list.

Advertisement:

While Habib credits Belichick’s success, he questions the Patriots’ coach’s integrity.

“There’s a reason that what could have been a stupid mistake by a Patriots film crew this season has turned into Spygate 2.0,” wrote Habib. “It’s that the Patriots have done nothing to deserve any benefit of doubt thanks to years of malfeasance and chicanery under Belichick’s watch.”

Manny Fernandez, who played defensive tackle for Shula’s two Super Bowl-winning teams in Miami, had even stronger words about Belichick’s chase of Shula’s win record.

“You can’t stop it,” Fernandez told Habib. “I just think it’s a shame that a guy who constantly gets caught cheating is even there because — I don’t know — his moral character leaves me kind of questioning.”

Advertisement:

Shula, now 90, has questioned Belichick and the Patriots before. In 2007, as the Patriots pursued a perfect season, Shula said the team should have an asterisk placed next to their record. And in 2015, he called Belichick “Beli-cheat” during an interview with the Sun Sentinel.

Currently, Belichick has 304 career wins as an NFL head coach. Shula retired with 347 career wins, a record Belichick could exceed in the coming years if he remains on his current trajectory.

On Sunday, Belichick will pursue win No. 305 against the Dolphins at 1 p.m.

Trivia: In the 2019 season, three Patriots players have at least five interceptions. The last time the team had multiple players recording five interceptions in a season was 2009. Which two players achieved the feat that season?

(Answer at the bottom)

Hint: One player was drafted by the Patriots in the first round, while the other played every game for the 0-16 Lions in 2008.

More from Boston.com:

Tom Brady practicing escaping the pass rush with his speed

:

The Patriots lent the team jet to Navy Football: The 23rd-ranked Midshipmen face Kansas State in the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 31.

A fantastic goal from Nils Höglander in the World Juniors Championship:

On this day: In 2003, the Patriots defeated the Bills 31-0 in the regular season finale. The shutout was poetic for New England, given that it perfectly mirrored a disastrous 31-0 loss to Buffalo in the opening game of the season.

Advertisement:

https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/1075743873681354752

Daily highlight: Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew scored an incredible game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over West Ham during the English Premier League’s Boxing Day slate of games on Thursday.

Also, Rogelio Funes Mori smashed in a bicycle kick to to win it for Monterey:

Trivia answer: Brandon Meriweather and Leigh Bodden

To comment, please create a screen name in your profile

Conversation

This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com