In the end, it was perfection that mattered most to the majority of the voters, voting on the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year. Bill Belichick led his New England Patriots to a perfect 16-0 record and for the second time in four years, received the NFL Coach of the Year award.
Belichick received 29 of the 50 votes cast, 14 more votes than the 15 that Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy (pictured) received.
Belichick won in spite of his Patriots being caught illegally videotaping the sideline of the New York Jets during the regular season opener in an apparent attempt to steal hand signals from the other coaches. The NFL slapped Belichick with a $500,000 fine, and the Patriots got hit for another $250,000, and the loss of their first round draft pick in the upcoming April draft.
Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips was a distant third, 13 votes behind McCarthy.
McCarthy doesn't leave empty handed though. The NFL Alumni Association voted McCarthy as their NFL Coach of the Year.
