Getty Image / Cooper Neill
Throughout much of his career as an NFL head coach, it seemed as though Bill Belichick was regularly a step ahead of the competition.
It seems that has been the truth even when Belichick is making moves purely for the sake of pettiness.
Last night, Peyton Manning told a story that revealed just how clever Belichick can be when he wants to be petty. On the ManningCast during the Monday Night Football game between the Arizona Cardinals and New England Patriots, Manning talked about when he had played for Belichick in the Pro Bowl.
According to Manning, Belichick one selected Peter Boulware for the Pro Bowl because he hated Baltimore Ravens owner Art Modell and knew that Modell would have to pay Boulware a $1 million bonus if he made the Pro Bowl.
Peyton Manning says Bill Belichick hated Art Modell so much that he added @pboulware to the Pro Bowl roster just to force Modell to pay Boulware's $1 million Pro Bowl bonus. pic.twitter.com/4QjQvtH8LP
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 13, 2022
I played for Belichick one time in a Pro Bowl and they were telling stories about the times that he was the head coach of the Pro Bowl. One time, he picked Peter Boulware because he knew Art Modell would have to pay Boulware a $1 million bonus if Boulware made the Pro Bowl. Belichick hated Modell.
This was actually 1 of 4 Pro Bowl selections for Boulware as he appeared in the game in 1998, 1999, 2002, and 2003. Whichever of those seasons it was, Belichick likely wouldn’t have gotten too much pushback on his decision. Boulware had 8.5, 10, 7, and 8.5 sacks in those seasons respectively.
Belichick and the Patriots could actually be heading for a playoff matchup against the Ravens this season. Maybe his hatred of Art Modell will give him a little extra motivation to cost the Ravens a bit more money if they do meet.