We understand why you did it. Now never do it again

Patriots' coach Bill Belichick almost unintelligible while talking at a post-game press conference about his decision to give the Jets the ball at the start of overtime. (Courtesy image)

Tom Brady, the Patriots' Hall of Fame quarterback, had just led a fourth-quarter comeback and had the offensive momentum clearly in the Patriots' corner.

Then after the Patriots win the toss, Special Teams Captain Mathew Slater tells the referee the Patriots want the Jets to have the ball.

(Was that a seismic event or a collective gasp across Patriots' nation?)

At first I figured "We wuz robbed" by a jihadist umpire bent on getting back at Brady for laughing "This isn't ISIS" when asked about the import of deflategate earlier this year.

But no, we find out today. Slater was doing the coach's bidding. Pigskin guru Bill Belichick didn't want the Patriots to receive the ball. Belichick had the Jets (imagine Snidely Whiplash stroking his mustache; "yunk, yunk ya") right where he wanted them.

"We don't question coach, he wants what's best for the team," Brady said after the game.

Slater also said he politely questioned the coach if what he thought he heard him say was what he really meant to say.

And it was.

Belichick, probably knowing the referee's appropriate incredulity, also personally told him of the call he intended to make.

Both Brady and Slater exhibited the piece of dung in their throat when asked about the coach's call, though, to their credit, both were adamant that Belichick knows best what's best for his team.

I can't see it no matter what. Even if the Pats' offense had been tossed around like a dish towel the whole game - which it was to a degree - we still want the best quarterback of this century to have one last crack at it.

But to add to that, the same squad had just scored a game-saving touchdown drive that included a fourth-down conversion and clutch catches by all-world tight end Rob Gronkowski and a passing touchdown to James White.

Then with the Jets back on their heels, you give them the ball to start overtime?

Coach, we've been a big fan of yours since Day 1, but not this time.

Still, I'm sure you'll admit as I do. That we should all learn from our mistakes.

Consider if there were sudden death in hockey. Would you opt to let your opponent take a one-on-one chance on your goalie first?

Consider if there were sudden death in baseball. Would you opt to let the other batters swing first, because you have the best pitcher?

The answer is no, no, no.

Finally, coach, I understand why you did it. You didn't want to go three and out and have them kick a field goal for the win. We get it. Yeah, we're still friends.

We understand why you did it. Now never do it again.

If the same scenario unfolds in a playoff game, give the ball to Brady. Period.