FOXBORO, MA - Family sources reported today that New England Patroits head coach Bill Belichick has been accused of running up the score in a game of Scrabble against his 92 year-old grandfather last week, and of possibly cheating in order to win.
Belichick had been engaging his grandfather Earl in an ongoing series of Scrabble games on Tuesday mornings at the White Oak Senior Living Center in Walpole where the elder Belichick lives. However, after losing for three straight weeks, Bill Belichick became obsessed with winning, said sources close to the situation.
"Well, you know that Billy isn't used to losing, so when his grandpa went on a little hot streak, he took it pretty hard," said the source. "He was on the phone all week with his friend Matt, who came to visit with Billy this week even though he'd never been here before."
The "Matt" is believed to be Matt Estrella, the Patriots' video assistant who was implicated in the TapeGate controversy earlier in the year. The source said that when Belichick and his grandfather sat down to play, Estrella set down a video camera and then left the room.
"He said the video camera was 'for Bill's scrapbook', but I don't believe it," said the source. "Every once in a while, I thought I would get a glimpse of Matt outside, looking at a small TV and talking into a phone. And I don't know why Bill insisted on wearing his headphones during the game."
Belichick later claimed that he wore his headphones, which can be used to communicate with assistants, because "his ears were cold and he forgot his earmuffs."
"I mean you tell me: every time Earl would get close, Bill would suddenly have to go to the bathroom or get a soda," said the source. "When he'd come back, BOOM, seven-letter word. I mean, he goes from three turns of "cat", "bone" and "mine" to suddenly playing "santoor"? Come on."
Even worse, according to the source, was Belichick's attitude after the game was out of reach.
"He's up by 120 points at the end of the game, and his grandfather played 'layz'. Now, it was obvious that he meant to put down 'lazy' but just got confused - his grandpa is starting to lose it a little bit, and the cataracts are starting to act up. But when he realized what he did and tried to change it, Bill threw a napkin on the ground to challenge it. He made his grandpa take the word off and lose his turn. I guess it's legal, but it's not a very cool thing to do if you ask me."
When asked about the Scrabble game, Belichick grunted for a couple of seconds and then flipped off the reporter.
Bill Belichick (right) and his grandfather Earl play a "friendly" game of Scrabble
