The Dumbest Coaching Decision...Ever?

Bill Belichick may have just had the biggest brain fart in the history of coaching. I mean, ever. On any level, professional or otherwise. In fact, I'm removing the doubt: we just witnessed history.

Seriously, let's think about this for a second. I mean, really and truly, sit, and think about this clearly. You're up by 6 points. There's 2 minutes and 8 seconds left in the game. You're looking at a 4th and 2 on your own 28 yard line, not to mention you just got stuffed attempting to convert the same 2 yards on 3rd down. Lemme say it again: it's 4th and 2 on your own 28-yard line.

Is there really anything worth deliberating over? Do we really need to consider the fact that your offense, which was happily marching up and down the field all day long, is finally being manhandled by a now fired-up defense? That the opposing offense, after struggling to find its way for 58 minutes, has of late been moving the ball with a sense of purpose? Did I point out the two -- count 'em: 1, 2 -- two timeouts they took to make this decision?

Wasn't there anyone -- a player, an assistant, a cheerleader, the shoeshine boy, the gatorade-dispenser -- that had the mind and wherewithal to say "umm, yo coach, ummm...that's a really stupid idea."?

Everyone north of the Long Island Sound must be in gut-wrenching pain as we speak. Which, as a New Yorker, is quite a rosy image to mull over. (Did I mention the Yankees won the World Series? Oh, sorry, bad digression).

But seriously, has there ever been a more inexplicable decision made by a coach -- any coach, in, say, the history of sports? Ever? Perhaps I need a night's sleep -- or maybe a few days -- to think of a few examples. Or even one. At present, I'm coming up empty.

Someone help me here.