Bill Polian addresses report that he blocked Bill Belichick from Hall of Fame

Bill Polian has addressed the report that he blocked Bill Belichick from making the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

News emerged this week that Belichick had not received the votes needed to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot. A report from ESPN stated that some voters had trepidation about Belichick’s involvement in the Spygate and Deflategate scandals, which may have led him to lose some votes. They specifically reported that Polian, a former Indianapolis Colts general manager, expressed that Belichick should have to wait a year as penance for the scandals.

Polian says that’s not true.

Polian, who served as an analyst for ESPN after his time with the Colts, spoke on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Wednesday to address the report. He says that he, in fact, voted for Belichick.

“I voted for Coach Belichick in the Hall of Fame selection meeting. The Pro Football Hall of Fame has confirmed that fact through the auditors of the selection process. Again, I’ll state that I never said that I believe that Coach Belichick should ‘wait a year’ for enshrinement. This has been confirmed by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, numerous selectors who were in the room, and my vote for Coach Belichick. As a Hall of Fame member and selector, I realize the import of what we do. I’ve always tried as a selector to make these difficult choices with the utmost objectivity,” Polian said. “I’ve said on SiriusXM Radio and numerous other media outlets that I believe Coach Belichick to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. My vote confirms that.”

So there you have it. Polian says he voted for Belichick. Did that come after he suggested others not vote for Belichick? That part is unanswered. But he says Belichick should have made it on his first chance.