Forget Odell Beckham Jr. -- Bill Belichick might have the stickiest hands in the NFL.
A moment during which the New England Patriots lightning-rod coach got very up close and personal with a female official during a game against the Eagles on Sunday raised eyebrows around the Internet.
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Here's the moment between Belichick and rookie referee line judge Sarah Thomas, as documented by Deadspin.
What? pic.twitter.com/PNAs6aTNQH— Deadspin (@Deadspin) December 6, 2015
Thomas is the first full-time female game official in NFL history. This has been a difficult season, however, for her crew, which is led by referee Pete Morelli. Following what was unanimously seen as a disastrous officiating performance during last week's game between the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals, Thomas and Morelli's officiating crew was reassigned from the NFL's primetime Sunday night game to instead work the Patriots versus Eagles game.
Here's a Vine of the moment between Belichick and Thomas, in which Belichick appears to be arguing a call on the field.
The video doesn't look quiiiite as strange as the screen-grab, but it's an undeniably unusual exchange between coach and ref -- and has another wrinkle given Thomas' trailblazing status.
Almost immediately, the clip and image caused a ripple online. Somewhat like Belichick's coaching strategies, the moment proved versatile, allowing Internet pontificators to strike from a range of angles.
Does the image prove Belichick's Patriots are no-good cheaters who get preferential treatment from the league? If you want! Or is Belichick actually mansplaining here, and does the image underscore sexism and patriarchy both in the NFL and beyond? Definitely, maybe!
Then again, perhaps this is just a funny, meme-ready image of noted oddball -- run with that angle if you like. But this could also be much ado about absolutely nothing at all in the Internet echo chamber.
One thing that's certain, however: It's just the latest bizarre instance of Belichick being Belichick.