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Don Shula tweaks the Patriots: We didn’t deflate any balls

Former Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula presents the inaugural Don Shula NFL Coach of the Year award in Dallas

Former Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula (L) presents the inaugural Don Shula NFL Coach of the Year award to Ray Seals of Madison High School of Houston, Texas at a news conference in Dallas, Texas, February 4, 2011. The award is given to youth and amateur level coaches. The Super Bowl XLV NFL football game will be played in nearby Arlington, Texas on February 6. REUTERS/Pierre DuCharme (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

REUTERS

Hall of Fame coach Don Shula has never hidden his contempt for Patriots coach Bill Belichick. So when Shula appeared today at a 50th anniversary celebration of the Dolphins franchise, it was no surprise that he took a shot at the Patriots.

Shula referenced Deflategate in his comments, contrasting the way the Dolphins won with class with the way Beli-cheat, as Shula calls him, wins with something less than class.

“Always done with a lot of class. A lot of dignity. Always done the right way. We didn’t deflate any balls,” Shula said, via Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.

The 85-year-old Shula has been retired for two decades, but he’s still fiercely protective of the legacy of his teams, and ornery about the teams who don’t -- in Shula’s opinion -- play the game the right way. This wasn’t the first time we’ve heard Shula rip the Patriots, and it likely won’t be the last.