Pats coach Bill Belichick, holding court at a news conference wearing a sweatshirt with the sleeves cut off at the elbows. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

ESPN Page 2 columnist Gregg Easterbrook recently wrote that the upcoming Colts-Patriots game would be a battle of good (the Colts) versus evil (the Pats).

Although Easterbrook was just extrapolating on the common perception that the Colts are led by a friendly, God-fearing head coach, while the Patriots are headed by a proven cheater who stalks the sidelines wearing a sour expression, Pats fans responded with the fury of women scorned.

So intense was the reaction that Easterbrook felt obligated to apologize -- which says more about the intellect of Pats fans than anything else. Because the Pats really are sort of evil. I'm not saying they're biblically wicked, but their team behavior qualifies as de facto evil in terms of game-playing. Let's break it down, sin by deadly sin.

Lust. So out of control is Pats coach Bill Belichick's desire for an advantage that he resorted to videotaping opposing teams' signals -- even though the advantage gained by doing so is reportedly negligible. This kind of high-risk/low-reward behavior to get what one wants stinks of lust.

Gluttony. The Pats have repeatedly stuffed themselves on points, far after those points were necessary to secure victory.

Greed. The Pats' repeated efforts to score unnecessary points is a byproduct of greed -- greed for records, attention and notoriety.

Sloth. While nearly every other NFL coach grooms himself in a manner befitting a professional, Belichick regularly dresses for game day as if he should be lying on his sofa watching football rather than coaching it.

Wrath. A number of writers -- even diehard Pat fans -- have said that the Pats are "sending a message" by running up scores. This kind of vengeful attitude is the very definition of wrath.

Envy. Before this season, the Pats were a scrappy, disciplined team that won with mostly anonymous players. But after the Colts beat them last year, they revealed their envy by acquiring a star-powered receiving corps that mirrors that of the Colts.

Pride. Dante defined pride as "love of self perverted to hatred and contempt for one's neighbor." I defy you to look back on the way the Patriots have treated opponents -- their NFL colleagues -- and conclude they are not a prideful team.

Don't get me wrong; the Colts aren't saints. Peyton Manning has been on an ugly TV endorsement rampage since 2002, Coach Tony Dungy openly supports an organization hostile to gay marriage, and team president Bill Polian comes off as humorless and unfriendly in TV and radio appearances. We are flawed, but our hearts are in the right place. I wish I could say the same about the Patriots. But sometimes, a team just needs the hell beaten out of it.

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Since the end of www.intakeweekly.com also meant the end of an online home for my weekly column, Circular Logic (which appears in the print version of INtake), I will be posting it here at Indy.com each week. Offended, bored and irritated parties can post their grievances in the comment box.