Parcells: I might return to do friend Payton a favor
 

Parcells: I might return to do friend Payton a favor


PALM BEACH, Fla. -- If Bill Parcells decides to come out of retirement for a third time to coach the Saints this season, it will be for one reason only.
"If this guy says to me, 'Bill, I need you to do this,' " Parcells said in an interview with Newsday Wednesday afternoon. "That's what friends are supposed to be for."
"This guy" refers to Saints coach Sean Payton, who is very close to Parcells and is considering whether to ask the former Giants, Patriots, Jets and Cowboys coach to fill in for him during his suspension for the 2012 season. Payton was suspended for not putting a stop to the Saints' prohibited bounty program, which the NFL said was used extensively from 2009-11 as an enticement to knock opposing players out of games.
Parcells, 70, said he has turned down two head coaching opportunities since retiring from the Cowboys after the 2006 season, but this one is different.
"The thing with this one, it's a little more personal to me, because this is one of my guys," Parcells said.
Parcells met with Payton and Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, who has been suspended for the first eight games next season, on Tuesday near Parcells' home in Jupiter, Fla. Parcells said the Saints' head coaching job was not discussed specifically, and that he believed Payton wanted him to get to know Loomis. The two had not previously met.
"We literally did not talk about that job at all [Tuesday]," Parcells said. "The only thing he told me is, 'You're going to like this situation . I know a few of their players, just a couple. I think Sean wanted me to meet Mickey Loomis. I didn't know him very well."
Asked if the two got along, Parcells said, "It's hard not to get along playing golf. There wasn't too much contentiousness out there."
Parcells said he doesn't expect an immediate resolution of the situation, citing a potential appeal that would be filed by Payton. He has until Monday to file the appeal, but it might be filed sooner. If the Saints do want to hire Parcells for the 2012 season, they would first have to conduct an interview with a minority coaching candidate to fulfill the Rooney Rule requirement. The rule was put in place several years ago to promote diversity hiring.
"I think there are a few more things to be settled before they would be ready to move on from where they are," Parcells said. "I don't know whether they're going to appeal or not. [If they did], that would take a little time. I don't know exactly how long."
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said this week that if Payton did appeal, it would be an expedited process. Goodell said, however, that Payton would be allowed to continue working for the Saints until the appeal is heard. No decision on a coaching hire would therefore be made until Payton hears if the suspension is upheld.
Parcells said he was aware that returning to the sidelines would push back his eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was a finalist this year, but was not selected. Hall of Fame rules require a coach to be out of the game for at least five seasons before being eligible; returning, even on an interim basis, would re-start the clock for Parcells.
Parcells said he wasn't worried about his Hall of Fame status.
"That's not even a factor right now," he said. "I can't live my life worrying about something that might never happen. I have to be honest with myself. I don't know if that's going to happen or not. Why would you live your life worrying about something that's not going to happen? Don't assume that I don't think that's important to me, because it is. But I'm not making any personal decision based on that."
For now, there is no offer.
"I would have to know a lot more than I know now," Parcells said. "They said they'd be in touch."

That's just enough to strike fear in the rest of the NFL

Clearly Parcells has never played golf with the group of guys I play with. LMAO

Done.

It sure feels like it.

Payton - "If I make this birdie putt then you're coaching Bill!"

Yeah I can't see how THE BIG TUNA will not be coaching the Saints now.

Sounds like its a done deal just a matter of crossing the t's and dotting the i's.

Love it.

"That's what friends are supposed to be for."

See what it's like to have friends Goodell??

I am concerned that it will be so blatantly obvious that the Saints are going to hire Parcells no matter what, that the 'minority' candidate may file a grievance against the Saints.

Other than getting an all-expense paid trip to New Orleans for a few days, why bother going to a job interview that you know you aren't going to get?

When there is an announcement that a minority coach candidate is in New Orleans for an interview, that will be all the confirmation we need that Parcells is going to coach the Saints!

One wonders why we're being held to the Rooney rule anyway. Payton is under contract and this is an interim position.

Exactly. I can't see the rule applying here. It's an interim position, I don't ever remember any other team having to interview minority candidates for temporary positions??

I can't believe this is even happening! The Big Tuna in Nola to coach for a year??? I tell you one thing, I doubt we see many threads on the forum this year about why The Saints aren't getting any media coverage, that's for sure!!
:bng:

its kinda like Goodell used his power to defeat Grendel(SP)...now he gotta deal with Grendel's mother(BP)...lol

This is perfect :) We get a HOF coach to maybe tighten up the team even more. Parcels is ruthless and a players coach. He will tighten some bolts and screws to make it even a better team,and maybe like it here to help out more next season. Payton gets some time to reflect and make new plays.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Tuna was also doing it to slap Baddel in the face for picking on one of his guys.
If we win the Super Bowl with the tuna its a slap in the face of the NFL.
If we beat the falcon 2x again, we can say, you can't even beat us without payton.
This is like getting Stephen Hawking to sub for your physics class,lol

Screw you Roger! how nice would it be if we somehow pull this off.

Now that it is a BIG POSSIBILITY that Bill could be coaching the saints i truly think Goodell gonna amend his ruling to 8 games or less to persuade Bill from accepting head coach.

Im sure he will. Ive thought of that. He's so dumb he doesn't understand that puts parcels and payton on the same team for the playoffs. Not a bright move, not sure there has been a better fit. Im sure payton would sub as OC for Bill without ego.

Maybe they will just use the consultant thing. For me If I was payton I would not appeal. Screw Goodell and bring in the Big tuna make a run and take it all this year. Our team is going to come out pissed for the way Goodell handeled this and his obvious discrimination againts the Saints. Bounty is a theme he created and i hope it comes back to haunt Him. The players association should do their own investigation and refute him on what other teams were doing on their programs and make it public. Maybe popular opinion would shift and we can be done with this guy. I will buy nothing that has the NFL logo on it except something from the Saints in protest.

the only real reason i would like this is because it would be like payton is giving the bird to goodell. i dont really care either way and i think carmichael or whoever can do a good job but this is a slight F you to goodell so im all for it

Sean Payton should absolutely appeal

Superbowl !!!!!!!

ready to be in the news every day with parcells, he'll bring in a whole new kind of tourist dollar. its like payton and loomis are playing goodell. lol

But he was quoted on NFL Net saying no. Does he or doesn't he?
I hate the what ifs, who then, Parcells saying no, now maybe....

It is an emotional thing for us fans. Emotional rollercoaster.

I have seen quotes of Parcells saying, "if this friend asks, I would do it!

It would be such a middle finger to Goodell lol. The Saints aren't going away people. Try as you might NFL, we're a super power to be dealt with. Suspend our head coach?? OK... we'll bring in one of the greatest coaches of all time to come in and keep the train on the tracks! Hey NFL, u mad?!?

http://fuuu.us/86.png

Problem, Goodell?

Exactly, and at the last possible moment, because that would give him some additional time to serve as the HC since he'll be able to do that until a verdict on his appeal is given.


But, bringing in Parcells would be a nice addition if/when Payton goes on his year long vacation away from the Saints. I've always liked Parcells and the attitude he brings to the game - I think a lot of that rubbed off on SP and has affected the way he conducts himself as a HC.

BTW, the only comments from Parcells I've come across that were denying anything were related to the fact that the Saints hadn't offered him anything official.

And he did mention that the HOF 5-year voting rule wouldn't play any role in the decision process if he was offered some type of role by the Saints, because he said there's no sense in doing that since it might not ever happen anyway, so what would be the point in living one's life according something that's as uncertain as it is for him getting into the HOF.