The Saints’ options would be twofold: They could either hire Parcells in blatant violation of the Rooney Rule, as the Lions did with Steve Mariucci in 2003, and therefore open themselves up to further league discipline right after they faced the toughest league discipline in NFL history over their bounty scandal. Or they could start looking for a minority candidate who’s willing to go through the motions of a sham interview simply to help the Saints and the league keep up the appearance that every coaching vacancy includes a minority candidate.

Former NFL head coach Herm Edwards says that either way, the situation is a mess.

“It makes it a little bit of a scam now,”