Parcells retires!

by JasonB on Jan 22, 2007 2:37 PM EST in News Comment 28 comments

In what I see as a pretty shocking move, Bill Parcells has retired and left the Cowboys without a coach fairly late in the hiring season. Other than Ron Rivera with the Bears, many of the high profile names that have been thrown around this offseason have been snapped up.

Grizz over at Blogging the Boys talked about why it was such a surprise.

The Bill Parcells Era has ended in Big D. The conventional wisdom over the last few days was that he would return. After spending a couple of weeks in the office working after the season, with reports of him going to the Senior Bowl, and then other reports of him contacting potential assistant coaches led most to believe that the Tuna had one more run in him. But it's not to be as Parcells exits the stage and opens up a whole slew of questions for the Dallas Cowboys. Things are going to get spicy at Valley Ranch.

My thought is that Parcells really left the Cowboys in the lurch by leaving this late. They are now one of only two teams, the other being the Raiders which is a job that even college assistants are turning down, without a head coach.

This is obviously huge news in the NFC East so I figured it was worth some discussion here. If you want full coverage check out BTB.

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Good news for Eagles fans

I respect Parcells and if he's out of the game I'm sorry to see him go, but I'm not a bit sorry that a great coach is leaving our division rivals in the lurch. Not to mention, this puts Tony Romo's situation up in the air again. If Parcells had stayed put then Romo would have been a lock to be the starting QB for the Cowboys next year; now, it's not necessarily so. That's bound to affect Romo's preparation and the Cowboys receivers' preparation for next season.

If I had to pick one rival team in the NFC East to lose their head coach for next season, for the benefit of the Eagles, it would have to be Parcells. In New York, Coughlin is not getting it done; in Washington, ditto for Gibbs; Parcells in Dallas has been the biggest threat to the Eagles' continued domination of the division.

Bottom line, Parcells' resignation gives us a little something to cheer for.

P.S. It's not so long ago that Rivera was an assistant with the Eagles. How would that hire play in Dallas, I wonder.

by Dire Radiant on Jan 22, 2007 3:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

They'd love Rivera

why not? He's a great coach... However, Dallas has drafted and signed guys to play a 3-4 system. That's not Rivera's thing. He's a 4-3 guy. So he may not be the right fit there.

Bleeding Green Nation Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Jan 22, 2007 3:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Point

The 3-4 has been a big area of concern for Dallas this year.

Props to Reid for managing to stay productive even though he loses good assistant coaches from time to time. IIRC they paid Jim Johnson a head coach's salary to convince him to stick around just a couple of seasons ago - was it after the 2004 campaign?

by Dire Radiant on Jan 22, 2007 3:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

A big difference there

Is that Jim Johnson is rather old guy. Typically when you hire a coach you hope that the guy will guide your franchise for the next 10 years. That makes JJ a less than desirable candidate.

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by JasonB on Jan 22, 2007 3:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Take back

I'd like to take back my comment that Eagles assistant coaches can just pick up and leave.

The New York Giants have named Philadelphia Eagles linebackers coach Steve Spagnuolo to be their defensive coordinator.

Spagnuolo has been with the Eagles for all of Andy Reid's tenure. Too bad I can't wish him success as a DC, at least not for the Giants.

by Dire Radiant on Jan 23, 2007 9:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder

If Dallas will try to leech someone off of Belichick's staff in NE, considering that they play a similar style. Jerral Jones has the cashe to pay them.

Catch some Strange World Sports. It's an offer you can't refuse!

by The Don of DC on Jan 22, 2007 3:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Who's left on that staff?

The Pats have been picked clean the last few years. At this point, a season ticket holder that sits in the lower level at a Pats game has a chance at getting a head coaching job.

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by JasonB on Jan 22, 2007 4:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Somebody run and tell Dan Snyder

He'll sign them up to help coach the Redskins.

by Dire Radiant on Jan 22, 2007 4:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hmmm...

Who's left? How about Bill Cowher? He claims he's not burned out and wants to spend time with his family. That might last a couple of months. The Cowboys are a young 3-4 defensive team with a strong upside. Maybe they'll try to get him. That would suck for Eagles fans...

"Let us retract the foreskin of misconception, and apply the wirebrush of enlightenment." - Geoff M.

by Bo Diddle on Jan 22, 2007 4:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Cowher's still under contract

to Pittsburgh - isn't he? On the bad hand, Jerry Jones could probably afford to buy him out of that. And on second thought strike "probably."

by Dire Radiant on Jan 22, 2007 4:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You can't buy him out of that

Jones would have to pony up a first round pick\ for Cowher as compensation.

Bleeding Green Nation Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Jan 22, 2007 8:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That is an interesting possibility

I wonder how he and T.O. would get along.

by Blackacre on Jan 22, 2007 4:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

TO would be gone

before the ink is dry on Cowher's contract.

Bleeding Green Nation Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Jan 22, 2007 8:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The NFC East is looking good for the Eagles

It's hard to make a case for any other team winning the NFC East right now. The Cowboys get a new coach and still have T.O.'s nonsense to deal with, the Redskins defense is suspect and the Giants need a faster RB than Jacobs and a better secondary.

by Blackacre on Jan 22, 2007 4:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

and

a better QB, and a better Head coach...

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by JasonB on Jan 22, 2007 8:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The only 3-4 coach out there

of any substance who hasn't been brought up is Dom Capers. Although I don't know if Jurrrrry would spring for Capers.

Catch some Strange World Sports. It's an offer you can't refuse!

by The Don of DC on Jan 22, 2007 5:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

He just signed a big deal

to be the DC in Miami. I doubt he'd leave without ever coaching a game.

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by JasonB on Jan 22, 2007 5:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Miami has been known for

doing funny things to people like Tony Montana and Nick Saban. Although I am sure you are right about Capers.

Catch some Strange World Sports. It's an offer you can't refuse!

by The Don of DC on Jan 23, 2007 7:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

See ya, Tuna!

Cowboys will be fine, they've still got TO afterall.

<snerk>

by grover on Jan 22, 2007 7:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

On that note

T.O. offers as much praise and good wishes for ex-coach Parcells as T.O. is capable of, here:

"I was underutilized in the offense," Owens said. "A new coach can be good for the Cowboys. It's not just me. But my teammates know I could have done more. I wasn't used as a No. 1 receiver. If you don't involve a guy, that person is not going to be as productive as he can be. That's how I felt."

At least you can depend on T.O. to be consistent. No matter how much you throw him the ball, no matter how many times he drops it, he thinks you could have done more for him if you had really wanted to. With Jerry Jones on T.O.'s side, no wonder Parcells wanted out.

by Dire Radiant on Jan 23, 2007 3:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe

they should hire Lou Saban. He's the one years ago who, in the first team meeting, called O.J. to the front of the room, handed him the ball, and said something akin to "Gentlemen, this is our ticket to the Super Bowl." If he did the same with T.O., all would be well (assuming Lou is still alive).

"Let us retract the foreskin of misconception, and apply the wirebrush of enlightenment." - Geoff M.

by Bo Diddle on Jan 23, 2007 3:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

A different take

Something was not right in Dallas during the Parcell's era. I don't know whether Parcells had lost some of his intensity or his desire or his ability to inspire his players or what. In any case, the Eagles were the beneficiaries. Count me as among those who think it more likely for Dallas to prosper under a new coach than for them to prosper under Parcells. Perhaps a new coach will flounder, but maybe he'll be Sean Peyton or Eric Mangini. Reid has been head and shoulders above his competition in this division for years but who knows now.

by dave in san mateo on Jan 23, 2007 1:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Good points

For the past couple of years I've looked at Dallas as a good team on the way up with much of the credit due to Parcells for identifying and motivating young, talented players. But as you say, they just couldn't seem to get over the hump to playoff success under Parcells.

I'm hopeful, though there are no guarantees, that whoever is the successor to Parcells in Dallas will struggle for at least the first season. It takes time to implement a system. Typically some of the existing players don't click with the new regime. Assistant coaches who are good enough take offers to go elsewhere. Generally there's a lack of stability and that's a big reason why most new coaches flounder. Also, if Jones brings in somebody without NFL head coaching experience, more of those new guys wash out of their first head coaching job in the NFL than turn out like Payton or Mangenius. I guess I would say the odds are against a new guy having success right away, but down the line, who knows.

By the way, how many Eagles fans cursed Lurie for hiring Andy Reid instead of an experienced head coach? Show of hands please!

by Dire Radiant on Jan 23, 2007 3:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What about

Lovie Smith, the lowest-paid head coach in the league. If da Bears don't show Lovie da love he be walkin'.

"Let us retract the foreskin of misconception, and apply the wirebrush of enlightenment." - Geoff M.

by Bo Diddle on Jan 24, 2007 4:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Dallas

would probably have to pay 2 first round picks...

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by JasonB on Jan 24, 2007 6:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Why?

I thought Smith wasn't under contract next year. Dallas would still have to compensate 'Da Bears?

(I'm not being sarcastic, I just don't know how this works)

Failure is not an option in this dojo. -- Shawn Barber

by BrianS on Jan 24, 2007 8:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He is under contract next year

Next year is the final year of his deal. Dallas can't sign him at all, unless they trade for him. The going rate is 2 #1 picks.

That said, yesterday the Bears' president angrily rejected any idea that Smith would move anywhere. He even said if Dallas basically even thinks about approaching Lovie, "We'll deal with that on a leauge level."

Bleeding Green Nation Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Jan 25, 2007 9:11 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs