Don’t rule out Parcells just yet

There’s no reason to disbelieve Chris Mortensen’s report that Bill Parcells won’t become the interim head coach of the Saints in 2012.

Other than the fact that the subject of the report is Bill Parcells.

Parcells, who played the “that’s what friends are for” card a couple of weeks ago, has a history of saying one thing and doing another. Last week, Peter King of SI.com chronicled Parcells’ various proclamations regarding the end of his coaching career after each coaching job he left.

Each time, he said he was done. Each time, he came back.

And so for the same reason no one believed Nick Saban when he said he’s not going to be the Alabama coach, no one should believe Parcells now.

Why would he be out so quickly, less than a day after the Saints embarked on devising their post-Payton plan? It could be a simple leverage ploy by Parcells, who may have received an initial offer from the Saints that took his willingness to help a friend a little too literally.

Or perhaps the Saints and Parcells realize that there would be no way to plausibly satisfy the Rooney Rule if all signs point to Parcells taking the job. Now, the Saints can interview the entire staff (which includes at least one minority assistant coach), and then pull a Tuna surprise.

We’re not saying that will happen. We’re only saying that it’s important to remember Parcells’ history when considering whether the door is truly closed.

source:  PFT.com
author:  Mike Florio
photo:  AP J Pat Carter