Bill Parcells To Discuss Saints Interim Job

Added on Mar 27, 2012 by Scott in

NFL

With Sean Payton’s one-year suspension set to begin on Sunday, the embattled head coach is engaged in a mad scramble to find a suitable replacement to help salvage the Saints 2012 season. The name at the top of his list to fill in as interim coach is a familiar one: Bill Parcells. Payton is planning to meet with Parcells in the coming days to discuss the opportunity in greater detail.

Payton would like nothing more than to bring his mentor in to alleviate what has become a confusing quagmire.

“He’s [Parcells] a great teacher, certainly I’m biased having worked with him,” Payton added. “He’s a Hall of Fame head coach. I would say there are probably some things set up in the framework of our program that would be exactly how he would have set things up had he been the head coach here in ’06, so there is some carryover that way.”

Whether or not Parcells would be willing to step out of retirement to coach again isn’t clear. At 70, he’s been away from the sidelines since 2006, and away from the game entirely since 2010. His resume isn’t in question, but his desire to return to a profession he’s repeatedly said is suited for “young men” is in doubt. Plus, his history of health problems may factor into the decision.

Payton is considering an appeal of his suspension which could extend his preparation time if Commissioner Roger Goodell allows him to work during the process. There’s zero chance the suspension will be lifted or reduced, but an appeal will at the very east delay its start date.

Not having Payton in the Saints war room for the upcoming draft is significant. The presence of someone with Parcells knowledge and experience would prove invaluable. With the entire organization teetering on the brink, a poor draft haul will only add to their problems.

In-house candidates rumored to be in the running for the interim gig are defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, Jr.

Source: NFL.com