• The Tuna Back in New Orleans?

    by
    Cris Collinsworth
    Published on 03-28-2012 11:13 AM
    40 Comments Comments
    Everybody has different feelings about Bill Parcells. Personally, I think he makes the game more interesting. You can either cheer for him or against him, but it is always more interesting with him. He has such a clever twist on so many subjects. He is a master at sitting down for our production meetings and saying absolutely nothing relevant, but you always come away thinking that he did, until you look at your notes.

    Pete Carmichael and Steve Spagnuolu are more than capable of handling the X's and O's, but they need a proven leader for a year. I believe Parcells will take the job, and may end up in the Super Bowl unless the "Bountygate" penalties on the players guts this team. I would expect Jonathon Vilma to be the only player suspended for any length of time. I'm guessing Parcells wants that answer from the commissioner before he decides.

    From Sean Payton's standpoint it is perfect. Even if the Saints win the Super Bowl, nobody is going to think Parcells is the long-term answer as head coach. Parcells could take another team to the Super Bowl, and eliminate all remaining questions about his HOF resume. Remember, if the Saints had not lost to the 49ers in Alex Smith's greatest game, the Saints were going to host the Giants, a team they destroyed in the regular season.

    Too many reasons why the Tuna will be back in New Orleans. It is good for the NFL as well. "Bountygate" becomes a minor detail in the bigger story of the Tuna's return to the sideline. See you in New Orleans Bill.

    Comments 40 Comments
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    1. buzmeg's Avatar
      I do not share the same sentiments as CC and I have one burning thought that remains unanswered as to "bountygate."

      Why has Sean Payton not been fired? In any other venue an employee responsible for such egregious acts against an employer would have been immediately dismissed. Tom Benson should get his head out of his ass.
      Reply
    1. Swami's Avatar
      I love the idea and find Parcells totally riveting as a fan. But, he's done with coaching. He said so in a book I bought, The Final Season: My Last Year as Head Coach in the NFL


      Oh, wait, he coached the Cowboys after that. Never mind.
      Reply
    1. Polishguy00's Avatar
      Bring on the sound bites and entertainment. He will be a great figurehead in New Orleans and it is a no-lose situation and here is why: Parcells will get the blame or the glory since he is the NAME who heads everything. Truthfully, maybe the assistants are not great fits to run (Although I think they are good) the team.

      Scenario 1: Team does poorly in the eyes of the fans or expectations. It will be said that Parcells just was past his time, but a legendary guy like him deserved one last shot. The reps of the assistants who may or may not be at fault are protected.

      Scenario 2: The team does well. Parcells walks away in glory and the reps of the assistants get pushed upward due to back-channel sales jobs and info leaks.

      Well, I guess one facet in this can still lose: the fans.
      Reply
    1. wxwax's Avatar
      I understand why Sean Payton wants him: job security. He knows Parcells won't take his gig.

      But it's a weird fit. The Saints offense is nothing like the offenses that Bill Parcells managed. How does a guy successfully coach a system he doesn't necessarily believe in?

      When the pressure's on and a decision has to be made during a game, how does Parcells fit in that flow? Does he disrupt it with a decision that's true to his own philosophy but which is at odds with how the Saints have been doing things?

      I'm not sure how this works.
      Reply
    1. Pruitt's Avatar
      The Parcells ship has sailed. I would imagine the guy would have too much pride to act as a figurehead for a season.

      I mean, seriously? This looks like a smokescreen designed to cover up the fact that Payton just may be running the show from behind the scenes. For what they need Parcells for, they might as well go find Barry Switzer.
      Reply
    1. Cris Collinsworth's Avatar
      Pete Carmichael is a talent but a pretty quiet guy. Steve Spagnuolu has been a head coach, but not with the Saints. Continuity for a shaken team would help. Parcells and Payton are so tight, and Payton follows the Gospel of Parcells so closely when motivating and dealing with the media, not much would change for the players. It would be a softer landing for the Saints with Parcells. Boy, that sentence has never been written before.
      Reply
    1. SpartaChris's Avatar
      So who's gonna be the dummy interview so the team can comply with the Rooney Rule in order to hire Parcells?
      Reply
    1. Swami's Avatar
      Quote Originally Posted by Cris Collinsworth View Post
      Pete Carmichael is a talent but a pretty quiet guy. Steve Spagnuolu has been a head coach, but not with the Saints. Continuity for a shaken team would help. Parcells and Payton are so tight, and Payton follows the Gospel of Parcells so closely when motivating and dealing with the media, not much would change for the players. It would be a softer landing for the Saints with Parcells. Boy, that sentence has never been written before.
      Cris,

      I'd be real curious to hear your thoughts on the bounties, perhaps especially as a possibly defenseless receiver in the past, and the severity of the punishment. Me, I think Goodell's on the ball and refreshingly proactive, if also adept at the political angle.
      Reply
    1. Trumpetbdw's Avatar
      Count me in the likely minority, ({shocking to some, I'm sure}) but Parcells has never moved my needle. There's a 73% chance that didn't come out right, but the point is, I've never once watched a game simply because Parcells was on the sideline, and have never once thought that the NFL is more or less interesting with or without him.

      I mean, if he comes back in for a year, good for him, but I think the whole thing is a sham anyway. There is no way Payton or Loomis should have escaped this whole fiasco with their jobs still in tact.
      Reply
    1. buzmeg's Avatar
      Quote Originally Posted by Trumpetbdw View Post
      I mean, if he comes back in for a year, good for him, but I think the whole thing is a sham anyway. There is no way Payton or Loomis should have escaped this whole fiasco with their jobs still in tact.
      I totally agree with you on the job issue. Additionally, why is Payton being given the opportunity to select his successor, interim or not? Why isn't Benson weighing in on this?
      Reply
    1. wxwax's Avatar
      I don't think the Rooney rule comes into effect if the Saints explicitly state that Payton has the job and they're just looking for a temp, does it?

      Since no-one's picked up on my comment about the Saints offense being foreign to Parcells, I guess nobody thinks it would be an issue?

      I guess this gets to the essence of the job description. Would the temp coach be a figurehead who is not actively involved in game planning? The current assistant coaches would do all of that? Can that work?
      Reply
    1. mikesteelnation1's Avatar
      I agree wxwax. Good catch about parcells and his predispositions. I had that discussion today with one of my employees. Obviously this is a normal convo living in saints country!!

      Parcells doesn't believe in or understand this offense, or this defense. If he's brought in, it will be to bring order, organization, and discipline to all pre season and prior week planning efforts. On game day his role will be to manage the game (time outs, challenges) and give the assistants advice on what plays to run.

      He won't be a normal hc. He's a place holder. One to organize the troops. One to keep the team afloat awaiting paytons return. If that wasn't what Benson wanted payton would already have a pink slip, for cause. Eliminating having to pay the rest of his contract.

      Having any of the assistants play "interim" coach is a bad idea. Especially the one most reports point to in carmichael. When carmichael called the plays last year with payton in the booth the offense looked bad. Lost to the bucs and rams. Looked horrible doing both. Sure they beat the worst team in the league handily, but what's that worth? He doesn't need the extra responsibility. We know what Spags has done as a hc. Using either coordinator as the interim is dumb. They're hiring an outside guy to be the interim hc.

      The big tuna does what they need. Keeps it focused, and let's the coordinators do what they do best. He also helps Benson do what he wants. Keep payton when his suspension is over with no controversy.

      I agree with Cris. Welcome to the big easy, big tuna!!!

      As far as the rooney rule goes, even if they have to comply, its a 24hr roadblock to announcing what they want. For most teams its a formality.

      I'm thankful the rule resulted in our current coach. Without it, whis would be the coach. Make no mistake about it, tomlin was our rooney rule compliant interview, and he got the job as a result. He was the right choice, but if the statute wasn't there whiz would have gotten it.. The wait to interview him caused whiz to go to the cards. Thank you Mr rooney for the rule, and sticking to it!!
      Reply
    1. Trumpetbdw's Avatar
      I don't think the system will be an issue, because it is just a temporary thing. But, I think the main question is, how effective can Parcells actually be in this situation? Parcells has never been a figurehead type of guy. He's always been a control freak with a my way or the highway approach. He's never not been the smartest man in the room in his own mind. Now, suddenly he's going to a situation where everything's already in place and he's just going to organize and bring order? Is Parcells capable of turning the uber-control switch off?

      Either this becomes a problem where Parcells tries to yield too much control once given the post, or we get a Parcells who will have lost his edge. I agree that if Payton wrongly sticks around, they should find a temp replacement as opposed to promoting a coordinator. But on so many levels, despite being Sean Payton's mentor, Parcells seems like an incredibly odd fit.
      Reply
    1. FrzzerBwler's Avatar
      This is the big question. How do you get someone to eat thier pride and show up knowing you have zero chance of landing the job? I understand to concept of doing practice job interviews but would this one even qualify for that?
      Quote Originally Posted by SpartaChris View Post
      So who's gonna be the dummy interview so the team can comply with the Rooney Rule in order to hire Parcells?
      Reply
    1. Dave Lapham's Avatar
      Parcells is the ultimate control freak, so he would limit any three ring circus atmosphere by being the only voice of the Saints. It would be total shutdown.....no assistant coaches, no players.....it would just be Parcells. Like Cris said he talks and says nothing anyway. A strong hand like his may be helpful in navigating some choppy waters ahead. I am just not sure he would take a job where he has had zero input in putting together a coaching staff, and zero input in player personnel decisions being the control freak that he is. He has never worked with any of these people before and he has a very specific way of doing things. Everyone has to buy in or it could be a disaster. It has always been Bill's way or the highway.
      Reply
    1. darvon's Avatar
      Your questions:

      1) Why hasn't Payton been fired?

      2) Who you gonna call for the Rooney Rule?


      My guesses:

      1) Players get suspensions. Players aren't fired, although they can be cut. If they are cut during suspension, like Vick, then to rehire you have to get your suspension lifted. Players sign a CBA and negotiate away their "right to work" to the league.

      Coached don't. If Payton was fired, I am not sure you could make the suspension stick, and any attempt to do so invokes the "C" word.

      Having Payton still be employed after the suspension makes things simpler.



      2) Minority College Coaches that want to get in front of NFL execs for OC/DC/HC positions in the future.
      Reply
    1. FrzzerBwler's Avatar
      Good point on #2. That I can see occurring.
      Quote Originally Posted by darvon View Post
      Your questions:
      2) Minority College Coaches that want to get in front of NFL execs for OC/DC/HC positions in the future.
      Reply
    1. wxwax's Avatar
      Can anyone find the actual language of the Rooney rule? I believe it applies to all coaching (and front office?) positions. But what is the actual language?

      One assumes it was written with permanent hires in mind. How does it apply to a temporary hire?
      Reply
    1. SpartaChris's Avatar
      Quote Originally Posted by wxwax View Post
      I don't think the Rooney rule comes into effect if the Saints explicitly state that Payton has the job and they're just looking for a temp, does it?

      Since no-one's picked up on my comment about the Saints offense being foreign to Parcells, I guess nobody thinks it would be an issue?

      I guess this gets to the essence of the job description. Would the temp coach be a figurehead who is not actively involved in game planning? The current assistant coaches would do all of that? Can that work?
      According to Florio, the team will be required to abide by the Rooney Rule if they step outside the franchise for their interim hire. They won't be required to do so if they keep the interim coaching hire in-house:

      http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...nts-2012-hire/
      Reply
    1. SpartaChris's Avatar
      Quote Originally Posted by wxwax View Post
      Can anyone find the actual language of the Rooney rule? I believe it applies to all coaching (and front office?) positions. But what is the actual language?

      One assumes it was written with permanent hires in mind. How does it apply to a temporary hire?
      I haven't seen the actual language, but I don't think it applies to assistant coaching positions, only head coaching positions and front office positions.

      Edit- Corrected myself after checking Wikipedia:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooney_Rule
      Reply
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