Parcells talks about retirement as playoffs approach
By CLARENCE E. HILL JR.
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
IRVING — Owner Jerry Jones hired Bill Parcells four years ago not to be better than Dave Campo, but to return the Cowboys to Super Bowl glory.
Unless the Cowboys (9-7) improve on their abject play of the last month with a miraculous playoff revival, starting Saturday in the NFC Wildcard Playoffs at the Seattle Seahawks (9-7), the Parcells era could be ending as a colossal failure.
Next year is not promised for Parcells and the Cowboys.
Parcells, who is under contract through 2007, said that retirement is a possibility after 19 years as a head coach. But the 65-year old Parcells will wait until the season is over and have a sit down with Jones before deciding his future.
“We have an understanding as to what’s going to happen,” Parcells said. “I’ll let you know that when the season is over. But we do have an understanding without question. There’s no doubt about what’s in place, what we’re going to talk about.”
The Star-Telegram reported on Christmas Day that there is a clause in Parcells contract stating that he must decide by the fifth day after the Super Bowl, which in this case falls on Feb. 9.
Of course if the Cowboys don’t reach the Super Bowl, the decision will likely come much sooner. Jones has said a number of times over the past month that he wants Parcells to return. He reiterated that sentiment following Sunday’s loss to the Lions, although he said he is as disgusted with the team’s recent play as he has been in 17 years as owner.
Parcells said the decision on whether he returns or not will be his alone to make - even though Jones might be disappointed with bottom-line results of his investment in Parcells so far.
Parcells has been paid roughly $20 million over the last four years and is on the hook for another $5-6 million next season.
But after winning two Super Bowls with the Giants and taking the Patriots to the Super Bowl, Parcells hasn’t won a playoff game in eight years and has an unsatisfying 34-31 record in Dallas.
That this year’s team floundered down the stretch, losing three of its past four to head into the playoffs as a wildcard team after having a two-game lead in the NFC East, was particularly devastating to Jones and Parcells. Jones admittedly sold out in the off-season to make a Super Bowl run this year. And Parcells readily admits that this was his most talented team since coming to Dallas. After four years, the Cowboys roster is filled with primarily his players targeted to play his brand of football.
To falter when it matters most was a personal disappointment for Parcells.
But while the Cowboys remain hopeful that they can get new life in the playoffs and make amends for a disappointing season, Parcells said what happens over the next few weeks won’t any bearing his decision.
“You can’t make a judgment on that,” Parcells said. “You’ve got to make judgment based on whether you feel like you want to take on this task, if you want to do it again. (If) you want to muster up enough energy because you know you got another off season, another draft, another preseason and another regular season. You’ve got the whole drill. If you’re ready to try to do that with energy that you know it takes then you go forward with it.”
Parcells said he will take the decision-making process seriously and take a hard internal look at things before making a formal announcement.
Cornerback Aaron Glenn and quarterback Drew Bledsoe, two players on the Cowboys who know Parcells best, honestly believe he has yet to make up his mind.
“I don’t know and I don’t think he knows,” Bledsoe said. “The year (2004) before I got here when I was watching on T.V. he looked pretty beat up. He doesn’t look beat up now.”
Said Glenn: “It would be a sad thing to lose one of the top coaches of all time. He has brought a lot to this league. He has done a lot for me. Some times it has to end for a player and a coach. He will know when that time is.”
As of now, he said his focus is strictly on getting the Cowboys ready for Saturday’s game against the Seahawks. However, because the end is near, whether this year or next year, he will savor every moment of what might be his last game.
“I told you before, when you get older like I am, and the games get more precious to you,” Parcells said. “They really do because you don’t know how long things are going to go, so you know you do view them as more precious.”
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
IRVING — Owner Jerry Jones hired Bill Parcells four years ago not to be better than Dave Campo, but to return the Cowboys to Super Bowl glory.
Unless the Cowboys (9-7) improve on their abject play of the last month with a miraculous playoff revival, starting Saturday in the NFC Wildcard Playoffs at the Seattle Seahawks (9-7), the Parcells era could be ending as a colossal failure.
Next year is not promised for Parcells and the Cowboys.
Parcells, who is under contract through 2007, said that retirement is a possibility after 19 years as a head coach. But the 65-year old Parcells will wait until the season is over and have a sit down with Jones before deciding his future.
“We have an understanding as to what’s going to happen,” Parcells said. “I’ll let you know that when the season is over. But we do have an understanding without question. There’s no doubt about what’s in place, what we’re going to talk about.”
The Star-Telegram reported on Christmas Day that there is a clause in Parcells contract stating that he must decide by the fifth day after the Super Bowl, which in this case falls on Feb. 9.
Of course if the Cowboys don’t reach the Super Bowl, the decision will likely come much sooner. Jones has said a number of times over the past month that he wants Parcells to return. He reiterated that sentiment following Sunday’s loss to the Lions, although he said he is as disgusted with the team’s recent play as he has been in 17 years as owner.
Parcells said the decision on whether he returns or not will be his alone to make - even though Jones might be disappointed with bottom-line results of his investment in Parcells so far.
Parcells has been paid roughly $20 million over the last four years and is on the hook for another $5-6 million next season.
But after winning two Super Bowls with the Giants and taking the Patriots to the Super Bowl, Parcells hasn’t won a playoff game in eight years and has an unsatisfying 34-31 record in Dallas.
That this year’s team floundered down the stretch, losing three of its past four to head into the playoffs as a wildcard team after having a two-game lead in the NFC East, was particularly devastating to Jones and Parcells. Jones admittedly sold out in the off-season to make a Super Bowl run this year. And Parcells readily admits that this was his most talented team since coming to Dallas. After four years, the Cowboys roster is filled with primarily his players targeted to play his brand of football.
To falter when it matters most was a personal disappointment for Parcells.
But while the Cowboys remain hopeful that they can get new life in the playoffs and make amends for a disappointing season, Parcells said what happens over the next few weeks won’t any bearing his decision.
“You can’t make a judgment on that,” Parcells said. “You’ve got to make judgment based on whether you feel like you want to take on this task, if you want to do it again. (If) you want to muster up enough energy because you know you got another off season, another draft, another preseason and another regular season. You’ve got the whole drill. If you’re ready to try to do that with energy that you know it takes then you go forward with it.”
Parcells said he will take the decision-making process seriously and take a hard internal look at things before making a formal announcement.
Cornerback Aaron Glenn and quarterback Drew Bledsoe, two players on the Cowboys who know Parcells best, honestly believe he has yet to make up his mind.
“I don’t know and I don’t think he knows,” Bledsoe said. “The year (2004) before I got here when I was watching on T.V. he looked pretty beat up. He doesn’t look beat up now.”
Said Glenn: “It would be a sad thing to lose one of the top coaches of all time. He has brought a lot to this league. He has done a lot for me. Some times it has to end for a player and a coach. He will know when that time is.”
As of now, he said his focus is strictly on getting the Cowboys ready for Saturday’s game against the Seahawks. However, because the end is near, whether this year or next year, he will savor every moment of what might be his last game.
“I told you before, when you get older like I am, and the games get more precious to you,” Parcells said. “They really do because you don’t know how long things are going to go, so you know you do view them as more precious.”
posted by The Gryphon at 9:25 PM
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