Tuna helper in Atlanta?
Bill Parcells has been targeted as the man to lead the Falcons out of the mess they face in the wake of the Michael Vick dogfighting fiasco and Bobby Petrino's resignation after just 13 games.
To which we say: Embattled team owner Arthur Blank couldn't find a better solution to all that ails his franchise.
Parcells is apparently not coming back to coach - he retired after last season in Dallas, although Tuna's many incarnations as sideline boss means you can never fully discount the possibility of another return. But if he takes the top executive job, it could offer a viable cure to the team's myriad problems.
Parcells is not only a brilliant coach, but a terrific personnel man as well. He rebuilt the Jets in 1997 and in his only year as general manager in 2000 collected four first-round picks and helped coach Herman Edwards get the team to the playoffs in three of the next four years after Parcells and Groh left the team.
Parcells re-emerged in Dallas, and the decisions he made along with Jerry Jones are a major reason why this year's team is 12-2 and headed for a potential Super Bowl run. Wade Phillips has the luxury of coaching many of the players Parcells brought to Dallas - including linebacker DeMarcus Ware, center Andre Gurode, running back Marion Barber III and defensive lineman Chris Canty.
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Comments (8)
EZ Bob,
Terrific personnel man? Dorian Boose, Rick Terry, Scott Frost, David Loverne. In fact, outside of Fabini the 98 draft was a complete disaster.
Btw, belated Happy Birthdays to you & your daughter. My wife and I are expecting out first in April - she will be an Emily too.
I think it is a great move. He has a long track record of success, this hiring would stabilize a reeling franchise. Blank's money and Tuna's greed are a match made in heaven. It would make for an interest HC hire however.
DC Jets fan:
Yes, Parcells has made his share of mistakes. So has George Young, Paul Brown, George Halas, Ron Wolf, Bill Polian, Bill Belichick (not many) and every other great mind in this game. It's part of the deal. You're never 100 percent. But look at the teams Parcells has been in control of (even the Patriots, to some extent) and the personnel has been decidedly better than when he first got there.
I think Tuna the coach is overrated, but Tuna the GM is undervalued. The Dallas team is practically all his players, but they never fully matured until this year. Plus, I think the Garrett offense is a lot looser, without all the different shifts on the line before the snap and the array of screen passes to mask a bad quarterback.
The defense this year has also been a lot more explosive, especially the pass rush. Wade Phillips is nothing if not a defensive mastermind. In 1991, he held the vaunted Marv Levy led Buffalo Bills to 10 points when he was the defensive coordinator for the Broncos.
He stunk as replacement for the Dan Reeves primarily because he had no idea how to help Elway. But now he has Garrett to scheme for that side of the ball.
Bob
Parcells has had hits, not denying that, just took exception with your characterization of his record as terrific.
Is there any thought that Tannenbaum would join him in ATL?
DCJF:
I think we're quibbling over semantics here. You can still be classified as "terrific" as a gm even though you've had misses. Not taking anything personally in the least, just feel that on balance, Parcells is way ahead of the curve in personnel.
Tannenbaum isn't going anywhere.
Tannenbaum isn't going anywhere, yet. He and the Genius start next season on the hot seat. The Kendall camp nonsense was childish. This will be an active off season, if the moves are more hit than miss it's 70/30 odds for head rolling.
Well at least according to Atlanta team owner Arthur Blank the whole thing is moot. The Tuna apparently backed out of a deal negotiated last night.