The Big Tuna in the Big Easy

Reports began to surface, on Monday, that New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton reached out to his former boss and mentor, Bill Parcells, to consider serving as the Saints’ Interim Head Coach during the 2012 season. Payton was suspended, effective April 1, for the entire 2012 season for his role in the Saints’ Bountygate scandal. Speculation of the possibilities and the effects of such a move among fans and sports ran rampant.



Payton, left, and Parcells, right, after a 2006 preseason game in Shreveport, LA. 1

 THE GOOD

There are only three ways for me to measure fan response: in person, through traditional media, and through the Internet via message boards and comment pages. This are only a tiny sample of any fan base, but still sheds light on any public reaction to a sports story.

The reaction to the notion of Parcells coaching the Saints, from Saints fans, seemed favorable to mixed, leaning more towards favorable. Some thought Parcells was too old and the game passed him by. Others, me included, think that Parcells is a genius (two Super Bowl championships, three conference championships, five conference championship game appearances, and even more division championships and playoff appearances) and is a man who has repeatedly returned to coaching because the fire in his belly has never been fully extinguished.

Sean Payton is from the Parcells coaching tree. Based on what I read in Payton’s book, “Home Team”, and based on reports I have heard in sports media, the framework of Payton’s Saints is VERY similar to Parcells’ past teams. Parcells may be in his 70s, but he has not failed in any of his coaching endeavors. This team is Jerry Jones free and set up for a Super Bowl run. Unless Father Time has completely mellowed out The Big Tuna, I can only imagine that a big part of the big guy is just ITCHING to give this unusual opportunity a shot.


THE BAD

The Big Tuna is an old tuna. At age 70, there is a legitimate question of whether or not he has the energy to motivate players in an increasingly “alpha” game of alpha males. On one hand, his role would largely be administrative. Sean Payton picked good people on his staff who know exactly what they need to do. On the other hand, the buck will stop with Parcells, and there is a host of pressure and stress that come with that responsibility. No matter how competent the staff is.

Parcells has walked away from outstanding teams, all after playoff appearances, and two following a Super Bowl appearance, due to differences of opinion or changes in desire. Can the Saints count on Parcells full commitment to the long term interests of the team if he will only be with the team for one season? My gut says yes, but Parcells, albeit a future Hall of Famer and the ultimate competitor is still human. He is an old man. He will all but certainly not be coaching anyone after the 2012 season. And I do believe he will be extremely driven to win one more Super Bowl if he is on the sideline in The Big Easy next season, meaning today will be far more important than tomorrow or three years from now in his personal legacy (and possibly his decision making).


THE UGLY

Bill Parcells was a finalist for the Hall of Fame in 2012, but was not inducted on the first ballot. Many have speculated that a second or (at worst) third ballot induction is virtually certain. However, coaches cannot be inducted into the Hall until they have been out of coaching for five years.

Parcells five year clock for induction to Canton would restart if he accepted a head coaching position in New Orleans. The Hall of Fame committee has made it clear that there will be no waiver of this rule for Parcells. I think this is a stupid rule, especially under the circumstances, but my opinion doesn’t count.

I would completely understand if a 70 year old man with a history of stress related illnesses did not want to have to wait five years for an honor culminating a lifetime’s worth of work. Conventional wisdom dictates that unless his “clock” restarted, Parcells would be inducted into Canton sooner than later. I just think it is a tremendous loss for the world of pro football if Parcells could not have one last shot at coaching glory, under these unprecedented conditions, because he would have to risk not living to see his own Hall of Fame induction.

Ed Sabol was 94 years old when he was inducted in 2011. He probably thinks Parcells is an "impatient young whippersnapper"! 2

WHO DAT TUNA?

My gut tells me Parcells passes on the Saints coaching opportunity because he has been long retired, the opportunity is temporary, and his Hall of Fame induction, which I believe is inevitable, will be delayed until he is 76 years old, at minimum, should he coach next year.

On the other hand, from watching the Tuna since I was a small child, I know that a part of him has to be salivating at the opportunity to ride in, like a knight on a white horse, help rescue a recovering city and someone he regards as somewhat of a son, and possibly ride off into the sunset with one more Super Bowl championship.

Dear Big Tuna: Get your popcorn ready! 3

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1) Image from www.cbsnews.com
2) Image from www.washingtonpost.com
3) Image from www.whotalking.com