On the Herd, Colin read a press release stating that Bill Parcells is retiring from coaching football.
I am concerned that Jerry will hire someone more like Chan Gailey or Dave Whatshisname Campo than Parcells or Jimmy Johnson. Indeed, the rumor last week was that Wade Phillips was a possible replacement.
At the moment I can only think of two coaches that would truly excite me regarding next year: Charlie Weiss and Bill Cowher. Bob Stoops would be intriguing as well. Of NFL assistants, Ron Rivera at Chicago might be interesting.
Still, I fear very much that Jerry will want to re-assert control and we will return to the days of crappy drafts and gelded head coaches.
It is sickening to consider that Sean Payton was in the system just last year.
Colin Cowherd is speculating that there was a power play between Bill and Jerry over TO. Who knows? However, it would not surprise me.
Updated. Via the Star-Telegram,m here’s Parcell’s statement:
“I am retiring from coaching football. I want to thank Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones for their tremendous support over the last four years,” Bill Parcells said in a statement.“Also, the players, my coaching staff and others in the support group who have done so much to help. Dallas is a great city and the Cowboys are an integral part of it. I am hopeful that they are able to go forward from here.
“I am in good health and feel lucky to have been able to coach in the NFL for an extended period of time.
“I leave the game and the NFL with nothing but good feelings and gratitude to all the players, coaches and other people that have assisted me in that regard.”
Update II: Forget Weiss. Colin Cowherd notes that Weiss has a $21million buyout clause. One doubts that Jerry would be willing to pony up that kind of cash to get anybody.
Update III: The DMN piece (subscription required) on the exit rightly notes:
While the Cowboys did not enjoy the on-field success they would have liked under Parcells, there is no questioning the talent-upgrade on the roster. Since 2003, the Cowboys have yielded eight starters through the draft and several other key position players, while spending in free agency to bring in six starters.As the Cowboys prepare for this off-season, they are in terrific salary-cap shape with $24.5 million in room to spend on their own players (Andre Gurode, Marc Colombo) or free agents to-be.
The team is well positioned to make a move next year. Jerry’s choice for the new coach could mean a great leap forward or retrogression.
Update IV: A big “Ouch!” from the end of the ESPN report on the exit:
Parcells’ legacy with the Cowboys can be framed this way: Instead of joining Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer as coaches who led them to championships, he leaves lumped with Chan Gailey and Dave Campo.
Update V: Another possibility: Norv Turner. I am not sure I would be excited about Norv, per se. However, given the success he has had with the SF offense this season, one wonders what he could do with Romo and company.
Update VI: ESPN’s Chris Mortensen (on the Dan Patrick Show) is still reporting that Wade Phillips is the only name he has heard. Mort also nixes the notion that Jerry would be willing to pay the compensation necessary to get Cowher. WR Terry Glenn also said, in an interview on the same show the he had heard Phillips’ name.
Mort went on to say that a) Bill was high on Romo, and b) that TO wasn’t the issue, and that even with Bill gone he isn’t convinced that TO is staying.
Mort brought up the name of Dan Reeves–and that would be an intriguing choice, I would say.
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No. You can’t have Cowher.
The thought of Cowher wearing the blue star is beyond my imagination. It is one of the few coaching moves that would make him reviled in the city (the others being Baltimore, and possibly Cleveland, although Steeler fans mostly feel sorry for Cleveland these days).
To repeat: Cowher to the Cowboys == Anathema.
Comment by B. Minich — 01/22/07 @ 10:30 am
Bill Cowher? We don’t want him. Give us JJ haha
Comment by Nick — 01/22/07 @ 2:24 pm
Norv is a solid offensive guy, although he’s not had much success as a head coach in two stops. Reeves is an interesting choice, I agree, although he’s getting pretty long in the tooth.
One name I have seen bandied about–as it previously was for the Bama opening–is Arkansas’ Houston Nutt. That’s one that has me scratching my head.
Comment by James Joyner — 01/22/07 @ 6:21 pm
I think it is just because of Jerry’s Arkansas ties.
Comment by Steven L. Taylor — 01/22/07 @ 6:31 pm