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December 19, 2007

Parcells to Falcons

Looks like Bill Parcells is going to get to shop for the groceries in Atlanta. He is not, however, going to do the cooking.

The New York Daily News reported Wednesday morning that Parcells is on the brink of becoming director of football operations for the Falcons -- a franchise in disarray following the criminal prosecution of star quarterback Michael Vick and the abrupt resignation of first-year coach Bobby Petrino, who quit last week to return to college coaching, at the University of Arkansas.

"Under no circumstances," Parcells told Gary Myers, the Daily News' longtime NFL columnist, "is Bill Parcells going to return to the field."

Patriots fans will remember that one of the reasons Parcells left New England after the AFC championship season of 1996 to return to New York, where he won two Super Bowls with the Giants, to become coach of the Jets was a complaint that Pats owner Robert Kraft wanted him to ``cook the meals," but wouldn't let him "shop for the groceries."

If, as appears likely, Parcells takes the job in Atlanta, no moves will be made without his approval.

His first move will be to hire a general manager, and then work with the new GM to find a replacement for Petrino.

A lock to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the colorful Parcells is a brilliant coach and strong personality who'll bring expertise, credibility, and a winning attitude to the 3-11 Falcons.

Team owner Arthur Blank was left reeling by the fall of Vick -- the highly-paid, face of the franchise --and the departure of Petrino after just 13 games. Blank approached former Steelers coach Bill Cowher in hopes he would replace Petrino, but Cowher said he wasn't interested in the job.

Bringing Parcells to Atlanta would be a positive step in restoring stability to the franchise.

Even before he became head coach of the Cowboys in 2003, Parcells had said that, while he still loved coaching on Sundays, he wasn't sure he still wanted to do the

Posted by Jim Donaldson  at 12:45 PM | Permalink