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Shouldn't they have seen this coming?

By KEVIN KELLY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 19, 2002

If only the Glazers had consulted the history books, they would have known you never can be sure a deal is sealed with Bill Parcells. Ten years ago, the Bucs courted him and ended up with Sam Wyche. In a bizarre 19-day span, Parcells was committed to the Bucs before turning down a $6.5-million offer and then a week later asked to be reconsidered only to be rejected by owner Hugh Culverhouse. See if any of this sounds familiar:

• What happened • Reaction • Dungy talks to Carolina; Bucs return 'doubtful' • Gimme Five • So who's next? • What they are saying about Parcells

DEC. 23, 1991: As coach Richard Williamson waits for the ax to fall, Culverhouse begins negotiations with Parcells in New Jersey.

DEC. 26, 1991: Parcells and the Bucs agree on a 38-point contract that gives Parcells control over the club's football operations. The deal includes agreements on everything from a $2.5-million budget for assistant coaches to country-club memberships.

DEC. 29, 1991: Reportedly in line for the Packers job, Parcells rejects the deal with the Buccaneers after a last-minute change of heart. Parcells says on NBC's NFL Live: "In the end I thought it may be too big a job, too many hats to wear in this modern time in professional football and I just didn't feel right about the job at that time and that's why I didn't take it. Hey, we've all been in job negotiations. We've all been in contract negotiations. All of us. And there was just something about it. In the end, I didn't feel right."

JAN. 4, 1992: Parcells calls Green Bay general manager Ron Wolf to take his name out of consideration for the Packers' job.

JAN. 6, 1992: Parcells notifies Culverhouse through an intermediary he'd like to be reconsidered.

JAN. 7, 1992: Parcells is interested in the Bucs job again and the Bucs reportedly are ready to offer Parcells the same five-year, $6.5-million contract he rejected 10 days earlier.

JAN. 8, 1992: Parcells and Culverhouse meet in Washington, but Culverhouse tells Parcells, "You're history."

JAN. 10, 1992: Wyche is introduced as coach. "I went there with an open mind because I owed it to the team, to the entire community, to explore it," Culverhouse said of his meeting with Parcells. "I said, "Look, let bygones be bygones. I will come with an open mind, and you come.' He said, "I want to coach in Tampa.' It wasn't getting over hurt. I'm a grown man. I've probably been jilted many times before and didn't know it. Bill Parcells is still a good coach. It was at somewhere in asking him why and what happened, I didn't get that enthusiasm I was hoping to have."

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