Parcells: Bucs were the end

Sound familiar? Bill Parcells says his flirtation with Bucs job was brief, and was his last.

By JOHN C. COTEY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 1, 2002

Parcells

Bill Parcells said Wednesday that the Bucs contacted him about their coaching job in January and he considered it, but he quickly ruled it out and has decided his coaching days are done.

Answering questions on a conference call announcing his multiyear contract as a studio analyst on ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown, Parcells said, "I told you when I retired I coached my last game in January 2000, but every winter something happens. I can't control that.

"I'm pretty resigned to the fact I've ruled out coaching."

Parcells, 60, said he is committed to his new television gig, and that his flirtation with the Bucs was his last with an NFL team.

"That was actually a lot shorter consideration than portrayed in media," Parcells said. "I told them no in two days. The fact that they didn't have a coach, the speculation just continued. I was out of the mix very, very shortly after that."

The Bucs may not have gotten Parcells, who led the Giants to two Super Bowl titles, but perhaps wound up with a younger version of Parcells.

"I don't know Jon Gruden very well other than I have acquired respect for him. ... He reminds me of me when I was his age," Parcells said. "He has passion. I know he has that and I respect that."

Of equal impact to the Bucs fortunes this season, Parcells said, will be offensive line coach Bill Muir. Muir coached for Parcells from 1997-99 with the Jets. "He's a real football guy," Parcells said. "I've had several offensive line coaches, but if you asked me to pick one, he'd be it. That's a guy that will mean an awful lot to that organization."

With Muir and receiver Keyshawn Johnson, the Bucs maintain ties to Parcells, who said he couldn't predict how they'll do because of the unsettled quarterback situation.

"I don't know (how they'll do)," Parcells said. "I know they got a real good wide receiver down there, I forget his name."

Today's lineup

Bucs