Parcells Retires!

by Dave Halprin on Jan 22, 2007 11:13 AM CST in Dallas Cowboys News

Bill Parcells has resigned as head coach of the Cowboys and said he will retire from coaching.

"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."

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not shocking

Nothing is shocking when it comes to Parcells

Lifetime Cowboys Fan from the Swamps of Jersey

by Seanrude on Jan 22, 2007 11:13 AM CST reply actions

shocking

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by Dave Halprin on Jan 22, 2007 11:14 AM CST up reply actions

seriously?

Are you really shocked? Mildly surprised, I can see, but not shocked.

But enough of this, lets get to the real question: Who is the next coach?

Lifetime Cowboys Fan from the Swamps of Jersey

by Seanrude on Jan 22, 2007 11:17 AM CST up reply actions

Wow!

My initial emotion was surprise, then relief.

He leaves the team far better than he found it. The move to the 3-4 will benefit us in the future. We have him to thank for finally solving the problem at QB.

But his teams consistently performed below their talent, and some important players seem to be regressing under his coaching. The team, moreover, played poorly in every December of his tenure, and this year's thrashing by the woeful Lions on the eve of the playoffs was emblematic of this trend.

by jsdoty on Jan 22, 2007 11:20 AM CST reply actions

I will his his press conferences

They were quite educational. And he's got great comic timing.

by jsdoty on Jan 22, 2007 11:36 AM CST up reply actions

Wow

Did not expect this at all.

by Philosopher on Jan 22, 2007 11:21 AM CST reply actions

I am quite shocked.

wow.

by Parl on Jan 22, 2007 11:21 AM CST reply actions

I'm a little surprised

I didn't think Bill would want his coaching career to end the way the Seattle game did.

This could also be the downfall of the Dallas Cowboys, if Jerry takes the reigns back over and hires more puppet coaches, this team is doomed!!!

by Deke on Jan 22, 2007 11:23 AM CST reply actions

Apocalyptic as always, Deke.

by jsdoty on Jan 22, 2007 11:36 AM CST up reply actions

I guess you have a short memory

The puppet master(Jerry) and the puppet coaches (Switzer,Gailey and campo) of the mid 90's to early 2001 and the poor drafts and poor free agents signings, 5-11,5-11,5-11.

Jerry is a business man, not a football man, until he realizes that and hires a true GM to run this day to day operations, this team will revert back to the old days of 5-11's.

by Deke on Jan 22, 2007 11:53 AM CST up reply actions

My memory works just fine

I think Jerry learned some lessons the hard way and he's too good a businessman (as you say) to repeat the same mistakes. After all, you have to give him credit for hiring Bill Parcells. I don't think he'll go down the Dave Campo-type road again. And I would expect him to incorporate the next head coach into player acquisition just as he did Parcells.

by jsdoty on Jan 22, 2007 12:17 PM CST up reply actions

I did a web seach for

"football man" anmd "fotball guy" because I keep hearing that on ESPN. No success, so I wonder what keeps Jones out of that mythical company. Let's see, he played at the big time college level and he's owned and GM'd a team for more going on two decades...

He's fine. He knows the business. He wants to win. He needs a strong coach to balance his own drive to get things done, and yeah, he seems to have learned a lot about where to draw the lines between owner, GM and coach...

by dunkman on Jan 22, 2007 1:04 PM CST up reply actions

Bill Cowher would hold his own against JJ...

IF he'd take the job.

Wharter

by Wharter on Jan 22, 2007 12:17 PM CST up reply actions

I'm shocked

especially with all the reports of him going to the senior bowl.

I guess wade phillips is on the radar. I'm sure he can take a vertical move and get out of his contract.

i wonder what kind of plan Jerry has.

by bob maplethorpe on Jan 22, 2007 11:40 AM CST reply actions

What about Mike Martz?

Is he a possibility?

by CowboyDaddy on Jan 22, 2007 11:42 AM CST reply actions

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

That guy make bad decisions on play calling, doesn't care about special teams.

by Deke on Jan 22, 2007 11:47 AM CST up reply actions

Tuna

Too bad this isn't one year later, Jerry might be able to lure Bill Cowher to town. Charlie Weis (younger version of the Tuna) is also another name I've heard. I guess there's not a ton of names out there. I also heard Jim Fassel. I would put him in the same boat as Martz

by CowboyDaddy on Jan 22, 2007 11:53 AM CST up reply actions

Charlie Weiss has done nothing at ND.

It would be taking 5 steps back to hire him.

by Parl on Jan 22, 2007 11:56 AM CST up reply actions

Disagree

Would love to take a run at Charlie Weis

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by Dave Halprin on Jan 22, 2007 11:57 AM CST up reply actions

Don't think that Jerry

is willing to pay the amount of a little over 21 million to buy Weis out of his contract.

by Philosopher on Jan 22, 2007 12:01 PM CST up reply actions

21 million buyout!!!!

its soometihng like a 1.5 million buyout as I recall.

by Deke on Jan 22, 2007 12:03 PM CST up reply actions

In his original contract

not in the contract redone in Nov. 2005. Now, it is 21 million.

by Philosopher on Jan 22, 2007 12:20 PM CST up reply actions

WOW, I guess we can scratch his name off the list

by Deke on Jan 22, 2007 2:44 PM CST up reply actions

Guess he's got

21 million reasons to stay...

by dunkman on Jan 22, 2007 2:50 PM CST up reply actions

Stop it, you're killin' me -- ROTFL!!!

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" - Ric Flair

by kcbrett5 on Jan 23, 2007 5:15 PM CST up reply actions

21 mil????

huh?

I believe it's around 1 or 2 mil...

by Longhorn @ Blogging The Boys on Jan 22, 2007 12:05 PM CST up reply actions

SI says differently

This has been reported on a bunch of different media outlets:

The rock-solid, no-exceptions buyout number for Weis from Notre Dame: $21 million.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/peter_king/01/14/playoffs/4.html

by Philosopher on Jan 22, 2007 12:15 PM CST up reply actions

No, I had heard the $21 million figure as well.

Check Here

by Parl on Jan 22, 2007 12:17 PM CST up reply actions

I sure hope not.

He's one of the worst game managers I have ever seen. He is constitutionally unable to call running plays and he burns all his timeouts in the 1st and 3rd quarters.

Now I'll put my vote out there for Wade Phillips and you all can tell me all that's wrong with him.

by jsdoty on Jan 22, 2007 11:47 AM CST up reply actions

Everyone is a possibility

because jerry will pay premium and this is a great job...young team, young QB. great organization.

i'd like to see the cowboys talk to rivera but we'd switch to the 4-3 in that scenario with ware and canty at the ends....that's not bad. with carp, aydele, bradie at LB.

by bob maplethorpe on Jan 22, 2007 11:48 AM CST reply actions

Canty isn't an end in the 4-3, he's a DT

doesn't have the speed, Hatcher would have to take that role.

by Deke on Jan 22, 2007 11:56 AM CST up reply actions

tough to be a 6 foot 7 dt

leverage works against you

but spears might be able to play... oh well

by 325424 on Jan 22, 2007 1:52 PM CST up reply actions

leon Lett was 6'6"

is was pretty good in penetrating the O-line

by Deke on Jan 22, 2007 2:18 PM CST up reply actions

Woo hoo!!!

by Longhorn @ Blogging The Boys on Jan 22, 2007 11:49 AM CST reply actions

I'd rather Norv Turner

by Deke on Jan 22, 2007 11:55 AM CST reply actions

good call

I like it, but who'd take over the defense?

Lifetime Cowboys Fan from the Swamps of Jersey

by Seanrude on Jan 22, 2007 12:09 PM CST up reply actions

Yikes! Got back from lunch

only to find out that Tuna was off the menu!!

Phillips would work well. He's head coached pretty successfully, did a fantastic job installing a killer D in San Diego in a very short time.

Dallas is a good job. Jerry's working relationship with BP rehabilitated his image as a good owner to work with, and as otrhers have mentioned, the talent makes this a much lower risk job to take.

by dunkman on Jan 22, 2007 11:59 AM CST reply actions

I disagree on Canty

He is a fast DE but isn't allowed to go upfield right now. he was a beast in college and that's where he excelled in his first year here. there is no way he can play DT because he's too light in his build...he is not a fat 290 pounds...

by bob maplethorpe on Jan 22, 2007 12:05 PM CST reply actions

He's a defensive end in a 3-4 scheme

thats a different responsibilty of an end in a 3-4 scheme than a end in the 4-3. When dallas goes to the nickle, Canty moves inside to play tackle and Hatcher comes in to play end. Canty is one of the slower players on our line getting out of his stance.

by Deke on Jan 22, 2007 12:13 PM CST up reply actions

Does a new coach want to deal with TO?

might become an interesting dynamic.

by bob maplethorpe on Jan 22, 2007 12:08 PM CST reply actions

Heard it on ESPenn radio

I'm a little disappointed, he's a great coach that gets a lot from mediocre players with sound fundamentals. He's always been conservative which may have become worse with age but all the good coaches are. I think he could've won a SB with stable and creative offensive & coordinators, FA help for the O-line and make #31 lose some weight and have another solid draft.

I'd hate for a new coach to come in and completely dismantle the system, it needs tweaks at best.

From Parcells statements, I'm wondering if "retiring from coaching" leaves the door open for a GM job where he can still be an influence with "talent aquisition" or "picking the groceries."

by Doomsday on Jan 22, 2007 12:11 PM CST reply actions

I was thinking the same thing

maybe he lands somewhere else in 3 days

by 325424 on Jan 22, 2007 1:54 PM CST up reply actions

Coach Parcells

might be Monday Night Football to replace Joey Sunshine. That would help restore ESPN's ratings and might just pay Coach most of what he would have made here.

Upon further reflection I think he may still go to the Senior Bowl, just not as a HC but as an analyst.

Another name not mentioned above is Norm Chow. With a year under Coach Fisher and NCAA championships he brings experience and talent. Who can know if he can handle HC until he tries.

by lee3022 on Jan 22, 2007 2:39 PM CST up reply actions

I agree with Grizz

that the retirement announcement was shocking. It really surprises me that Parcells would want to end his career this way with such an up and coming young team.

I know a lot of fans don't want to hear this, but I'd put good money on Wade Phillips being named the next HC. We have to get our defense to the next level and Phillips should be the guy to do it.

If Phillips is named, I'm going to be interested who he brings in as assistant coaches.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jan 22, 2007 12:12 PM CST reply actions

I agree

and Phillips has nver gotten this much talent to work with as a HC. Of course he's almost 60, so he's a bit older than I'd like to see (for reasons of staying around for a few years).

Jones I think will want a more proven NFL guy after his Switzer-Gailey-Campo problems.

by dunkman on Jan 22, 2007 12:16 PM CST up reply actions

Damn...

Kinda saw this coming. Just hoped it wouldn't go down like this.

But, at his age, with beautiful daughters, all the money in the world, a Hall of Fame resume...why put up with the hassle?

It sucks because the haters will jump all over this. If Holmgren had've left after four years in Seattle, his resume would've been similar. I believe if Tuna had stayed a little longer, we might've got over the hump like Holmgren did. We're close. Very close. Such a thin line seperates mediocority from greatness. We're not far.

It will be interesting to see who Jerry taps to be head coach. Right now, I'm just mourning the end of our season, and apparently, the end of Tuna's reign. On the field, he tooks us from bad to average. He made us younger and bigger. He's stocked our roster with some great young players (Ware, Newman, JJ, MB3, Romo). I'll always be greatful for that.

His press conferences were legendary. He pulled the trigger and went to Romo. He brought us back to respectability.

No playoff wins though. No division titles. No championships. Disappointing but no shame in that.

I hope Tuna finds some happiness. He didn't look like it much this season.

by Tuna Helper on Jan 22, 2007 12:19 PM CST reply actions

i think it's hilarious...

that Billy P is the topic of the day, when it should be the Colts and Bears....

People can't get enough of the Cowboys.

by Tuna Helper on Jan 22, 2007 12:27 PM CST reply actions

He has beautiful daughters???

Do you have pics? :)

by Doomsday on Jan 22, 2007 12:28 PM CST reply actions

I'm stunned

And I'm also saddened by the Big Tuna's resignation.

However, as a longtime Dallas Cowboys fan, I want to thank Bill Parcells for steering us back in the right direction.

Yes, I would've liked a playoff win.

Yes, I would've loved a sixth Super Bowl title.

Yes, I would've at least wanted him to coach one final season.

But he has laid a young, talented foundation for our Beloved Boyz -- especially on defense -- and we're in a lot better shape than we were before King Jerry hired him.

I hope and pray that our new head coach plays an aggressive 3-4 defense that puts constant pressure on all opposing offenses.

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" - Ric Flair

by kcbrett5 on Jan 22, 2007 12:34 PM CST reply actions