Billick not sure Parcells is ‘emotionally ready’ to coach again
Published: March 27th, 2012 | Tags: New Orleans Saints, Bill Parcells, Brian Billick, Pete Carmichael, Sean Payton, Steve Spagnuolo
Former NFL head coach Brian Billick isn’t sold on the idea of Bill Parcells coming out of retirement to coach the New Orleans Saints during Sean Payton‘s one-year suspension. NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora reported that Payton met with the two-time Super Bowl winner on Tuesday to discuss a possible role with New Orleans, but no decision has been made.
“It would certainly work for New Orleans — what a great pickup for them to have someone with those credentials to come in and mentor this team basically through the entire year,” Billick said Tuesday on NFL Network’s “Total Access.” “I don’t know if it works for Bill Parcells. When you’re thinking about retiring, or you’re retired, you’re retired. And to come back in under these circumstances, to put the Hall of Fame vote on hold … does it tarnish that image, does it tarnish that chance? It doesn’t sound like Bill Parcells is emotionally ready to come back into the fray.”
Parcells was rejected for Hall of Fame induction in 2012. If he returns to coaching in any capacity, he would have to wait another five years after his subsequent retirement to be eligible again.
Billick says whoever takes over as interim coach of the Saints has to make the job his own.
“No matter who they bring in as the coach — Bill Parcells, (offensive coordinator) Pete Carmichael, (defensive coordinator) Steve Spagnuolo, come April 1, this has to be their team. They cannot operate as a head coach wondering ‘I wonder what Sean would do here; I wonder what Sean would want me to do here …’
“Sean Payton by every account has got to totally remove himself from the process.”
Follow the NFL Network on Twitter @nflnetwork