Bill Parcells: Saints Must Avoid Hiring Coaching Legend to Replace Sean Payton

Bill Parcells was a heck of a coach in his day, but the New Orleans Saints would be crazy to bring him on to replace Sean Payton during the latter's one-year suspension. 

ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter are reporting that Payton has approached Parcells about coaching the Saints in his absence during the 2012 season. Now Jay Glazer is reporting that the two men will meet in Florida this week to discuss the possibility. 

While I understand some people might be excited about this development, I think it is a horrible idea.

Parcells is a proven Super Bowl winner who would certainly bring credibility to the position of interim head coach. But at the same time, he is an outsider who doesn't know New Orleans' system or players intimately. Parcells taking over wouldn't be the smooth transition that promoting someone from within would provide.

Saints owner Tom Benson will undoubtedly have the final say on this manner, but another factor to consider is that if they bring in an outside candidate they would have to interview a minority coach to comply with the NFL's Rooney Rule. If they promote from within, they wouldn't be required to do so. That may seem like a minor detail, but it could make the "search" drag on and bringing in a minority coach for a token interview would be embarrassing for everyone involved.

Instead of Parcells, the Saints should instead consider offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr., offensive line coach Aaron Kromer or defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

Payton is gone for a year, general manager Mickey Loomis will miss eight games and assistant head coach Joe Vitt is out for six. That leaves a serious hole in leadership for the franchise. 

Guys like Carmichael and Kromer could step right in and just keep the train rolling without missing much of a beat, while bringing in Parcells would take the team back to square one. 

Parcells has never been a guy to just go with the flow. He likes to put his stamp on the teams he is associated with and doesn't shy away from making pointed comments to the press about his players. 

The Saints are already a great team that coming off a 13-3 season. Bringing in Parcells will only draw unwanted attention to the franchise and it could disrupt whatever harmony exists on the roster and in the locker room. 

Everyone knows whoever coaches New Orleans next season will only be there temporarily. The team's best option would be to promote someone from within on a limited basis.