Bill Parcells Saints Rumors: Updates on Potential Sean Payton Replacement

Soon to be suspended coach Sean Payton is reportedly turning to his friend and mentor, Bill Parcells, to take the wheel of the Saints ship. 

Payton recently received a suspension for the entire upcoming season for his role in bountygate.

These two coaches have close ties. Payton worked under Parcells when the two were in Dallas and they have remained in contact ever since.

UPDATE: Monday, March 26 at 7:09 p.m. ET

Though Bill Parcells' name is all over the rumor mill as a potential replacement for Sean Payton, it may be more far-fetched than anything else. According to NBC's Mike Florio per SI's Peter King, Parcell's doesn't have the itch to coach.  

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"Asked by King whether Parcells has the bug to coach again, Parcells said, 'Do I have the bug?  I don’t think so.'

It’s also sounding more and more as if Payton didn’t ask Parcells to take over the job for the 2012 season.  'Sean Payton and I know each other well, and he has sought my counsel about his situation with the Saints,' Parcells told King.  'He has told me a little bit about the team, about the situation they’re in, and about the players.  But that is it.'

And that’s all it may ever be.  As a source with knowledge of the situation told PFT, Payton won’t be hiring his replacement.  The decision will be made by owner Tom Benson and G.M. Mickey Loomis.

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UPDATE: Monday, March 26 at 6:35 p.m. ET

The New Orleans Saints would have to abide by the Rooney Rule if they were to hire an interim head coach to replace Sean Payton, but that they are allowed to go outside of their current staff to sign a coach, according to NY Post's Bart Hubbuch. 

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Goodell said the Saints would be allowed to go outside their existing staff to hire an interim replacement for Payton. #parcells

— Bart Hubbuch (@NYPost_Hubbuch) March 26, 2012"

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Goodell says the Saints would have to abide by the Rooney Rule if they try to hire an interim coach (i.e., Parcells).

— Bart Hubbuch (@NYPost_Hubbuch) March 26, 2012"

Update: Monday, March 26 at 4:30 p.m. ET

David Lennon, who covers the Mets for the Newsday, managed to get some news for a sport he wasn't covering and a team whose city he was nowhere near. 

Lennon offered up the following quotes from Parcells, who was at the Mets game.

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Bill Parcells - from #Mets game -- asked about interest in #Saints fill-in job. "Everything is hypothetical at this point" Not a no ... #nfl

— David Lennon (@DPLennon) March 26, 2012"

Parcells let it be known that Payton wasted no time discussing his situation with his former boss.

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Parcells also said he did talk to Sean Payton about the situation "back when it first happened." #saints #nfl #mets

— David Lennon (@DPLennon) March 26, 2012"

 Apparently those hypotheticals had not yet reached the coaching job.

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Parcells asked if he talked to Payton specifically about #Saints coaching job. He replied, "Not really." Hmmm.#nfl

— David Lennon (@DPLennon) March 26, 2012"

  Chris Mortensen, of ESPN, got the ball rolling on this story. 

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While seeking the counsel of his former boss and mentor, Bill Parcells, New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton has broached the idea of Parcells becoming the interim head coach during Payton's suspension for the 2012 season, according to several league sources.

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This move is far from a done deal. There are several factors at play here that don't accompany the typical coaching hire. Among other things, it would be a position that was just a one-year caretaker and would also set back Parcell's eligibility for the Hall of Fame. 

Mortensen quoted a friend of Parcells, who alluded to the fact that these issues may keep Parcells from taking the job.  

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"As a friend of Sean's and a football guy, I'm sure he'd consider it but they're talking about a lot of things," said one source about Parcells. "In the end, I don't think it would happen. It makes sense but it's complicated."

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While that friend doesn't think it will happen, Parcells is apparently interested enough to meet about the possibility. 

Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reports:

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Following up a @mortreport that Sean Payton asked Bill Parcells to be interim HC, the 2 are planning to meet in FL this wk to discuss

— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) March 26, 2012"

Check this page often as we'll update all the news and rumors involving Parcells to the Saints.