Bill Parcells Saints: Why Legendary Coach Needs to Coach New Orleans Saints

When the hammer of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell came violently down on the New Orleans for their role in a three-year bounty program, it was widely assumed that the Saints will fill the void of suspended head coach Sean Payton from within.

Then came the Big Tuna.

Payton, general manager Micky Loomis and the rest of the Saints' upper management are reportedly "mulling" over the option of bringing in Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Parcells to bridge the gap between Payton's one-year suspension from the Saints sidelines.

It is an idea that's somewhat out of left field, but there's plenty of reason to think the fit could happen and work out well for everyone involved.

Here are just a few obvious reasons:

1. Parcells and Payton are long-time friends and coworkers.

The two first connected when the Dallas Cowboys hired Payton to be Parcells' quarterbacks coach in 2003. He was later promoted by Parcells to assistant head coach. Without the two coach's relationship, this probably isn't even being discussed. But with the friendship comes a great opportunity. 

2. The Saints' program wouldn't change course.

As Payton said today, via ESPN:

"

I would also say that there are some things probably set up in the framework of our program that would be exactly how he would have set those things up had he been the head coach back in 2006. So I would say there would be some carryover there.

"

It'd be harder to find a more seamless transition than Parcells if the Saints are intent on hiring a coach from outside the organization. 

3. This isn't a rebuilding job for Parcells. 

He went to Dallas and struggled to get the Cowboys over the hump, then failed in getting the Miami Dolphins turned around while working out of the front office. With the Saints, there's no rebuilding project to undergo. The second he stepped into the Saints' headquarters, Parcells would be leading a Super Bowl contender.

4. The Saints offense is locked, loaded and ready to fire. 

As Sports Illustrated's Peter King wrote today, Parcells would be walking into a situation with Drew Brees that he's never really had. And if Parcells can handle the lead role, Brees and offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael can just stick to the plan that's worked so well over the last handful of seasons.

"He knows he'd be able to basically cede control of the offense to Brees and offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, sit back, and watch them put 30 points on the board most weeks," King wrote.

5. Outside of delaying a Hall of Fame induction, there isn't much downside.

Parcells would be pushing back his induction another five years, but he knows Payton well and would be doing the Saints a huge favor. By all accounts, Parcells still loves football, and King thinks there's a big side of the Big Tuna that misses coaching. Given the incredible fit, and for a friend no less, why not?