Bill Parcells Saints: Legendary Coach Undecided on Coaching New Orleans Saints

Don't pencil The Big Tuna into The Big Easy just yet.

According to USA Today, Bill Parcells has yet to decide whether or not he'll fill in for Sean Payton with the New Orleans Saints for the 2012 NFL season, in part because he's yet to field an official offer. Said Parcells of the situation:

"

I don't know what the end result will be and whether or what in fact (the Saints) want to do. None of this has been discussed or decided. We're a long way off.

"

Payton, Parcells' protege, has been trying to coax the future Hall of Famer out of retirement to steward the Saints for a year, while the current coach braces for a season-long suspension, stemming from the "Bountygate" scandal that's engulfed the beloved Bayou franchise.

Commissioner Roger Goodell is expected to rule on whether to uphold, reduce or modify Payton's punishment in some way this week, at which point the Saints will have a clearer picture of how much help they'll need.

As for Parcells, the 70-year-old coach, who guided the New York Giants to two Super Bowl titles, hasn't put on a headset since 2006, when he last patrolled the sidelines with the Dallas Cowboys.

Whether The Big Tuna has enough left in the tank to coach at all, much less for an embattled organization still reeling from the fallout resulting from the bounty scandal and subsequent cover-up, is unclear. The pressure and responsibility of cleaning up a mess of this magnitude may be too much for Parcells to bear.

Then again, there's quite a bit for The Tuna to like about the situation whence Payton is being forced. For one, the resident roster is one capable of competing for a championship—even if sanctions strike down some of the team's defensive stars (i.e., Jonathan Vilma)—thanks in no small part to the presumed presence of Drew Brees.

Who, by the way, is still sitting on the shelf with a franchise tag on his shorts.

With Brees on board, Parcells would have the opportunity to earn another ring for himself while delivering a second title to The Big Easy, where Super Bowl XLVII is set to be played in February.

On a personal level, coaching the Saints would allow Parcells to lend a helping hand to Payton, with whom he's long shared a close friendship beyond football.

And then, there's the not-so-small matter of finances, as in the $5.8 million that New Orleans won't have to pay Payton if he's trapped in coaching purgatory this season. Chances are, a big chunk of that would wind up in Parcells' pockets if he were to accept an offer from GM Mickey Loomis (who's facing an eight-game suspension of his own) and owner Tom Benson.

So, should Bill Parcells coach the Saints?

Why not? If he still has the itch to coach, and the league will allow the Saints to parlay their impending punishment into landing a legend on the sideline, then it makes eminent sense for all parties involved.

For now, though, Parcells can enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle, while the Saints decide whether or not to extend him an official contract at some point soon.

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