12-19-2007, 07:48 PM
Adam Schefter of NFL network reports that Falcons owner Arthur Blank is in Saratoga, New York to finalize the terms of a contract with Bill Parcells.
Per multiple media reports, Parcells is expected to accept an offer to become executive vice president the Falcons. Despite the specific title, Parcells apparently would have full and complete control and authority over the football operation.
Several readers have inquired as to whether Mlank can make such a hire without interviewing minority candidates. The so-called "Rooney Rule", however, applies only to the hiring of head coaches. The rule, which requires at least one face-to-face interview with a minority candidate, has not been extended to the hiring of key front office personnel.
With that said, the National Football League has encouraged teams to engage in inclusive and diverse search processes for the filling of key jobs, and the decision of the Falcons to focus exclusively on Parcells could result in a push to formally extend the Rooney rule beyond the position of head coach.
POSTED 10:55 a.m. EST; UPDATED 11:04 a.m. EST, December 19, 2007
WHAT NEXT AFTER PARCELLS ARRIVES?
So with Bill Parcells reportedly poised to assume the position of "executive vice president" of the Atlanta Falcons, questions will arise regarding the persons whom Parcells might pursue to fill up the spots in the team's reconstituted front office.
Regarding the position of General Manager, the most intriguing possibility is Patriots' vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli, who also happens to be Parcells' son-in-law. Under league rules, however, Pioli most likely would not be able to exit his current contract with the Patriots unless he were in possession of final say over the composition of the roster and/or the coaching staff.
Another interesting possibility would be Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum. In 2002, when Parcells was poised to become the coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tannenbaum arrived in Tampa to begin working as the Tuna's G.M. Although the Falcons would not be able to acquire Tannenbaum without the Jets being willing to let him walk, possible evidence of growing friction between Tannenbaum and coach Eric Mangini could make the Jets more inclined to let him go.
The other question relates to the identity of the next Falcons coach. There already has been considerable discussion regarding "Parcells guys" who might be available and/or interested in taking over the Falcons. Several of them, such as Sean Payton, Charlie Weis, and Bill Belichick, already have big-time jobs. Former Parcells assistants in Dallas who currently are not employed as head coaches include Cowboys assistant head coach/offensive line coach Tony Sparano, Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley, and current Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.
As Chris Mortensen pointed out on ESPN's first take on Wednesday, the identity of the head coach will be largely influenced by the person whom Parcells hires to be the next G.M. If it were Pioli, for example, any of the various current New England assistant coaches would instantly be in play, such as offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Likewise, those lingering rumors of Iowa's Kirk Ferentz waiting for Pioli to depart the Pats would likely be dusted off. (Given, however, the Falcons' most recent experiences with a college coach, it's highly unlikely that anyone from that level would be considered for the Falcons' job, even if by some Festivus miracle Knute Rockne pulled a Lazarus.)
The bottom line here is that Parcells will have many directions in which to go. In the end, however, look for Parcells to get to work in Atlanta with persons with whom he has some past working relationship -- and with a coach who'll be willing to cook the meal even though someone else is buying the groceries.
Per multiple media reports, Parcells is expected to accept an offer to become executive vice president the Falcons. Despite the specific title, Parcells apparently would have full and complete control and authority over the football operation.
Several readers have inquired as to whether Mlank can make such a hire without interviewing minority candidates. The so-called "Rooney Rule", however, applies only to the hiring of head coaches. The rule, which requires at least one face-to-face interview with a minority candidate, has not been extended to the hiring of key front office personnel.
With that said, the National Football League has encouraged teams to engage in inclusive and diverse search processes for the filling of key jobs, and the decision of the Falcons to focus exclusively on Parcells could result in a push to formally extend the Rooney rule beyond the position of head coach.
POSTED 10:55 a.m. EST; UPDATED 11:04 a.m. EST, December 19, 2007
WHAT NEXT AFTER PARCELLS ARRIVES?
So with Bill Parcells reportedly poised to assume the position of "executive vice president" of the Atlanta Falcons, questions will arise regarding the persons whom Parcells might pursue to fill up the spots in the team's reconstituted front office.
Regarding the position of General Manager, the most intriguing possibility is Patriots' vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli, who also happens to be Parcells' son-in-law. Under league rules, however, Pioli most likely would not be able to exit his current contract with the Patriots unless he were in possession of final say over the composition of the roster and/or the coaching staff.
Another interesting possibility would be Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum. In 2002, when Parcells was poised to become the coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tannenbaum arrived in Tampa to begin working as the Tuna's G.M. Although the Falcons would not be able to acquire Tannenbaum without the Jets being willing to let him walk, possible evidence of growing friction between Tannenbaum and coach Eric Mangini could make the Jets more inclined to let him go.
The other question relates to the identity of the next Falcons coach. There already has been considerable discussion regarding "Parcells guys" who might be available and/or interested in taking over the Falcons. Several of them, such as Sean Payton, Charlie Weis, and Bill Belichick, already have big-time jobs. Former Parcells assistants in Dallas who currently are not employed as head coaches include Cowboys assistant head coach/offensive line coach Tony Sparano, Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley, and current Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.
As Chris Mortensen pointed out on ESPN's first take on Wednesday, the identity of the head coach will be largely influenced by the person whom Parcells hires to be the next G.M. If it were Pioli, for example, any of the various current New England assistant coaches would instantly be in play, such as offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Likewise, those lingering rumors of Iowa's Kirk Ferentz waiting for Pioli to depart the Pats would likely be dusted off. (Given, however, the Falcons' most recent experiences with a college coach, it's highly unlikely that anyone from that level would be considered for the Falcons' job, even if by some Festivus miracle Knute Rockne pulled a Lazarus.)
The bottom line here is that Parcells will have many directions in which to go. In the end, however, look for Parcells to get to work in Atlanta with persons with whom he has some past working relationship -- and with a coach who'll be willing to cook the meal even though someone else is buying the groceries.
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