Parcells by Bill Parcells

Author:Bill Parcells [Parcells, Bill]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-385-34636-8
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2014-10-28T04:00:00+00:00

A different story line creating buzz on the morning of the AFC Championship left Parcells furious. The Boston Herald published an article based on anonymous sources that read like a legal threat to Parcells: contractually, Kraft could block him from coaching another team in 1997 unless the owner received satisfactory compensation, specifically draft picks. When Will McDonough arrived in Parcells’s office at 9 a.m. to tape an interview for NBC’s pregame show, the head coach vented. “Imagine, we’re here today playing for a spot in the Super Bowl, and Kraft is planting this garbage in the paper. This is unbelievable. This never stops.”

McDonough decided to play the role of mediator between his two close friends, urging Parcells to meet Kraft as soon as possible to defuse the situation before the titanic game’s 4 p.m. kickoff. Then McDonough persuaded Kraft to head to the stadium early, arranging to see the owner first. Moments like these were the reason that McDonough sometimes generated criticism for being too close to the principals he covered, but with friends like Paul Tagliabue and Al Davis, plus an unequaled Rolodex, the influential sportswriter was the last of a breed who could occasionally act as kingmakers.

Parcells changed into his coaching clothes before sitting behind his desk, disrupting his pregame ritual to wait for Kraft. Around noon McDonough and Kraft walked into Parcells’s office together. The owner denied being the source of the story. Regardless, McDonough reminded his two buddies of their vow to take the high road.

Parcells looked up at Kraft standing next to McDonough and made a proposal. “Bob, this is what I’m going to do. When the season is over, I’m going to say that it’s time for me to move on, that I’ve enjoyed my time here. The fans were great. You treated me well. I wish you the best, and I even give you a plug for a new stadium. The next day, you notify Tagliabue that I am free and clear with no further obligations to the New England Patriots.”

Parcells extended his right hand across the desk, anticipating a handshake agreement, but Kraft quickly pulled back. Feeling browbeaten, the owner responded firmly, “We shouldn’t even be having this conversation. Our agreement is to talk when the year is over.”

Just hours before the AFC Championship, relations between New England’s owner and its head coach had reached a boil.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.