While it now sounds like there might be some truth to the idea that Sean Payton is recruiting Bill Parcells to coach the New Orleans Saints this year as Payton serves a one-year suspension, let's get one thing straight: The Tuna has already helped the Saints win a Super Bowl.
It was a little over two years when the Saints were preparing for Super Bowl XLIV against the Colts in South Florida. On Monday of Super Bowl week, I had the privilege of moderating a live chat on NFL.com with Parcells, then an exec with the Miami Dolphins. We conducted the chat at the Dolphins facility. The third question Parcells fielded was one about the offensive play-calling of Payton, a former Parcells assistant who remained good friends with his mentor.
After Parcells answered the question, he offered an aside: "That guy's been trying to call me all week."
Payton was calling Parcells, he explained, to see if the should-already-be-in-the-Hall-of-Fame coach would speak to the Saints players. After all, Parcells had taken three teams to the Super Bowl in his coaching career and carried off the Lombardi Trophy twice with the Giants.
As fate would have it, the Saints arrived in South Florida right around the time that live chat was taking place. Their first stop: a news conference at the Dolphins' facility. So after his chat with NFL.com readers, Parcells went downstairs and spoke to Payton's boys about what to expect on Super Bowl Sunday and how to prepare for the biggest game of their lives.
Oh, and he imparted some advice to his friend Payton. He stressed the element of surprise -- the importance of planning to throw a curveball or two at the Colts. This was, after all, the same coach who called a flea flicker in Super Bowl XXI and a ballsy fake punt that helped the Giants win the 1990 NFC title game over the heavily-favored 49ers.
Thus was born the idea to try an onside kick in Super Bowl XLIV. Even if it had already been worked on, Parcells' advice cemented the idea for Payton. Trailing 10-6 at halftime, Payton called for the onside kick to open the second half. The Saints recovered and scored the go-ahead touchdown six plays later.
Thank you, Coach Parcells.
There are still many players on the Saints roster who played in Super Bowl XLIV. If Parcells does come out of retirement to coach them, they'll have no trouble following the man who helped them win their first title. Of course, Parcells may be a little tougher on them than Payton was.
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