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Parcells works his franchise-building magic once again, this time in Miami
By Matt Sohn
Jan. 19, 2009
The Dolphins got a jump start on spring cleaning. Coming off a 1-15 train wreck of a season, sweeping changes needed to be made. At nearly every position, players who had no business starting in the NFL were planted atop the depth chart.
With one broad stroke, Bill Parcells began executing the blueprint to restore the luster of a proud franchise writhing and reeling in futility. Nine players were released that fateful February morning almost a full year ago — Trent Green, Keith Traylor, L.J. Shelton and Marty Booker among them. The message was clear: “If you expect to continue as a Dolphin, your best years better still be ahead of you.”
Dolphins executive VP Bill Parcells
Tired of coaching, Parcells’ appointment as the Dolphins’ executive vice president of football operations provided him with an ideal job description. The only person he had to report to would be owner Wayne Huizenga, and Huizenga made it clear that Parcells would be the final voice on all football matters. No longer would a domineering presence like Jerry Jones wield ultimate power in the war room, and no longer would he have to worry about preparing a meal without being able to shop for the groceries, as he famously lamented at the end of his tenure in New England.
Parcells was now strictly a front-office executive, and his stunning success in turning a 1-15 club into 11-5 AFC East champions in Year One made him a natural pick as the Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers of America 2008 Executive of the Year. Parcells has a long and distinguished history of turning around moribund franchises, starting with the Giants, then with the Patriots, next with the Jets, and finally with the Cowboys. But in all those stops, he was calling the shots from the sideline. As it turns out, he’s just as effective from behind a desk.
His first order of business in Miami? Raiding the personnel department, coaching staff and roster of the last club he coached, the Cowboys.
Although Parcells no longer diagrams the X’s and O’s, everything about this Dolphins team is an extension of him. When choosing Jeff Ireland, a close aide in Dallas, to become general manager, he did so knowing that Ireland subscribed to Parcells’ proven track record in roster shaping. When the two of them zeroed in on Cowboys OL coach Tony Sparano to become head coach, they did so knowing that Sparano heeded Parcells’ fervent belief that football is won with the big guys up front.
It’s because of his subordinates’ firm belief in Parcells’ philosophies that the Tuna himself doesn’t need to take an active role in the day-to-day minutiae of the team.
“Coach Parcells, as he likes to say, is a guidance counselor to all of us,” Sparano told PFW. “More than anything, he’s a sounding board.”
It’s because of Parcells’ gridiron beliefs that Miami spent three of its first four draft picks on the lines, including using the No. 1 overall choice on Jake Long, who started all 16 games at left tackle in a standout rookie year.
All-time winners — NFL Executive of the Year
2008 Bill Parcells / Mia.
2007 Scott Pioli / N.E.
2006 Mickey Loomis / N.O.
2005 Bill Polian / Ind.
2004 A.J. Smith / S.D.
2003 Scott Pioli / N.E.
2002 Al Davis / Oak.
2001 Charley Armey / St. L.
2000 Randy Mueller / N.O.
1999 Bill Polian / Ind.
1998 Vikings Front Office
1997 George Young / N.Y.G.
1996 Bill Polian / Car.
1995 Bill Polian / Car.
1994 Carmen Policy / S.F.
1993 George Young / N.Y.G.
By Matt Sohn
Jan. 19, 2009
The Dolphins got a jump start on spring cleaning. Coming off a 1-15 train wreck of a season, sweeping changes needed to be made. At nearly every position, players who had no business starting in the NFL were planted atop the depth chart.
With one broad stroke, Bill Parcells began executing the blueprint to restore the luster of a proud franchise writhing and reeling in futility. Nine players were released that fateful February morning almost a full year ago — Trent Green, Keith Traylor, L.J. Shelton and Marty Booker among them. The message was clear: “If you expect to continue as a Dolphin, your best years better still be ahead of you.”
Dolphins executive VP Bill Parcells
Tired of coaching, Parcells’ appointment as the Dolphins’ executive vice president of football operations provided him with an ideal job description. The only person he had to report to would be owner Wayne Huizenga, and Huizenga made it clear that Parcells would be the final voice on all football matters. No longer would a domineering presence like Jerry Jones wield ultimate power in the war room, and no longer would he have to worry about preparing a meal without being able to shop for the groceries, as he famously lamented at the end of his tenure in New England.
Parcells was now strictly a front-office executive, and his stunning success in turning a 1-15 club into 11-5 AFC East champions in Year One made him a natural pick as the Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers of America 2008 Executive of the Year. Parcells has a long and distinguished history of turning around moribund franchises, starting with the Giants, then with the Patriots, next with the Jets, and finally with the Cowboys. But in all those stops, he was calling the shots from the sideline. As it turns out, he’s just as effective from behind a desk.
His first order of business in Miami? Raiding the personnel department, coaching staff and roster of the last club he coached, the Cowboys.
Although Parcells no longer diagrams the X’s and O’s, everything about this Dolphins team is an extension of him. When choosing Jeff Ireland, a close aide in Dallas, to become general manager, he did so knowing that Ireland subscribed to Parcells’ proven track record in roster shaping. When the two of them zeroed in on Cowboys OL coach Tony Sparano to become head coach, they did so knowing that Sparano heeded Parcells’ fervent belief that football is won with the big guys up front.
It’s because of his subordinates’ firm belief in Parcells’ philosophies that the Tuna himself doesn’t need to take an active role in the day-to-day minutiae of the team.
“Coach Parcells, as he likes to say, is a guidance counselor to all of us,” Sparano told PFW. “More than anything, he’s a sounding board.”
It’s because of Parcells’ gridiron beliefs that Miami spent three of its first four draft picks on the lines, including using the No. 1 overall choice on Jake Long, who started all 16 games at left tackle in a standout rookie year.
All-time winners — NFL Executive of the Year
2008 Bill Parcells / Mia.
2007 Scott Pioli / N.E.
2006 Mickey Loomis / N.O.
2005 Bill Polian / Ind.
2004 A.J. Smith / S.D.
2003 Scott Pioli / N.E.
2002 Al Davis / Oak.
2001 Charley Armey / St. L.
2000 Randy Mueller / N.O.
1999 Bill Polian / Ind.
1998 Vikings Front Office
1997 George Young / N.Y.G.
1996 Bill Polian / Car.
1995 Bill Polian / Car.
1994 Carmen Policy / S.F.
1993 George Young / N.Y.G.