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Detroit or Dallas? Parcells may have choice
John Czarnecki / FOXSports.com
Posted: 47 minutes ago //
How about Cowboys coach Bill Parcells in Motown?
It's definitely a wish-list idea. I know Matt Millen — Parcells is definitely his type of coach. You know the Tuna's style, his way or the highway. And Millen wants a disciplinarian for his next coach, probably his last hiring with the Lions.
Parcells, though, is considering a contract extension from Dallas owner Jerry Jones. Parcells currently has one year left at $4.6 million on his original four-year contract.
And why hasn't Parcells signed that contract extension?
Does he want to wiggle his way out of Dallas?
Matt Millen probably only has one more shot at hiring a head coach in Detroit. Bill Parcells wouldn't be a bad way to go. (Tom Pidgeon / Getty Images)
Does he want leverage in order to earn $6 million or more a season?
There is no doubt that Parcells has friends in Detroit and has always respected Lions owner William Clay Ford, a noted hands-off owner and one who believes in spending money in order to build a winner. It just hasn't happened for him. Parcells and Millen are friends, too. Parcells is sympathetic to Millen's plight.
There is no doubt that Parcells wants to continue coaching. His health is fine, and he could use a few more good earning years before retiring to a new home in Saratoga, N.Y, just a few miles away from his second favorite sport, horse racing.
If Parcells looks like a long shot to end up in Detroit, you can bet that Millen will look hard at Maurice Carthon, a former Parcells player who has done a very good job this season as offensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns. Carthon is a no-nonsense coach like Parcells, plus he worked as an assistant on Marty Mornhinweg's teams in Detroit.
However, Carthon is a long way from being Parcells. Besides, can Millen really risk hiring a NFL assistant who has never been a head coach?
The other assistant high on Millen's list is probably Giants defensive coordinator Tim Lewis, a coach he wanted to interview prior to hiring Steve Mariucci.
Lewis, though, declined the opportunity because he felt he was simply a token minority candidate who didn't have a chance against Mariucci. Millen was fined $200,000 by the league for failing to interview a minority candidate and now he may have two of them — after Parcells — at the top of his list.
NFL on FOX
GAME: Tampa Bay at New England TIME: 1:30 p.m. ET
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Pats QB Tom Brady will start, but how much running will he do with that sore shin and bruised shoulder? One good thing is that Brady now has a healthy Corey Dillon at running back, meaning he doesn't have to carry the offense. There is a chance, too, that rookie Nick Kaczur will return at left tackle, allowing Tom Ashworth to remain at right tackle.
The Patriots will attempt to expose the Tampa Bay middle, where Ellis Wyms will start for DT Booger McFarland (hamstring). The Bucs need to max-protect to keep New England's blitzing schemes off of Chris Simms, but they will use a lot of motion to keep the New England linebackers moving. The Patriots are playing better defense these days, but their secondary remains thin, even with rookie RCB Ellis Hobbs looking like a potential star.
For the Bucs to win, Cadillac Williams, who needs 76 yards to reach 1,000, must be able to run to allow Simms to play action.
Cowboys at Commanders
GameTrax | Preview | Box score
CZAR'S SCOOP: This is Bucs coach Jon Gruden's first return to Foxboro since the "Tuck Rule" playoff game at the end of the 2001 season, when the improbable Patriots upset Gruden's Raiders en route to Bill Belichick's first Super Bowl title.
Belichick sounds happy and content in New England at the moment, too. Brady is 14-0 in games 35 degrees or lower.
Simms has won four of his last five starts and he's gone 83 passes without an interception. Gruden sounds pleased with Simms' progress, meaning that Brian Griese will be on the free-agent market. Simms was 20 of 27 last Sunday against Carolina with four drops. And you can bet that Simms is hoping ESPN's Steve Young comes by so he can tell him how wrong he was about how he was raised.
The rest of Saturday's action
GAME: Kansas City at New York Giants TIME: 5 p.m. ET
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: This is a must-win game for both teams, though the Giants have more injury concerns. It looks like both offensive tackles, Luke Petitgout and Kareem McKenzie, will be non-starters, although Petitgout (back) may play a little. Then, on defense, MLB Antonio Pierce (high ankle strain) is out, possibly for the rest of the season. Nick Greisen will replace Pierce, but do the Giants have enough beef to stop Larry Johnson, who already has 1,251 rushing yards — despite making only seven starts?
The Chiefs believe that LT Willie Roaf can stop Osi Umenyiora, but they will attempt to double Michael Strahan. RT Jordan Black will give plenty of help on Strahan. Chiefs QB Trent Green is making his 78th consecutive start; plus, he has a 92.6 QB rating in December starts.
CZAR'S SCOOP: The rumors continue that Chiefs head coach Dick Vermeil will retire once the season ends, and they are flying even more this week as Vermeil confides in associates that offensive coordinator Al Saunders would make a perfect replacement.
Vermeil is promoting Saunders, who didn't take the Nebraska job a couple of years ago, because he thought he would eventually replace Vermeil. However, GM Carl Peterson, who has three years remaining on his contract, apparently would interview multiple candidates before considering Saunders. Commanders defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who would be returning home, remains a strong candidate to replace Vermeil now that Jets head coach Herman Edwards appears stuck in New York.
GAME: Denver at Buffalo TIME: 8:30 p.m. ET
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Kelly Holcomb starts for the Bills, and he'll have WR Eric Moulds back from serving a one-game suspension.
It's supposed to be 20 degrees and snowy in Orchard Park, which figures to help no one.
Denver can defend the pass pretty well; so look for Willis McGahee to get some carries early. McGahee is struggling; he's gone seven straight games without a touchdown and five without a 100-yard game.
The Broncos need to resuscitate their running game (only 96 yards on 32 carries last week); Mike Anderson is averaging only three yards a carry in the last three games. The Broncos are averaging 45 fewer rushing yards in the last three games compared to the first 10. Curome Cox is Denver's nickel back with CB Darrent Williams out.
CZAR'S SCOOP: Bills owner Ralph Wilson hasn't made a decision on head coach Mike Mularkey, who has three years remaining on his contract, but it seems like GM Tom Donahoe could be working his final three games for the Bills.
Donahoe is a solid football man, but he'll still be judged by his 30-47 overall record. Like Matt Millen in Detroit, he made a mistake on his first head coach (Gregg Williams) and was allowed to hire a second one, but Mularkey hasn't been able to turn the Bills into a winner, either. The other knocks on Donahoe were trading a first-round pick for Drew Bledsoe and the underachieving play of No. 1 pick Mike Williams.
John Czarnecki / FOXSports.com
Posted: 47 minutes ago //
How about Cowboys coach Bill Parcells in Motown?
It's definitely a wish-list idea. I know Matt Millen — Parcells is definitely his type of coach. You know the Tuna's style, his way or the highway. And Millen wants a disciplinarian for his next coach, probably his last hiring with the Lions.
Parcells, though, is considering a contract extension from Dallas owner Jerry Jones. Parcells currently has one year left at $4.6 million on his original four-year contract.
And why hasn't Parcells signed that contract extension?
Does he want to wiggle his way out of Dallas?
Matt Millen probably only has one more shot at hiring a head coach in Detroit. Bill Parcells wouldn't be a bad way to go. (Tom Pidgeon / Getty Images)
Does he want leverage in order to earn $6 million or more a season?
There is no doubt that Parcells has friends in Detroit and has always respected Lions owner William Clay Ford, a noted hands-off owner and one who believes in spending money in order to build a winner. It just hasn't happened for him. Parcells and Millen are friends, too. Parcells is sympathetic to Millen's plight.
There is no doubt that Parcells wants to continue coaching. His health is fine, and he could use a few more good earning years before retiring to a new home in Saratoga, N.Y, just a few miles away from his second favorite sport, horse racing.
If Parcells looks like a long shot to end up in Detroit, you can bet that Millen will look hard at Maurice Carthon, a former Parcells player who has done a very good job this season as offensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns. Carthon is a no-nonsense coach like Parcells, plus he worked as an assistant on Marty Mornhinweg's teams in Detroit.
However, Carthon is a long way from being Parcells. Besides, can Millen really risk hiring a NFL assistant who has never been a head coach?
The other assistant high on Millen's list is probably Giants defensive coordinator Tim Lewis, a coach he wanted to interview prior to hiring Steve Mariucci.
Lewis, though, declined the opportunity because he felt he was simply a token minority candidate who didn't have a chance against Mariucci. Millen was fined $200,000 by the league for failing to interview a minority candidate and now he may have two of them — after Parcells — at the top of his list.
NFL on FOX
GAME: Tampa Bay at New England TIME: 1:30 p.m. ET
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Pats QB Tom Brady will start, but how much running will he do with that sore shin and bruised shoulder? One good thing is that Brady now has a healthy Corey Dillon at running back, meaning he doesn't have to carry the offense. There is a chance, too, that rookie Nick Kaczur will return at left tackle, allowing Tom Ashworth to remain at right tackle.
The Patriots will attempt to expose the Tampa Bay middle, where Ellis Wyms will start for DT Booger McFarland (hamstring). The Bucs need to max-protect to keep New England's blitzing schemes off of Chris Simms, but they will use a lot of motion to keep the New England linebackers moving. The Patriots are playing better defense these days, but their secondary remains thin, even with rookie RCB Ellis Hobbs looking like a potential star.
For the Bucs to win, Cadillac Williams, who needs 76 yards to reach 1,000, must be able to run to allow Simms to play action.
Cowboys at Commanders
GameTrax | Preview | Box score
CZAR'S SCOOP: This is Bucs coach Jon Gruden's first return to Foxboro since the "Tuck Rule" playoff game at the end of the 2001 season, when the improbable Patriots upset Gruden's Raiders en route to Bill Belichick's first Super Bowl title.
Belichick sounds happy and content in New England at the moment, too. Brady is 14-0 in games 35 degrees or lower.
Simms has won four of his last five starts and he's gone 83 passes without an interception. Gruden sounds pleased with Simms' progress, meaning that Brian Griese will be on the free-agent market. Simms was 20 of 27 last Sunday against Carolina with four drops. And you can bet that Simms is hoping ESPN's Steve Young comes by so he can tell him how wrong he was about how he was raised.
The rest of Saturday's action
GAME: Kansas City at New York Giants TIME: 5 p.m. ET
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: This is a must-win game for both teams, though the Giants have more injury concerns. It looks like both offensive tackles, Luke Petitgout and Kareem McKenzie, will be non-starters, although Petitgout (back) may play a little. Then, on defense, MLB Antonio Pierce (high ankle strain) is out, possibly for the rest of the season. Nick Greisen will replace Pierce, but do the Giants have enough beef to stop Larry Johnson, who already has 1,251 rushing yards — despite making only seven starts?
The Chiefs believe that LT Willie Roaf can stop Osi Umenyiora, but they will attempt to double Michael Strahan. RT Jordan Black will give plenty of help on Strahan. Chiefs QB Trent Green is making his 78th consecutive start; plus, he has a 92.6 QB rating in December starts.
CZAR'S SCOOP: The rumors continue that Chiefs head coach Dick Vermeil will retire once the season ends, and they are flying even more this week as Vermeil confides in associates that offensive coordinator Al Saunders would make a perfect replacement.
Vermeil is promoting Saunders, who didn't take the Nebraska job a couple of years ago, because he thought he would eventually replace Vermeil. However, GM Carl Peterson, who has three years remaining on his contract, apparently would interview multiple candidates before considering Saunders. Commanders defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who would be returning home, remains a strong candidate to replace Vermeil now that Jets head coach Herman Edwards appears stuck in New York.
GAME: Denver at Buffalo TIME: 8:30 p.m. ET
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Kelly Holcomb starts for the Bills, and he'll have WR Eric Moulds back from serving a one-game suspension.
It's supposed to be 20 degrees and snowy in Orchard Park, which figures to help no one.
Denver can defend the pass pretty well; so look for Willis McGahee to get some carries early. McGahee is struggling; he's gone seven straight games without a touchdown and five without a 100-yard game.
The Broncos need to resuscitate their running game (only 96 yards on 32 carries last week); Mike Anderson is averaging only three yards a carry in the last three games. The Broncos are averaging 45 fewer rushing yards in the last three games compared to the first 10. Curome Cox is Denver's nickel back with CB Darrent Williams out.
CZAR'S SCOOP: Bills owner Ralph Wilson hasn't made a decision on head coach Mike Mularkey, who has three years remaining on his contract, but it seems like GM Tom Donahoe could be working his final three games for the Bills.
Donahoe is a solid football man, but he'll still be judged by his 30-47 overall record. Like Matt Millen in Detroit, he made a mistake on his first head coach (Gregg Williams) and was allowed to hire a second one, but Mularkey hasn't been able to turn the Bills into a winner, either. The other knocks on Donahoe were trading a first-round pick for Drew Bledsoe and the underachieving play of No. 1 pick Mike Williams.
