I guess this isn't all that surprising but there's no a rumor that Bill Parcells is interested in bringing Keyshawn Johnson with him to Miami. Not to coach but to come out of retirement and play. Via Johnson's Agent...

''I speak to Keyshawn daily about all aspects of his career, he is very close to Coach Parcells and is in great shape IF he chose to play next year,'' Stanley wrote, responding to an e-mail from The Miami Herald about Johnson's potential interest in returning to play for Parcells. ``Miami could use a good tough veteran like Key to help the current crop of young receivers develop.''

Interesting. That actually makes sense, but that would leave the Countdowns in disarray by losing two people. What am I saying? They'd still have about 14 people left to giggle at each other on the show.

Keyshawn Johnson To Reunite With Bill Parcells? (Sports by Brooks)
Could Keyshawn, Parcells reunite? (Miami Herald)

It seems I was a bit harsh on Chris Mortensen yesterday for botching the Bill Parcells report. It now appears that Parcells made a calculated move to get ESPN to up his price to the Dolphins and that's pretty low.

Anyway, now his own ex-coworkers are calling him out for the move along with every other major media outlet. Fox Sports has a very detailed report on how he's done this same thing multiple times and in the video below Skip Bayless and Jemele Hill take him to task for using the "Leader".

A sampling:

1. In 1979, he took a job as the Giants' linebackers coach. He then backed out, citing "personal reasons." So he stayed as the head coach at Air Force.

2. Two days after winning the Super Bowl in 1987, Parcells was rumored to be a candidate for the Falcons' coaching job.

"What is this?" he asked the media. "A witch hunt? I have no comment."

Of course, Parcells' agent, Robert Fraley, had already told the Falcons weeks earlier that Parcells was interested. And he was. The only reason Parcells didn't leave the Giants was that Commissioner Pete Rozelle stepped in and pointed out that he had what lawyers refer to as a "contract."

I think it's safe to say that Parcells won't be welcomed back to ESPN when he fails with the Dolphins. I know that Parcells is a Hall of Famer, but I've never really thought he was that great of a coach. That's just me though.

Parcells' history explains latest move (Fox Sports)

Well that was quick wasn't it? Bill Parcells appears to be ready to leave ESPN and head back to Football. The ex-Cowboys coach and ESPN Analyst has been offered the Vice President position with the Atlanta Falcons and it looks like he's going to accept the role.

"I think I probably will do it," Parcells told the Daily News by telephone. "The job description is to be the football operations overseer. We still have a little work to do, but I don't think it's anything major. I don't expect any real deal-breaker. I don't think there will be any major hangups."

Parcells told the newspaper that he will oversee the football operation but he has no plans to return to coaching.

"I'm going to oversee the football operation," Parcells told the Daily News. "I'm going to hire a general manager if the deal is finalized in Atlanta. We are going to hire a coach and talk to all the coaches who are there. It's going to be a collective effort. The triangle is going to be the GM, the coach and Bill Parcells. I'm also going to include Rich McKay if he wants to stay in the business.

Well I guess all you can say is good luck because that's a tough spot to be in. I commend Parcells for taking such a challenging job and will miss him being the only person making sense on the Countdowns.

Parcells 'probably' will accept Falcons job (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

Last weekend was a huge one for ESPN's Sunday and Monday Countdowns. They had a kid tell you the Lions were terrible and they proceeded to destroy the Raiders, The Swami predicted the Browns to upset the Steelers, and you saw LT's house. Then on Monday you got a Ray Lewis workout and Rudi Johnson's Cars. It was an action packed weekend!

So what will you get this go around you ask? Well here's your answer.......

Sunday NFL Countdown:

- Patriotgate
- An interview with Vince Young by Rachel Nichols. It's apparently about a letter that Vince wrote to himself.
- Kevin Everett's Injury
- Jay Cutler wired for sound
- Mayne Event examines NFL rule changes
- Our newest friend 10-Year Old Jason Krause tells us about Sportsmanship

Monday Night Countdown:

- Brian Dawkins and his love for comic books
- The Skins-Eagles Rivalry

And lastly.....A new segment called Boiling Points (not the MTV Show)...

"In a new Monday Night Countdown segment, will offer their take take on which coaches and players have reached their boiling points around the NFL."- ESPN PR

Man that's just awesome....I bet Tom Coughlin is involved somehow. Per usual, you would think that I would be making some of these up, but alas...I am not. That's your Countdown preview in a nutshell.

When you're a new analyst ESPN has to trot you out on as many programs as possible. Like for example, Sean Salisbury. How many different ESPN shows have you seen him on since he joined the network...15 or so? Well the Leader is now taking it to an even bigger level.

They're asking their analysts to cover different sports. First up in the queue....Mr. William Parcells.

Bill Parcells will be ringside for ESPN's Friday Night Fights broadcast with host Joe Tessitore and analyst Teddy Atlas. The release states that Parcells plans to discuss his three passions in life Boxing (that's good because it's a boxing telecast), Football (understandable), and Horse Racing (Huh?).

So if you want to hear about Football and Horse Racing during a fight....tune in this Friday!

(posted by OMDQ)

The weird thing about this video is that Bill Parcells actually imparts some good advice about raising kids - spend time with them, teach them, love them, don't waste opportunities to positively impact their lives. It's surprisingly good stuff from a guy who once motivated a player by referring to him as "she" to the media.

Most of the other stuff here, however, is both odd and compelling (does that make it oddly compelling?). From Tim Brown rambling almost incoherently about focus (he should have paid extra to get Parcells' cue card writer) to Phil Dawson's proud papa story about his three-year-old (you could tell he wanted to mention that his kid was a better kicker than Christopher), it just kept getting better and better.

Please enjoy. And try to focus.

It was a forgone conclusion, but here's the rundown:

Bill Parcells will work as a studio analyst for the net. Parcells will appear on “Monday Night Countdown” and “SportsCenter” and will contribute weekly columns to ESPN.com. He will also co-host a new Friday night ESPN Radio show with Chris Mortensen during the season.

I have nothing funny or exciting to add to this....just be aware that I'm out there Tuna.....and I'm gunning for you.

ESPN Formally Announces Addition of Bill Parcells (Sports Biz Daily)

Bill Parcells has officially received a verbal offer from ESPN. I know....we kind of already knew that. But the funny part is the terms....

Parcells has a verbal agreement to join ESPN's "Monday Night Countdown" cast and likely will sign the deal this week or next, a network source said. Parcells sought a limited schedule with little travel and is expected to be based at ESPN's Bristol, Conn., studio.

Umm, wait a second.......isn't EVERY person from ESPN that is involved in the NFL "based out of Bristol"???? I'm not quite sure I understand. It's not like College Gameday where they travel from city to city.....all though that might not be a bad idea.

Neil Best (Newsday)
_________________________

Local DC Metro Info (Feel free to skip if you don't care about the O's or Nats):

The O's and Nats have settled on their P-B-P guys/gals for the upcoming 2007 season. The O's will split duties between Gary Thorne and Jim Hunter on MASN with Jim Palmer, Buck Martinez, and Rick Dempsey doing color. (I approve of none of these but Hunter and Martinez, but I'll give Dempsey a shot....he could be entertaining. Jim Palmer can go to hell.)

For the Nats....Bob Carpenter is back and will be aided by Don Sutton.

Boring stuff right? Well check out the "sideline" reporters.....The O's have hired FOX 45's Amber Theoharis, and the Nationals have tabbed Debbi Taylor for the role. I can't find a photo of Debbi Taylor, but Amber is very "Amy Smartish" don't you think? Someone alrert The Big Picture!

So lost in all the hoopla this past weekend (I mean how can you top a 67 year old white man and 43 year old large black man kissing) was Michael Irvin actually being kicked to the curb by ESPN. Irvin seemed neither upset or bitter about the situation when reached for comment yesterday.....

ESPN "was great for me and I want to thank all of them for the opportunity." Irvin was in the film The Longest Yard and is interested in doing more acting: "When you work for ESPN, there are certain things you can't do.....I'd still love to talk football on TV, but also want to have leeway."

I guess the biggest problem I have with this is the timing. Why wait until now? Doesn't make much sense. I forgot the commenter who said this, but he/she mentioned that ESPN would be idiots for firing him for next season because he's going into the Hall. Great point......makes no sense. You know what makes even less sense though?

Logical additions to ESPN NFL studio shows include recently retired coach Bill Parcells, who has already worked at ESPN, and Emmitt Smith, who had a recent tryout at ESPN and last season worked on the NFL Network.

Please do not replace Irvin with Emmitt.....please. I thought Emmitt was horrible during the National Championship game. And Bill Parcells? Could you get someone with less personality??? I guess they are trying to get as far away from Irvin as possible with the new hires.




















Irvin Out (USA Today)
Maybe You're Crazy (Leave the Man Alone)
Michael Irvin out at ESPN

Fanhouse and Dan Shanoff have already reported this, but it has to be on this site as well. From the New York Post....

Is ESPN on the verge of cutting ties with NFL analyst Michael Irvin?

One industry source believes the decision has already been made, and that some at the network view the outspoken Irvin as a ticking time bomb, ready to explode into a public-relations nightmare.

ESPN did not confirm or deny the report, but issued a statement, saying: "We are currently in the process of discussing studio assignments for next season."

I haven't been this giddy in quite some time. What a way to start a Friday! Certainly there's more to come, but it would be a great move on their part. Also, is it possible that they are doing this in preparation for the Harold Reynolds Trial? What are your thoughts on this, and the possible replacement......Bill Parcells?