Bill Parcells Resigns! [J. Mark English]

Nick Eatman, from the Dallas Cowboys website writes:

After four seasons, the Bill Parcells era here in Dallas is over.

The Cowboys' head coach for the last four years officially announced his resignation here Monday morning.

"I am retiring from coaching football. I want to thank Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones for their tremendous support over the last four years," Parcells said in a statement. "Also, the players, my coaching staff and others in the support group who have done so much to help. Dallas is a great city and the Cowboys are an integral part of it. I am hopeful that they are able to go forward from here."

Parcells, 65, compiled a 34-30 record with the Cowboys in the last four years.

"I am in good health and feel lucky to have been able to coach in the NFL for an extended period of time," Parcells said. "I leave the game and the NFL with nothing but good feelings and gratitude to all the players, coaches and other people that have assisted me in that regard."

The Cowboys' season, and now consequently, Parcells' career ended in disappointing fashion. The Cowboys' 21-20 playoff loss to the Seahawks included a fumbled snap by quarterback and holder Tony Romo on a potential go-ahead field goal attempt late in the fourth quarter.

Had Parcells returned to the sidelines next season, it would've been Parcells' second-longest stint among his four NFL teams. He spent his first nine years as a head coach with the New York Giants, leading them to a pair of Super Bowl titles in the 1986 and 1990 seasons. After taking three years off from coaching, Parcells returned to the sideline, spending the next four years in New England, before a three-year stint with the New York Jets.

After returning the first time at the end of the 1999 season, Parcells was out of football for three years before coming to Dallas.

Since taking over, Parcells has led the Cowboys to two playoff appearances, despite losing in the first round in both 2003 and this past season. Parcells' teams were just 34-30 in his four years, but that was still quite an improvement from the 15-33 record his predecessor, Dave Campo, had in the three years prior to Parcells' arrival.

Parcells becomes the fourth different, but obviously most prominent, coach to leave the Cowboys staff this off-season. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and special teams coach Bruce DeHaven both took similar positions with Atlanta and Seattle, respectively. Offensive quality control coach David Lee is now the offensive coordinator at Arkansas.

Comment -

After four years, I get to like the Giants greatest coach of all time once again. Now that he is no longer with the enemy, he'll probably head back into studio TV. If the Giants don't do well next year, could it be that he may come back to take the Giants to yet another Super Bowl? Knowing Parcells tract record, the probability is that this is not the end for him.

Thankfully, Giant fans will not have to witness Parcells and the Cowboys winning a Super Bowl. The sight of that happening would have been all too painful. Enjoy your brief or long term retirment Parcells! I'm sure Jersey is looking forward to your return.