Jones tells Campo coaching change is imminent
It remains unclear if Bill Parcells will be the next coach of the Dallas Cowboys but it has become clear who will not be.
Dallas sources told SportsLine.com that team owner Jerry Jones met with current coach Dave Campo and at least one other coach Sunday and informed his head coach that a change is forthcoming.
According to one source close to the situation, Jones informed Campo that such a change would take place soon. In fact, the Cowboys assistants have been told that if an opportunity arises elsewhere they should take it under consideration and pursue it.
Campo likely will remain the team's coach through the season finale Sunday in Washington.
Dallas lost 27-3 Saturday night but the game was hardly at the forefront.
It was first reported Saturday on The NFL Today on CBS and confirmed by SportsLine.com that Jones met with Parcells on Wednesday in a five-hour meeting at Northern New Jersey's Teterboro Airport. Parcells acknowledged that he would be interested in a return to coaching for the right situation.
Parcells met with Jones for three hours in a private room then shifted the meeting to Jones' private jet for another two hours. Jones has denied that a contract offer or a second meeting has been planned but the sources say the pursuit is hardly over.
Parcells' name has already begun to pop up in other cities as well. There is speculation that Parcells is trying to push the Dallas issue to help his status with other potential openings or offers.
Doesn't this all sound so familiar?
Parcells was heavily rumored last year to be the next head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After turning down the team's offer, the thrice-retired coach again insisted that his coaching career was over.
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| Dave Campo has compiled a 15-32 record in three seasons with Dallas.(AP) |
"I didn't want to go down there for one or two years and then not be able to follow through with what I know to be the type of effort that has to be in place in order to succeed in this competitive industry," Parcells said on his weekly radio show at the time.
"I'm finished coaching. There aren't going to be any more rumors about me coaching."
Wrong!
Two weeks ago it was reported that someone close to Parcells sent word to the University of Alabama that he would be interested in the Crimson Tide head coaching post. The university said that the school had no interest in the coach and Parcells' side has denied such contact.
Now, the Parcells Rumor Machine is in full swing once again.
As for Parcells, at this point last year there were strong rumors that the coach had been quietly, behind-the-scenes, contacting his former assistants about rejoining a new staff. This year, no such rumors have been circulating.
Parcells-to-Dallas would be an interesting mix. Jones told SportsLine.com on several occasions that he would not hire a general manager and surrender personnel decisions. It would be hard to imagine Parcells taking a head coaching job without having full personnel power.
In fact, his divorce from the Patriots was due to the fact that Parcells could not "buy his own groceries" -- a reference to his failure to have final say.
The Cowboys have had several names attached to them in the last few weeks. Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren, Miami offensive coordinator Norv Turner, Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops among others have linked to possibly replace Campo.
Parcells is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction and it's believed that he has not yet been honored because the general consensus thinks he will coach again.
