Jan. 4, 2000 SportsLine wire reports

NEW YORK -- Instead of following Bill Parcells as head coach of the New York Jets, Bill Belichick chose to follow Parcells' lead. He resigned.

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One day after Parcells said he was through coaching, his hand-chosen successor, defensive coordinator Belichick, dropped his own bombshell: He didn't want the job, either.

In the tightly controlled environment of pro football, where players, coaches and staff move in step, Belichick's sudden reversal of field Tuesday was startling.

"The uncertainty surrounding the ownership of the team, and a number of other things, had an effect on my decision," said Belichick, whose Jets contract stipulates he would become head coach when Parcells stepped down. "I know the commitment that needs to be made, and I don't feel in the current situation I can lead the Jets with 100 percent conviction. The situation is one of great uncertainty, and I just don't feel I can go forward."

Belichick is concerned about the team's pending sale -- the estate of Leon Hess, who died in May, is in the final stages of that sale -- and how much security he might have with the new owners.

"I have to make a decision that I understand what's at skate and I just don't feel that I can lead the Jets in the year 2000," he said. "I've been in a situation and, more importantly, my family has been in a situation where I was the head coach of a team in transition, of a team that went through a lot of changes, and frankly it wasn't a real good experience for me or them."

He was referring to his five-year stint in Cleveland, when the Browns went 37-45 and he was fired.

"I'm not saying that would happen here. I don't know what would happen, what I would need to do. I don't feel that I can do it right now.

"I've been concerned about the situation here since Leon Hess died. We talked about all the stipulations. By Dec. 15, there was going to be an owner. It's Jan. 4. We've run through scenarios and it seems like every time we talk, a new scenario takes place. There hasn't been a consistent pattern."

He also said he was unsure exactly what Parcells' input would be as chief of football operations. Parcells was unavailable for comment, although he said Monday that Belichick would run the entire football side of the franchise.

But Belichick admitted he didn't exactly get a pep talk from his predecessor.

"It's about the whole package, built up over a period of months. It really was triggered when Bill said, `If you have that many questions -- and I can't answer them all, I'm not the new owners, I'm not selling the team -- if you have that many reservations about it, then you should think about whether you want to be in this job."

Belichick didn't, and he told team president Steve Gutman so only moments before stepping into the conference room.

Then, in a rambling news conference before a stunned audience, Belichick also made clear his concerns about his contract. He was making $750,000 a year on a deal that has another three years left, and was paid a $1 million bonus last January.

The New England Patriots, whom he left in 1997 to follow Parcells to New York, faxed the Jets on Monday, seeking permission to talk to Belichick about their coaching position. The Patriots fired Pete Carroll on Monday.

But Belichick already was coach of the Jets, at least contractually, and could not negotiate with New England.

The NFL on Tuesday barred any other team from contacting Belichick while it looks into his contract, which the Jets said they still consider binding. They would be owed compensation if Belichick went elsewhere, which he could do only with their permission.

"I understand that I have a contract. I understand that there are rules and interpretations of the contract ... I'm no lawyer and there are plenty of them around, and I'll let them deal with it."

Broadway Joe