Tag: Bill Parcells

Cowboys DC Mike Zimmer gets stamp of approval from HoF coach Bill Parcells

From @ToddBrock24f7: The HoF coach spent 4 promising seasons with Zimmer as his DC in Dallas; Parcells says Zimmer will bring a familiar style back to the Boys.

Bill Parcells retired from coaching in 2006. But the Hall of Famer’s opinion still carries a great deal of weight around the league, and the two-time Super Bowl champ and two-time Coach of the Year has given his blessing to the Cowboys’ (re)hire of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.

Zimmer was in his tenth year on staff in Dallas and already had a Super Bowl ring when Parcells came out of his second retirement to take over the foundering team. The two appeared that they might be diametrically opposed to one another, with Zimmer a long fan of the 4-3 defense and Parcells having traditionally run a 3-4 scheme.

But Parcells not only kept Zimmer in place as Cowboys defensive coordinator, he allowed Zimmer to keep running his 4-3. The Dallas defense, led by Greg Ellis, La’Roi Glover, Dexter Coakley, Dat Nguyen, Roy Williams, and Darren Woodson (in his final season), finished as the top unit in the league. The Cowboys, after three straight 5-11 seasons, went 10-6 and earned a playoff slot.

Parcells, it turns out, had seen something he liked early on in Zimmer.

“He’s a coach’s son, and I always liked that because they lived it at the dinner table when they were young,” Parcells said per ESPN’s Todd Archer. “[Bill] Belichick was the same way. That’s the kind of guys they were. But I got to like Mike and we’ve become good friends.”

The two friends still talk frequently.

“He’s a football guy,” Parcells says of Zimmer. “He likes the game. He’s committed to doing a good job. He’s not lazy at all. That’s good.”

Sensing Zimmer’s ability to adapt, Parcells began to show some 3-4 tendencies in his second season at the helm. By the 2005 season and with another draft class hand-picked as part of the master plan, the Cowboys had fully implemented the 3-4 for the first time in franchise history. Under Zimmer, who had no previous experience with 3-4 personnel, the group finished in the top 10 defensively. The team went 9-7.

Another 9-7 record and another wild-card berth followed in 2006. That squad, thought to be early Super Bowl contenders, saw their championship hopes dashed when new quarterback Tony Romo bobbled the hold on a potential game-winning field goal in Seattle.

Parcells retired (a third and final time) at season’s end; Zimmer moved on to a defensive coordinator’s role in Atlanta. He’s since done that same job in Cincinnati, too, and then spent eight years as head coach in Minnesota.

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But now that he’s back in Dallas for a second stint as DC, Parcells expects today’s Cowboys players to get the same old Zimm’, although he warns that guys expecting to have their egos propped up with sugar-coated platitudes are in for a culture shock.

“He’s himself,” Parcells explained. “That’s what he does. That’s what people that get along with players are. They don’t say you have to get along, but players respect people who are straightforward, to the point, and trying to help them get better. He’s the best with them. And the ones that don’t like the truth are probably going to have a problem.”

And if Zimmer brings back even a little bit of that fiery “Tuna” attitude, most fans probably won’t mind at all.

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Veteran executive Mike Tannenbaum explains Isiah Pacheco’s slide to the 7th round

Veteran executive Mike Tannenbaum explains #Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco’s slide to the seventh round of the 2022 draft.

The decisions made in the offseason regarding the lead-up to the NFL Draft are critical for every franchise as they seek to get younger and better at specific positions. Making these problematic decisions falls on the general managers and front office personnel keen on picking up the best available talent on the board.

Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. recently talked with former NFL executive Mike Tannenbaum to get his thoughts on the Kansas City Chiefs NFL Draft seventh-round selection steal of running back Isiah Pacheco in 2022. Tannenbaum spoke on behalf of The 33rd Team during a special media availability, providing insight into a general manager’s mindset during the late draft rounds.

“He said they did a ten-year study on draft picks that hit and miss, and it was very interesting,” Tannenbaum explained. “He’s like if we just went with our grades literally that were like from this time of year like you watch the games period, end of story.

“Everyone’s gonna get some right, people get them right and wrong, but they’re more accurate when you don’t have the Senior Bowl, the (NFL Scouting) Combine the interviews and all the other things that we put a lot of time effort and money in.”

The Chiefs selected Isiah Pacheco without much fanfare in 2022 and watched as he immediately made an impact through training camp to become the starting running back eventually. He led the team in rushing this season, becoming one of the most essential parts of the offense.

“It’s kind of interesting because when you look at Brock (Purdy), a four-year starter at Iowa State, he was a good player, but it’s not going to test well, obviously,” said Tannenbaum. “(Isiah) Pacheco, [went] a little bit different under the radar at Rutgers, but when you put on the film, they’re really playing the same way they played in college.

“Coach (Bill) Parcells always had an expression like in the late rounds, you want to draft an attribute, and that attribute can be production. And certainly, like in [the] previous case, like you’re drafting experience, so not all late-round picks are gonna work out as we all know, but like that, to me, like Purdy, a really good example of the Casserly lesson of just go by the film and ignore everything else.”

Purdy was selected to his first Pro Bowl this season, while Pacheco continues to prove that general manager Brett Veach knows precisely what Kansas City needs moving forward.

Bill Parcells has lent nearly $4M to ex-Giants in financial trouble

Hall of Fame head coach Bill Barcells has reportedly loaned nearly $4 million to former New York Giants players in “financial crisis.”

Former New York Giants head coach Bill Parcells is remembered for his straightforward, no-nonsense, gruff demeanor but according to a new report, he apparently has a sentimental, generous side to him.

Over the years, the Hall of Fame coach has reportedly loaned nearly $4 million to some of his ex-players who have undergone financial strife.

Long-time NFL reporter Gary Myers recently outlined in his book about the 1986 Giants that Parcells has become the patriarch of sorts for many Giant alumni and has helped around 20 players who came to him seeking financial help.

“People are going to find out how Bill Parcells has made this transition from a guy who had love-hate relationships with his players to the patriarch of that ’86 team, now that Wellington Mara has been gone for a while and Bill has had his 82nd birthday recently,” Myers said in a radio interview on WFAN, via the New York Post.

“It’s just incredibly generous what he’s done with these guys. Bill has loaned out $4 million to 20 players that played for him, who came to him in this financial crisis. Bill knows when they come to him it’s a last resort.

“I said to him, ‘Bill, you know, $4 million, you don’t expect anybody to pay you back. Why are you doing that?’ And he said, ‘These guys have sacrificed so much for me with their bodies and their commitment.'”

Parcells was always known as a players’ coach even though he was quick to criticize them when they didn’t comply. The defensive players all loved him and he hasn’t forgotten what they have done for him.

Good for Parcells. Good for the Giants.

As they say, ‘Once a Giant, always a Giant.’

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Bill Parcells’ horse, Maple Leaf Mel, euthanized after collapsing at Saratoga

Maple Leaf Mel, a three-year-old filly belonging to Bill Parcells, was euthanized on Saturday following a collapse at the Saratoga Raceway.

Tragedy unfolded at the Saratoga Springs Raceway on Saturday during the $500,000 Test when Maple Leaf Mel, the three-year-old undefeated filly belonging to retired New York Giants head coach Bill Parcells, collapsed just inches from the finish line.

Maple Leaf Mel suffered a catastrophic injury to her right front leg and was quickly, and humanely, euthanized on the track.

Jockey Joel Rosario was unseated during the collapse and suffered injuries to his face and gums. He was taken to a private vehicle for stitches and then transported to Albany Medical Center.

“I feel so bad for the connections of Mel. It’s hard to enjoy this one thinking about that. My condolences go out to their team. Hopefully, they’re able to get through this and God bless them,” the winning jockey, Tyler Gaffalione, said via ESPN.

Maple Leaf Mel was named after her trainer, Melanie Giddings, who has who survived Stage 4 endocervical and ovarian cancer. The filly was unbeaten in five starts before making her Grade 1 debut on Saturday.

“The health and safety of horses and jockeys competing at NYRA tracks is our highest priority and one that stands above all other considerations,” said Pat McKenna, NYRA vice president of communications. “NYRA, HISA and the New York State Gaming Commission will closely review the circumstances around this incident to ensure we are providing the safest possible environment for racing and training at Saratoga Race Course.”

Prior to the race, Maple Leaf Mel passed the required prerace veterinary inspection.

Since 2009, there have been more than 200 horse deaths at the Saratoga Springs Raceway.

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Ranking 8 best assistant coaches in Giants history

From Marty Schottenheimer to Vince Lombardi, Giants Wire ranks the eight best assistant coaches in New York Giants history.

The New York Giants are closing in on a century of existence and many famous and powerful names have worn the blue over that time.

When it comes to head coaches, the Giants have had some great ones — Bill Parcells, Tom Coughlin, Jim Lee Howell, and Steve Owen — and some notable ones in Allie Sherman, Jim Fassel, and Alex Webster.

But what the Giants are really known for is grooming head coaches; men who worked for the club and went on to become some of the great head coaches in NFL history.

Here are eight of those names.

Giants’ Kayvon Thibodeaux aced a Bill Parcells test

Bill Parcells gave Kayvon Thibodeaux a pop quiz during his visit to New York Giants minicamp and the edge rusher aced it.

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During the team’s mandatory minicamp earlier this month, legendary former New York Giants head coach Bill Parcells made an appearance and addressed the team.

Parcells also had the opportunity to go one-on-one with a few players, including second-year edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux.

During their quick conversation, Parcells gave Thibodeaux a pop quiz. And although it caught the 22-year-old off-guard, he ended up getting a nod of approval from the Hall of Famer.

“It’s funny. I had one conversation with him and we talked about football,” Thibodeaux told Good Morning Football. “I think that what he said to me was, well he asked me a question. He said, ‘What is the worst position for a defensive end to be in?’ I was kind of confused because that’s kind of an open-ended question, but I just said, ‘Past the quarterback,’ right?

“He stood up, he gave me some dap because he said I had the right answer. But that just goes to show that over how many years he’s been coaching and now, the new day and age, football is still the same. So, it was amazing to see him. He’s still sharp as a tack.”

Of course, Parcells knows a little something about defensive ends and edge rushers, having coached the greatest of all time in Lawrence Taylor. And while KT is still a long way off from that level of play, it’s encouraging for the Giants to see him blossom as an intelligent football mind.

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Giants legend Bill Parcells explains importance of ‘hidden yardage’

Retired New York Giants head coach Bill Parcells breaks down the importance of “hidden yardage” and how it can change the outcome of a game.

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New York Giants Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells is widely known as one of the foremost coaches in the history of the NFL.

That didn’t happen in a vacuum. Parcells took knowledge from almost every coach, player, executive, and scout he rubbed elbows with on his way up the ladder.

In a piece for The 33rd Team published last September, Parcells explains his philosophy about ‘hidden yardage’ and how it affects the outcome of the game. It was something he picked up from Hall of Fame coach Sid Gillman by way of another longtime head coach and friend, Dan Henning.

The premise is that 100 yards of field position should equate to seven points. The more I thought about it, the more I asked myself, “If this yardage is so important, where is it coming from? Let’s take the entire scope of the yardage and evaluate it.” So, I did.

To explain what I found, we’re going to start with the obvious: total offense and total defense. So, let’s say a team has 350 yards of offense in a game. According to that premise, it should have 24 points. Let’s say that same team’s defense gives up 300 total yards. Based on that premise, the opponent should have 21 points.

Those are the obvious yards. Where do the hidden yards come from? Parcells explained.

Now, here is how the hidden yardage affects the outcome, especially when you consider half the games are decided by seven points or less, and a quarter are decided by three points or less. People don’t look at the penalty differential or the net-punting differential. People don’t look at the average start of possession either.

Those are hidden yards, and they all equate to points.

Parcells went on to elaborate and broke things down mathematically. He explained how the aforementioned penalty differential, net-punt differential and starting field position could equate to more or fewer points for teams who had the same amount of total yards.

If each team had 350 total yards but one side had worse differentials and starting field position, odds are they would lose the game.

This explains why Parcells always talked about the game in thirds — offense, defense and special teams — and why he built his rosters the way he did. He would always stress the importance of each and how a team can lose games if just one of them fails to perform.

That is why individual statistics never meant much to Parcells. Just his team’s performance as a whole. He was the one to coin the NFL Scouting Combine the ‘underwear Olympics’ and that it was not the determining factor it is now.

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Giants minicamp: Notes, videos and highlights from Day 2

News, notes, highlights and a few videos from Day 2 of the New York Giants’ 2023 mandatory minicamp.

The New York Giants were back on the field for their final practice of mandatory minicamp on Wednesday. They will now head into summer break and are not required to return to East Rutherford until the start of training camp in late July.

The day began with offensive assistants meeting with members of the media before head coach Brian Daboll took the podium for a press conference. Then it was off to practice.

Here is some news, notes, highlights and videos from Day 2 of minicamp:

Bill Parcells, Michael Strahan and Brandon Jacobs visit Giants during minicamp

The Giants had a handful of visits at camp on Tuesday, including Brandon Jacobs, Michael Strahan and Bill Parcells, who addressed the team.

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The New York Giants were out on the field on Tuesday afternoon, the first of their two mandatory minicamp sessions this week that will be open to the media.

Star running back Saquon Barkley was not in attendance as he is not currently under contract but several other notables were, such as Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells, Hall of Fame defensive end Michael Strahan and two-time Super Bowl champion running back Brandon Jacobs.

Former Giants public relations man, Avis Roper, who is now a member of the league office, also stopped by.

Parcells, 81, has been retired from the NFL since 2011. His last job was as the Executive Vice President of Football for the Miami Dolphins. One of his top scouts was a young man by the name of Joe Schoen, who is now the general manager of the Giants.

Schoen accompanied his former boss around the practice field as the Giants ran through some drills.

Parcells also stepped by to converse with the current Giants head coach, Brian Daboll.

After practice, Parcells addressed the team as a group on the field. His main message: unity.

 

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Giants minicamp: Notes, videos and highlights from Day 1

News, notes, highlights and a few videos from Day 1 of the New York Giants’ 2023 mandatory minicamp.

After canceling their final two practices of organized team activities (OTAs) due to poor air quality, the New York Giants were back at it on Tuesday. This time for their mandatory two-day minicamp.

Running back Saquon Barkley, who has not yet signed his franchise tender, is not permitted to take part in team-related activities and was not in attendance per NFL rules. He will not be fined for his absence.

On the schedule were press conferences with the team’s defensive assistants, head coach Brian Daboll and assistant general manager Brandon Brown. Select players also spoke with members of the media following a two-hour practice.

Here’s a look at some notes, highlights and videos from Day 1.