Parcells to lead Dolphins’ football operations

Published 11:08 pm Thursday, December 20, 2007

DAVIE, Fla. — Bill Parcells led Super Bowl winners from the sideline. The Miami Dolphins hope he’ll do the same from the front office.

Parcells signed a four-year contract Thursday to lead the Dolphins’ football operations, one day after turning down essentially the same role with the Atlanta Falcons.

The two-time Super Bowl champion coach will report directly to Miami owner Wayne Huizenga, whose affinity for big-name help now has led him to Parcells — a 66-year-old former coach of four NFL clubs who owns a home in South Florida and now has a job there, too.

“He has a proven track record of success everywhere he has been in the National Football League,” Huizenga said. “And his football acumen will help put the Miami Dolphins franchise back among the elite of the NFL.”

On Wednesday, the expectation around the league was that Parcells would take over in Atlanta, with even some reports saying the deal was done.

By the afternoon, however, the deal fell apart and the Dolphins moved quickly to get Parcells to sign a contract.

“I’m honored to join such an illustrious franchise as the Miami Dolphins and to work for one of the best owners in the league in Wayne Huizenga,” Parcells said. “He shares my same commitment to winning and I told him I would do everything I can to help turn around the team’s fortunes.”

The team made the announcement shortly after the locker room was closed for the day, and roughly 45 minutes after Dolphins coach Cam Cameron sidestepped at least a half-dozen questions about Parcells — even refusing to say if he’s ever met the coach.

“There will potentially be a time to have that discussion,” Cameron said. “Today, I don’t see it as being that day or this time.”