Peter King this morning reports that in a new book about the Patriots organization by Michael Holley, the most shocking revelation is that then-Pats coach Bill Parcells negotiated with the New York Jets during the week leading up to Super Bowl XXXI after the 1996 season.
While Holley may have been clueless enough to leave his job as a Boston Globe columnist in order to be Max Kellerman’s sidekick on Fox Sports Net, I don’t doubt the integrity of his reporting; my only beef with this story is that it’s such old news. Everyone knew for that entire season that Parcells was quitting after that year, and probably going to the Jets- to the point where “will Tuna stay or go” was a bigger story in Boston that week than the big game itself.
In fact, it took until five years later, when Bill Belichick led the Pats to the first of their two Super Bowl victories, for New England to let go of Parcells- and by then New York was in Tuna-withdrawal as well. But great, now the scab’s been picked again. Good thing the Sox are still in the race.
Posted by Stephen Silver at September 20, 2004 09:49 PMThis is a complete afterthought to us here (at least me) here in Boston. Belichek has gotten the job done and he is the new sheriff in town. Pats rule!
Posted by: matt at September 21, 2004 09:17 AM