Waiting Continues On Belichick's Status

A deal is imminent. Expect to see something happen in the next 24 hours. That’s what we’ve all been told.

Sorry, folks, but 99% right equals 100% wrong. Until we see handshakes and press conferences, there are no deals anywhere. And that includes Hempstead, N.Y. as well as Foxborough, Mass.

Everyone is exalting Paul Tagliabue for making the mighty Bill Parcells blink on Friday. While Patriot Nation was sulking over yet another defeat for Bill Belichick at the hands of the NFL, Jet Nation was sulking over the prospects of Al Groh being named their new head coach.

The announcement of Groh’s hiring, expected on Monday, will be proof positive that Tagliabue did indeed force Parcells’ hand. In finding against Belichick, Tagliabue did add some stinkers for the Jets in the form of “submissions” that are due February 1. The second one, which addressed the continued role of Parcells under Woody Johnson, forced the Jets to place an exact clarification on Parcells’ status or risk losing Belichick for no compensation.

And then late Friday night, word broke from Jetsville that Groh would be named their head coach on Monday. Apparently Parcells really does want to stay retired. Or does he?

The Patriots have every right to be concerned with Parcells’ every move. They have every right to scrutinize everything he does. And they have every reason to believe that Parcells could magically reappear as Jet head coach at any time.

Especially if the Patriots hand over draft picks for Belichick.

The Tagliabue ruling provided a little buffer for the Patriots if they do reach a deal with Belichick and bring him aboard. But until Groh actually signs on the dotted line, don’t believe a thing. And Tagliabue could, and should, go even further in his protection of both the Patriots and Belichick’s contractual rights.

Tagliabue’s ruling changed the dynamics of this entire compensation issue. The Jets should now want to bargain with the Patriots in good faith and try to let them get Belichick. The Jets do not want to see the Patriots walk away from the bargaining table without a deal. They may wind up eating Belichick’s contract with nothing in return, never mind the threat of Belichick’s counsel taking this mess to federal court.

But the Patriots also have to protect themselves from giving the draft picks to the Jets and getting snookered later. This is why, if Bob Kraft is smart, he will ask Tagliabue for a little more snooker protection.

Let’s say that the two sides agree on the following: Belichick comes to the Patriots for second round picks in 2000 and 2001. The deal is contingent upon Parcells not assuming the head coach position of the Jets for the 2000 and 2001 seasons. The 2002 season of Belichick’s Jet contract is voided, and Parcells can return as Jet head coach in 2002 if he wishes.

Now, if Parcells wants to become Jet head coach before the 2002 season, the Jets must pay the following penalties:

If Parcells becomes head coach:

between the present day and the 2000 NFL draft — both picks revert back to the Patriots
between the 2000 draft and the 2001 draft — the 2001 pick reverts back to the Patriots, and they receive the Jets’ second round pick in 2002 to make up for the lost 2000 pick
between the 2001 draft and the end of the Jets’ 2001 season — the Patriots receive the Jets’ second round picks in 2002 and 2003
If this all sounds outlandish, it probably is until you remember who it is you’re dealing with. This is the man who actually thought we would buy this “consultant” malarkey three years ago. For Parcells, you really have to do something like this.

Parcells is as cunning a human being as has ever been created. No man has kept the commissioner this busy since the halcyon days of Al Davis. The most elaborate deal that can be consummated between the Patriots and the Jets can never be taken at face value as long as Parcells is involved.

Once Groh is officially brought in as Jet coach, there is no reason why negotiations for Belichick can’t be concluded swiftly. Now that Parcells’ job position has been clearly defined, and with the threat of legal action from Jeffrey Kessler, the Jets have no further reason to delay. They should make the deal. And if Johnson is smart, he’ll leave Parcells out of the negotiations, especially if he knows that there is no way he will be head coach.

Of course, there still exists the possibility of the Patriots “walking away” from this deal. It seems unlikely, but it can still be done.

With Jacksonville’s loss today, Dom Capers is now available. Art Shell, Willie Shaw, Gary Crowton, they’re all still out there. Crowton remains the favorite at this typewriter.

And Charlie Armey remains the best man who can turn the entire Patriot organization around. If Belichick cannot be had, Kraft should fly to Atlanta and handcuff Armey back to Foxborough.

For the moment, all the world awaits the Jet press conference for tomorrow. Will Groh actually become Jet head coach? We actually think so. But as Ronald Reagan once said to the Soviets, “Trust…but verify.” Which translated means “we’ll believe it when we see it”.

There may be a deal, there might be a deal, but the worst thing is that there still is no deal. You could hear the late Harry Caray saying “It might be…it could be…”, but leaving off the “It is!!!” part.

At least the Jets will need to talk turkey also. Especially if we see the Man With The Shovel at the podium in Hempstead tomorrow. Then talks between the two teams will indeed start to Groh.

About Bob George

Covering Boston Sports since 1997. Native of Worcester, Mass. Attended UMass and Univ of Michigan. Lives in California. Just recently retired after 40 years of public school teaching. Podcasts on YouTube at @thepic4139

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