Payton, Parcells talking, that’s all

— Could Bill Parcells be coming back to the sideline?

The former New York Giants, New England Patriots, New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys coach said Monday that he has been in regular contact with suspended New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton, but declined to say whether they have discussed the idea of Parcells coaching the team in 2012.

Payton was suspended for the season by Commissioner Roger Goodell, who ruled he failed to stop the team from running a bounty system run by former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams during the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons. It is uncertain whether Payton plans to appeal the suspension, although he said in a statement issued Friday that he took full responsibility for not stopping the bounties.

ESPN reported that Payton had consulted Parcells about the idea of coaching during his suspension.

Parcells said Monday he has spoken to Payton regularly since the suspension was announced Wednesday. But Parcells called any talk that he might take over in 2012 “hypothetical.”

“I have said that Sean Payton has spoken to me about the situation, but he’s really sought my counsel,” Parcells said. “This is going back to [when the suspension] first happened. That’s really the extent of it.”

When asked whether they had discussed coaching the Saints, Parcells said: “Not really, no. I think everything is hypothetical at this point. It would be hard to be interested in something I don’t know exists yet.”

Later Monday, Parcells said he had spoken with Payton several times since he was suspended. Payton is expected to address the owners and talk to reporters this week. He has issued only a statement through the team about his role in the scandal.

Parcells would not discuss whether the two had spoken about a potential coaching job. But Parcells, 70, did say he has turned down two coaching opportunities since he stepped down from the Cowboys after the 2006 season. He declined to name the teams that had reached out to him.

Parcells also said he has not been contacted by any Saints official but Payton. The team declined to comment on the news that Payton spoke to Parcells about coaching in 2012. The team reportedly is considering three in-house candidates: defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael and offensive coach Aaron Kromer.

Parcells also said he was concerned that returning to coach might imperil his chances of making the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was a finalist this year but was not selected. A rule recently enacted requires coaches to be retired for at least five years before being considered.

“Of course I think about that,” Parcells said. “I can’t worry about it, because that’s worrying about something that might never happen. Was I disappointed I didn’t get in the Hall of Fame? Yes, but I’m way over that now. I’m past it now.”

Sports, Pages 20 on 03/27/2012

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