Tale of the Tuna

Bucs allege tampering by Cowboys with Parcells

Citing a signed contract, Tampa Bay wants compensation if Bill Parcells returns to the NFL. AP

By Don Banks, Sports Illustrated

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- In a move that is seen as exacting a measure of revenge for how they were treated by a waffling Bill Parcells last offseason, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have a trump card. A Buccaneers source confirmed Sunday that the team sent a letter to Parcells' agent last week claiming that any team seeking to hire the former three-time head coach must seek permission from them.

Tampa Bay contends it has a signed four-year contract with Parcells, executed in January before Parcells changed his mind and opted to stay retired rather than coach the Bucs. That contract, the Bucs team source said, gives Tampa Bay the right to file tampering charges to the league against anybody attempting to hire Parcells.

At the very least, Tampa Bay believes it may be able to seek compensation from an interested team -- in the form of a draft choice -- in exchange for releasing Parcells from the Bucs contract. Parcells surfaced last week as the leading candidate to be offered Dallas' head coaching job following the anticipated firing of Dave Campo on Monday.

"We don't have enough draft picks anyway," quipped the Bucs team source, noting that Tampa Bay had to ship Oakland two first-round and two second-round selections in February in exchange for hiring away Raiders head coach Jon Gruden. The Bucs only turned to Gruden after Parcells left them in the lurch by pulling out of his agreement to coach Tampa Bay.

Parcells' agent, Jimmy Sexton, declined comment Sunday, but a source close to the situation said Sexton only learned of the Bucs' move Sunday and has yet to see a copy of the letter. Bucs general manager Rich McKay, in Champaign, Ill., where Tampa Bay closes out the regular season Sunday night against Chicago, also could not be reached for comment.

The Bucs say their letter was sent to Sexton on Dec. 27, and a Tampa Bay team source confirmed that the idea of challenging the Cowboys' potential hiring of Parcells surfaced early last week. The move is thought to be driven by Tampa Bay team executives Bryan and Joel Glazer, the sons of Bucs owner Malcolm Glazer.

Given that the Bucs subsequently hired Gruden, and Parcells remained out of the league for the entire 2002 season, it's not known whether the NFL will consider valid Tampa Bay's contention that it retains contractual rights to Parcells. But unless the Bucs unexpectedly drop the matter, the issue of tampering charges and potential compensation likely will wind up being resolved by the league office.

 

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