Tuna's casserole

Parcells working with staff on Cowboys' blueprint

IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Bill Parcells has yet to see much of his new surroundings. Arriving at work before dawn, going back to his hotel after dark, some of the few breaks he's taken have been to eat dinner at a restaurant -- once -- and to look for a house on the weekends.

"But only for two hours," he said. "It just whips me."

Less than three weeks into his tenure as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Parcells has been busy designing and implementing a blueprint for turning around a team that's won only five games each of the past three seasons.

He took time Tuesday for his first news conference since his hiring. It came in his new locker room following an informal introduction of his 14 assistant coaches.

Still dripping wet from a workout, Parcells gave a progress report on what he's done so far, and what's next.

"I'm just looking for good players," he said. "I haven't really evaluated the whole team yet. There's a lot of things we're going to need. I'm making an effort to get it. Be patient in that regard."

He said a decision on Emmitt Smith is coming soon, and he's leaving it up to team owner Jerry Jones.

"It's in everybody's best interest for it not to go on longer," Parcells said. "Jerry asked me to let him handle that one. That was way back when we first met. ... They're going to talk it out. I don't know what he is going to say."

Parcells said he met last week with assistants to explain how he wants things done. He said his top priority the next six weeks is creating the systems each unit will use.

He's already decided that the offense will use terminology he's familiar with and that the defense won't have to change. Instead, he will adjust to what the Cowboys have been using since it's been working.

As for who will call plays on offense, he hasn't decided. He pointed out that he's done it before and could do it again, but he also stressed that every coach will have input into game plans.

The only specifics he mentioned about the roster was that he'd like to re-sign offensive lineman Flozell Adams. He said Troy Aikman wasn't likely to be coming back.

"My best sense is that wouldn't be the direction I'm looking. But you never know," Parcells said. "I'll keep all options open. I'd like to have a guy like him, I'll tell you that."

He said he's started looking at free agency, beginning with evaluating the team's own free agents. He'll start digging into the draft soon, and also has a meeting with the entire team coming up.

His message will be simple: "I'm going to go by what I see."

Here's more on what Parcells had to say about all those subjects and others, including the Super Bowl victory by Tampa Bay, a team he signed to coach a year ago before walking away from the deal.