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Parcells scouts new future
Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King spoke with CNNSI anchor Bob Lorenz on September 17 about the goings-on around the league on CNN's NFL Preview: Bob Lorenz: There's been a lot of speculation surrounding Jets director of football operations Bill Parcells. What's in his future? Peter King: The near future is that he is going to finish this season out as the chief executive football officer with the Jets. Then in the offseason he is going to determine his long-term future. One of the things he told me is that he is going to go on some college scouting trips this fall. If he likes what he sees -- he is going to go to Michigan, Michigan State and some other Big Ten schools -- he is going to consider extending his stay atop the Jets for at least one more year. And if he doesn't I think you will see him back in television next year. Bob Lorenz: Detroit quarterback Charlie Batch is healthy right now but during training camp the Lions were looking at a guy who would have been a very interesting selection... Peter King: In the summer after Charlie Batch got hurt and then Mike Tomczak broke his leg, Detroit coach Bobby Ross reached out and called his former quarterback at the University of Maryland, Boomer Esiason. They played phone tag for a while and then finally connected. Ross never made Esiason a formal offer because he knew he would not have the salary cap money available; they were planning to sign Batch to a lucrative contract. But Esiason told Ross that yes, there was some interest there. I spoke to Boomer about this and he is open to returning to the NFL as a player if the money is right. Boomer's is looking to get a signing bonus and that's going to be a problem since I don't think any team is going to give him one. Bob Lorenz: Dallas is 0-2 on the year, and if they want to avoid going 0-3, they're going to have to do it without Troy Aikman. What are your thoughts on this situation as the Cowboys head into Monday night's game with the Redskins? Peter King: The scary thing for Troy Aikman, who suffered his ninth NFL concussion in the opening week, has to be that this is becoming a hauntingly familiar scene to him, just like it was to Steve Young. Jerry Jones has taken the decision-making process out of Troy Aikman's hands which is very, very smart because if he didn't Aikman would be playing this week. Aikman needs somebody to step in and say "You can't play right now" and until Aikman totally defogs and stops getting headaches the Cowboys will keep him out of the lineup. Bob Lorenz: Raiders defensive tackle Darrell Russell has added to the feud between Denver and Oakland, accusing the Broncos' offensive line of cheating... Peter King: Well, Darrell Russell is not the only guy. After the first game of this season, the St. Louis Rams complained to the league office that the Denver offensive linemen were using illegal blocking techniques. The Broncos came back from the league with a clean bill of health; they weren't sanctioned, the league found nothing illegal. I called Broncos coach Mike Shanahan this week and I asked him whether his team was being targeted and he said, "Every time we kick someone's rear end they go whining to the league about it." I think the biggest thing right now is that something like this could start to wear on a lineman's mind. This is the smallest line in the league and it's the most skilled line in the league right now and Shanahan and offensive line coach Alex Gibbs just hope that guys play their own games and don't worry about the outside influences. Bob Lorenz: Chargers quarterback Ryan Leaf was yanked as the starter, Moses Moreno will make only his second career start against Kansas City on Sunday. Are you surprised that Mike Riley didn't give Leaf more time? Peter King: There is no question about that. If you tell a guy in training camp that he's your quarterback and then you give him seven quarters, what does that say about your level of confidence in him? It is clear that Mike Riley has no confidence in Ryan Leaf. To me, making a move like this two games into the season is a huge mistake. The biggest goal the Chargers have this season is to find out whether Leaf can play. This is a precipitous move; the Chargers are making a mistake. Bob Lorenz: Brad Johnson struggled last week in the Redskins' loss to the Lions, now they're without Michael Westbrook. Do you think Daniel Snyder has his finger on the panic button yet? Peter King: No, I don't think he has it on the panic button yet but a poor performance on Monday night could really push him to pressure Norv Turner to make a change at quarterback, especially if Brad Johnson struggles. Turner told me that Johnson had a great week at practice. In fact, he threw the best ball he has ever thrown as a Redskin Friday in practice -- a good deep ball -- because it looked to me as if Johnson had lost something on his fastball. Absolutely not, Turner said, and he looks for Johnson to make the comeback on Monday night against Dallas. Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King covers the NFL beat for the magazine and appears each Sunday on CNN's "NFL Preview."
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