Parcells: No problem with Taylor returning, and gives praise to P Brandon Fields

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http://www.miamiherald.com/616/story/559200.html

Parcells: No problem with Taylor returning

BY ARMANDO SALGUERO
Miami Herald

Bill Parcells had not spoken extensively about the Dolphins since December, but he finally opened up Thursday, sharing his opinions on various subjects, including the rift between the team and defensive end Jason Taylor.

Parcells said the Dolphins are ''not actively'' trying to trade Taylor and left open the possibility of Taylor rejoining the team.

In a 22-minute interview with The Miami Herald, Parcells also said:

• He originally was offered the Dolphins' head coaching job and then the general manager job before becoming the team's executive vice president of football operations.

• He would not guarantee staying the four years of his contract.

• He has ''seen some things that are encouraging'' about Miami's quarterbacks, but added he doesn't know if any of them is the right guy. He also gave his opinion of the defensive line and special teams.

On the Taylor front, the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers have shown varying degrees of interest in making a trade. The Jacksonville Jaguars, interested before the draft, are no longer, according to ESPN.

Parcells, available to the press as part of the Gatorade Tiger Moonshot Challenge to benefit the Tiger Woods Foundation, left the door open for Taylor to rejoin the team, even if he misses training camp.

''Sure, you can do it,'' Parcells said. ``Sure you can do it because I've done it before. [Lawrence Taylor] held out. You think I didn't have a few knockdown and drag-outs with LT? But he's my guy. So maybe this guy will be our guy, too. You never know.

``I do think he's a good player. Could we put him back on the team? Yeah. You think we don't want good players? We want good players.''

NO RIFT

Parcells said there is no rift between himself and Taylor, although he didn't call Taylor by name, referring to him several times as ``the player.''

Parcells said he is not worried that Taylor said he would not attend Friday's minicamp. Taylor will be subject to fines handed down by coach Tony Sparano.

''That's the player's discretion,'' Parcells said. ``It is. He can do what he wants to do. I have no control over what he's going to do. If somebody doesn't come, there are measures in place to handle that. I don't know what Tony will do, but that will be Tony's decision.''

Although he repeatedly downplays his importance, Parcells is atop Miami's decision-making totem pole. But his role was initially uncertain in dealings with owner Wayne Huizenga. Parcells eventually agreed to set up a structure for the Dolphins in which he oversees the coach and general manager.

'What Wayne said to me was, `Look Bill, I need help. I need some law and order,' '' Parcells said. 'He asked me if I wanted to coach. I said no. He said, `You want to be the GM?' I don't need to do that job.

``I told him you need a guy to put a structure together. Put me in a place that will be good for the franchise. And hopefully it's going to be good. But they don't sell insurance for this stuff. If they did, I'd buy it.''

STRUCTURE IN PLACE

Parcells signed a four-year contract with the Dolphins, but that also comes without insurance. He has a history of moving to other jobs. Miami's ownership situation also could play a role in how long Parcells stays.

Parcells said he has no issues with Dolphins owner-in-waiting Stephen Ross, but still gave no guarantee he will be with Miami for the length of his deal.

''Who knows?'' Parcells said. ``I was charged with doing something here, and that's trying to put the structure in place that is going to allow Miami to go forward in the future.''

In doing that, Parcells is confident the Dolphins already are among the NFL's best teams in the talent-acquisition department.

''Its not a Neanderthal approach,'' he said. ``I think our approach to talent acquisition is as well-advanced as anybody in the league. I think our scouting department, the way it is now, I would put it up against anybody.''

The Dolphins had just 120 players on their draft board in April. Two players added to the defensive line -- Kendall Langford and Phillip Merling -- are part of a unit Parcells is optimistic about.

''I will say one thing that's pretty obvious to me is we're going to be improved on the defensive line,'' Parcells said.

Parcells isn't quite so certain about the most important position on the field -- quarterback. John Beck, Josh McCown and rookie Chad Henne are competing for the starting job. But . . .

''You never know what you really have until you just got beat 35-7, the quarterback throws four interceptions, maybe his nose is broken, the fans are booing him, the press is on his [butt], and the coaches are looking at him sideways and the players are wondering what the hell he can do,'' Parcells said.

``And now it's Wednesday afternoon and he's got to get back in the huddle and prove to everybody in the organization he can lead your team. Until they do that, you don't know what you have.''

PROMISING PUNTER

The team apparently does know what it has at, of all positions, punter. Unsolicited, Parcells praised second-year punter Brandon Fields.

''I think our punter has the potential to be outstanding,'' Parcells said. ``I think that's almost an understatement. This is a very powerful, gifted player and that weapon is a very important weapon in football -- being able to change [field position] on one play. And this kid can do it.''

Parcells was not so lavish in sizing up veteran Jay Feely. Although Feely connected on 21 of 23 field-goal attempts last season, Parcells said ``there will be competition for the field-goal job.''

Parcells said he and general manager Jeff Ireland set up three lists after breaking down the roster in January and February: musts, needs and wants.

'The `must' was comprised of about nine things, the 'need' had about eight things and the 'want' had probably two or three things,'' Parcells said. ``We didn't get all the musts, but we did get a vast majority of them.

``The needs we were better at because the things were a little easier.''

So what remains unfilled on Miami's lists?

''You haven't got room in your column for the answer,'' Parcells said.