Source: Parcells told Huizenga he would walk

Source: Parcells told Huizenga he would walk
February 11
Miami Herald

"Even as the Dolphins were in the middle of their playoff run in late December and football czar Bill Parcells was asking players to remain focused -- going so far as to manage and trim quarterback Chad Pennington's interview schedule the week before the New York Jets game -- Parcells was also thinking of his future, perhaps with another team.

Parcells delivered a message to Wayne Huizenga that set off a flurry of calls and strategy meetings within the Dolphins hierarchy. The message from Parcells?

"I will exercise my right to leave once this season is over and the team sale is complete."

That jaw-dropping sentence during talks between Parcells and Huizenga, according to a source, led directly to the Dolphins owner consulting with owner-in-waiting Stephen Ross, club president Bryan Wiedmeier and Dolphins Enterprises Vice President Bill Pierce, and then convincing Parcells to stay by converting a 30-day escape clause in his contract into an open-ended arrangement whereby Parcells can leave at any time.

The previous clause gave Parcells 30 days once the sale of the team was complete to Ross to leave the Dolphins and collect the entirety of the $12 million due him for the remaining three years of his contract. The previous clause also allowed Parcells to go work for any other team at any time, including within the three years, with no compensation due the Dolphins.

The new clause grants Parcells those same privileges throughout the life of the contract.

"Well, Bill (Pierce), Bryan (Wiedmeier) and I we talked about it, and it was the right thing to do," Huizenga said Tuesday. "It was good for Bill, it was good for Steve and it was good for the Dolphins. I’m happy that it worked out well. We want to see Bill stay. He is good for the Dolphins and obviously they proved themselves with the year we had this year, with the great turnaround we had. It was exciting this year, to come from where we were to winning our division."

Pressed on how extending the clause could possibly help the Dolphins, Huizenga said: "It does benefit the team because Bill now has no reason to leave. He is not forced to make a decision in a short period of time. He’ll have plenty of time to stay as long as he wants to stay."

The truth is Parcells saw himself somewhat boxed in by the very clause meant to protect him against an ownership change. Because the old clause put him on a 30-day clock, and knowing he could not possibly learn enough about Ross within that time period, Parcells was prepared to walk to protect his own interests.

And he told Huizenga as much."
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