Report: The ‘Big Tuna’ to the ‘Big Easy?’

As the NFL owners head to Florida for the annual owners meetings, the New Orleans Saints are still a hot topic.  Suspended Saints coach Sean Payton plans to be in attendance. Payton's suspension is effective Sunday, April 1st, and New Orleans still needs a coach.

Enter Bill Parcells.  Parcells hired Payton as an assistant in Dallas in 2003.  Parcells is a mentor of sorts to Payton, and Payton has sought his counsel and wisdom in recent weeks.  Multiple league sources have reported Payton has broached the idea of Parcells becoming the Saints interim coach in 2012.

Parcells was taking in a Cardinals/Mets Spring Training game today and asked about the reports.  Parcells told reporters the Saints haven't contacted him about becoming their coach, but did admit that he and Payton have discussed how to handle the season.

The Payton/Parcells thing reminds me of when a married couple goes out of town and their babysitter cancels at the last minute.  As a last resort the parents call in a grandparent to watch the kids.  The parents know the grandparent will take a vested interest in the children, but still worry they might fall asleep when the kids get into the household cleaners.

There are certainly worse choices out there than Bill Parcells, but I'd be shocked if the 70 year old tuna dons yet another team's polo.