Bill Parcells: Live from Tampa
5:00 PM - 5:30 PM ETBill Parcells
21 comments
Two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Parcells joined us for a live chat Friday afternoon. Here is the complete transcript.
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Bill Parcells, Miami Dolphins
05:00 PM
Hi everybody. Sorry we're a little late. I'm here at the Gatorade "G" studio at the Super Bowl XLIII media center. Six murals of Super Bowl moments will be auctioned at NFLAuctions.com to raise money for charity. We've got a break in the action, so let's talk football. -
Harrison, Canada
5:09 PM ET
As a Super Bowl winning coach, how did you prepare your team for the big game?
Bill Parcells, Miami Dolphins
Pretty much the way you try to prepare for every game - try to put your players in position to have success. Try to make sure your coaching staff is involved in properly managing the game, and as the coach, do everything you can do to give your team the best chance to do well. -
Simon Butchers, United Kingdom
5:11 PM ET
Bill, how did you get the name Big Tuna
Bill Parcells, Miami Dolphins
I brought it on myself by accident. There used to be an old commercial for Starkist Tuna, with Charlie the Tuna, and he was kind of a sucker -- he'd always go for the bait. And the players tried to pull a little joke on me, and I wasn't going to go for it. So I mistakenly said, "You must think I'm Charlie the Tuna." And it took on a life of its own. -
klaus schoeppner, oldenburg, germany
5:14 PM ET
mr. parcells, did you expect having that success that soon?... thx from a dolfan in germany for 30 years. regards, klaus
Bill Parcells, Miami Dolphins
I don't know that you can expect it. We have a philosophy. Tony Sparano did a great job. Jeff Ireland did a great job. We didn't have to educate each other on what we were trying to do. I don't think you expect it. But once you start winning games, the confidence gets up and it kind of propels you. And that's what happened. -
John Alarcon, Miami, Florida
5:16 PM ET
I am 5'10, I weigh 162 pounds, and I run a 4.9 on the forty yard dash. What are the chances that you will sign me for the dolphins?
Bill Parcells, Miami Dolphins
None. -
Gary A., Miami, FL
5:17 PM ET
Mr. Parcells: After all the success that you have had through the years as both coach and talent evaluator, which do you consider yourself better at?
Bill Parcells, Miami Dolphins
Hopefully I learned well enough to say I would be at least adequate at both. Hopefully I'm adequate at both. -
jimmy, pittsburgh
5:18 PM ET
Coach, a team that gave up 25 points or more 11 times and 35 or more points 4 times should the cards even be on the same field with the steelers? Steelers in a rout. How do you see it?
Bill Parcells, Miami Dolphins
It doesn't make any difference what they've done up until this Sunday. The Cardinals are obviously the representative of the NFC, and I think it will be a very good ballgame. I would be surprised if it's a rout. -
Seamus, Ireland
5:22 PM ET
Are football players as tough now? I have recently read L.T.'s autobiography, and the number & severity of injuries he played with was amazing. I know he wasn't your normal football player, but it seems nowadays a player will miss a game with a broken nail.
Bill Parcells, Miami Dolphins
I disagree with that. I think most of the players are conscientious and go when they can. The key is that if they think they are going to hurt their team, then it's their obligation not to play. -
Mike, San Diego California
5:24 PM ET
Hey Bill, now that the dolphins have finally made it back to the playoffs this season, what do you think are their chances next season?
Bill Parcells, Miami Dolphins
Hopefully we can put a better team on the field next year. We have a much more difficult schedule next year, so I don't know what the chances are. But my goal is to put a better team on the field next year than we had this year. I don't know if our record will reflect it. -
Joel, El Dorado Hills CA
5:25 PM ET
Mr. Parcells, Giants fan from NYC. Why would any team ever prefer to go with a 4-3 defense when most of the great defenses have been 3-4's?
Bill Parcells, Miami Dolphins
I don't know that that is the case. It depends on the players you have playing in either of those defenses. If you want to have success you have to integrate them in, philosophically, to both of the defenses. -
Sonehal, England
5:27 PM ET
Hey Bill! Big Fan! I would like to know,what attributes do you always look for in an NFL player?
Bill Parcells, Miami Dolphins
Big, smart, and fast. -
Kurt Anderson, San Antonio, TX
5:28 PM ET
Are you going to stay with the Miami Dolphins in spite of the new ownership?
Bill Parcells, Miami Dolphins
Yes I am. -
Keith, Washington D.C.
5:28 PM ET
Coach P. what is your all-time favorite memory as coach of any team you ever coached?
Bill Parcells, Miami Dolphins
That's a hard one, Keith. I have three or four. Super Bowl XXV is certainly one of them. Super Bowl XXI is surely another one. And I noticed you're from Washington. So I would have to tell you that in the late '80s, a 52-yard field goal on Monday night to beat the Redskins when I was with the Giants, with no time on the clock, is right up there with them. -
Steve, England (UK)
5:31 PM ET
Hi Bill, did you ever get the opportunity to coach the Redskins? And as a former Giants and Cowboys coach how much do you respect and rate the NFC East against the other divisions.
Bill Parcells, Miami Dolphins
I do have a high regard for the NFC East, Steve. It was certainly a very competitive division during my time in the NFL. And no, I never had a chance to coach the Redskins. -
James Reynolds, Lowestoft, England
5:33 PM ET
Hi Bill I appreciate that this is a difficult question as you have a job right now, but do you feel that your career as an NFL Head coach definitely over?
Bill Parcells, Miami Dolphins
Absolutely. -
Aaron, Wilmington, DE
5:34 PM ET
Who do you predict to win the Super bowl and what are the reasons you think that team will win?
Bill Parcells, Miami Dolphins
Aaron, I am rooting for the Cardinals because I know a lot of their staff and worked with a lot of their staff. I've always favored defense in these games, though, so I'd have to say Pittsburgh. -
Jacob, Kansas
5:35 PM ET
Mr.Parcells, after a great season for the dolphins,what are the weak points of the team and the strong points of the team?
Bill Parcells, Miami Dolphins
Jacob, I think the strong points are the collective team itself. Unselfishness, willing to work hard and practice hard. I think we need a little more firepower on offense. -
Allan Clayton, Kansas nCity
5:36 PM ET
If you were your son-in-law, who would you choose to coach the Chiefs?
Bill Parcells, Miami Dolphins
Allan, who I would choose doesn't make any difference. I would hopefully get a young fella that I could grow with as the general manager, and work together and be philosophically compatible. -
John, Palmdale
5:38 PM ET
On all of the teams you have been on, which player did you clash with the most?
Bill Parcells, Miami Dolphins
Of all the teams I've been with... I would say Phillip Simms, who I like very much, by the way. -
Kevin, Dallas, TX
5:39 PM ET
With your familiarity with the Dallas Cowboys, what word of advice would you give to Jerry Jones, to help turn that francise around?
Bill Parcells, Miami Dolphins
Kevin, I would really not be in a position. having not been there for a couple of years, to give Jerry any advice. Jerry has his own way of doing things, and it's proven to be successful. I think he'll get the Cowboys back on track. -
JVW, Columbia, SC
5:41 PM ET
Did Devone Bess exceed expectations in his first yr? and how much upside does he have?
Bill Parcells, Miami Dolphins
I think he has a lot of upside and he absolutely exceeded all our expectations. He is all football business, that's all he pays attention to. He has some ability. He did well last year, and I look for good things from him. -
Adam K., Duluth MN
5:43 PM ET
Congrats on a great year for your team! Who do you think will win the superbowl and what do you think will be major factors in the victory?
Bill Parcells, Miami Dolphins
Turnovers will be the major factor, Adam. I think Pittsburgh will win, but I give Arizona a chance, a good chance. But if I had to say who will win, I'm saying Pittsburgh.
Okay, we're off to Radio Row. This has been fun. Looking forward to a great game Sunday.
