Jan. 17
Bill Parcells conceded Thursday that in order to return to the sidelines, presumably to coach the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he still must clear the biggest hurdle -- himself.

"I know how much energy I put into (coaching), and I just have to make sure that I have enough to make a commitment that I know it takes in the NFL," Parcells told ESPN. "I have to feel 100 percent committed to deal with the responsibility and it can't be a one- or two-year thing. Until I feel I can make that commitment, I can't go back. I'm just going to deliberate on it and decide pretty shortly."

	“	I know how much energy I put into (coaching), and I just have to make sure that I have enough to make a commitment that I know it takes. ”
		— Bill Parcells

Parcells had reiterated the almost identical thoughts on his Sporting News radio show Thursday.

Parcells, 60, would not speak specifically to the highly anticipated announcement that he will become head coach of the Buccaneers, but he said that any hesitation on his part has nothing to do with contract negotiations.

"It's not about where it is, it's not about how much, or who's staying and going ... it's only about my ability to make the commitment that is necessary to go back and coach in the NFL," he said.

Further evidence that Parcells is hesitating came when a Buccaneers source confirmed that the Jets' Mike Tannenbaum -- Parcells' preferred salary-cap manager -- left Tampa on Thursday without signing a contract. It was anticipated by the Bucs that they would introduce Tannenbaum on Friday as their new general manager.

Other sources familiar with Parcells' deliberations say that the coach is seriously "trying to check his reserve" to make sure he has the energy to coach.

One source close to Parcells theorized that Thursday's announcement that he was a finalist for the Hall of Fame for the second straight year may have given him pause to think about his NFL legacy. Speculation last January that Parcells could replace Dungy for the 2001 season all but killed his chances for the Hall of Fame.

"If I decide not to coach this time around, then I think it's a pretty certain that I'll be retired from football for good," said Parcells, without alluding to the Hall of Fame.

Then again, the Hall of Fame does not pay $4 million per year, nor does it afford Parcells the opportunity to do what he does best -- coach.

The St. Petersburg Times last week reported that Parcells had a tentative agreement to become the Bucs coach if they fired Tony Dungy. "Tentative" is the operative word; sources say that any agreement Parcells may have had with the Bucs was not binding for either side.

However, the Malcolm Glazer family that owns the Bucs "would be devastated and shocked" if Parcells did not become their next coach, according to a team official.

The Glazers' two alternatives have disappeared -- Dungy has been fired and Steve Spurrier has been hired by the Redskins.

Then again, Parcells could end the deliberations this weekend by deciding he can make the commitment, after all.