Cowher won't coach in '09
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Bill Cowher doesn't plan to coach in the NFL next year, and will stay with CBS Sports as a studio analyst.
Cowher was recently wooed by the Jets, but said during "The NFL Today" yesterday that he's taking it "year to year."
"It's a privilege and an honor to be a head coach in the National Football League," Cowher said. "And I have been flattered about the attention, but the timing right now is not right. I don't plan on coaching next year."
Cowher, who won a Super Bowl during his 15-year tenure with the Steelers, took himself out of the running as a candidate for the Jets job Dec. 30. He also was a candidate for the vacant Cleveland job, but asked to be taken off the list.
Parcells's contract allows him to leave and still receive the $9-12 million remaining on his four-year contract if the franchise is sold, which is widely expected. But Huizenga said Parcells told him Friday he plans to remain as executive vice president of football operations.
"I talked to Bill the other day," Huizenga said. "He said, 'Hey, I like it here.' "
The sale of a majority share of the team to New York real estate billionaire Stephen Ross is expected to be completed soon. Under the terms of Parcells's contract, he would then have 30 days to leave without sacrificing the money due him in the final three years of his deal.
Thanks in large part to the leadership of Parcells, hired in December 2007, Miami went 11-6 and made the playoffs after a 1-15 record the previous season.
"It hasn't been a good day," said Huizenga after Miami's 27-9 loss to Baltimore yesterday, "but it has been a great year."
"I didn't expect to be having this press conference today, and I didn't expect to be going through this process just yet," Dungy said.
How the Colts move beyond a second straight postseason loss to the Chargers is nearly as uncertain as Dungy's future.
Dungy reiterated yesterday he plans to take about a week to decide whether he'll return to the sideline next season, though he could certainly take more time since Indy has a succession plan in place. Associate head coach Jim Caldwell will take over whenever Dungy decides to retire.
Smith got 23 1/2 votes and Sparano 22 1/2 from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL. Also receiving votes were Tennessee's Jeff Fisher (three) and the Patriots' Bill Belichick (one).
