Parcells on Pioli, Haley

From Tampa, Florida

Inside the Gatorade Studio at the Tampa Convention Center, Bill Parcells was relaxing before he headed off to do about a dozen different interviews at the Super Bowl Media Center.

Before he got started, Parcells took time to talk about the Chiefs new GM Scott Pioli, who also happens to be his son-in-law. He also talked and the man who may be their next head coach, Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

Here’s what Parcells had to say.

Question: What are the driving principles that will be part of Scott Pioli’s leadership of the Chiefs franchise?

Parcells: “He’s relentless. He will not leave any stones unturned when it comes to his job. He’s a hard worker, but he’s also a smart worker. He doesn’t waste a lot of time on things that don’t mean anything. He isn’t going to spend a lot of time appearing in front of the cameras and microphones because that’s not what he’s about. I think Scott will approach his job just with the primary purpose of giving his coach the best team possible.”

Question: At his introductory press conference he said his job is not to get the best 53 players in football, it’s to put together the best team. As a man who has both coached and put together teams, what does that mean to you?

Parcells: “I’m not going to speak for him, but what he’ll do is go out and get character people. That’s the job any evaluator has to handle and that’s not only judging physical ability, but character. You’ve got to have character guys on your team. Now there’s a lot of different ways to define that, but in football it comes down to finding players that will work together for one goal. He will find character players.”

Question: Is there any sense of your own buttons bursting pride that he’s now got a chance to run his own show?

Parcells: “I’ve got two relationships with him. One is football, the other is my daughter. I think he’s a good man and I will try to help him anyway I can, within the rules. But he’s also now a competitor, and I can’t ever forget that.”

Question: Todd Haley was part of your staff at both the New York Jets and Dallas. There are a lot of rumors about that he may be the Chiefs next head coach. What qualities do you think he has for the job as head coach?

Parcells: “OK, right off the bat, I’ve got no idea who he’s thinking about as head coach. I last talked to him (Pioli) last Friday and we didn’t talk about that subject and I have no knowledge of any names. So, I’m not much of a source as you media guys say for the rumors.

“As for Todd, he’s an intelligent, passionate guy, who knows how to handle players and understands the things that are important to get things done with a team. He comes from good stock, because his father (Dick Haley) is one of my favorite people in this game. If he can be half the coach that his father was as a scout then Todd will be successful.

“But again, I’ve got no idea that it’s him. Whoever it is, will be somebody that he (Pioli) feels comfortable with and agrees with his ideas of how you go about putting a team on the field that can win football games. That’s the only way you get to stay around; you have to win.”