Monday Afternoon Quarterback

I tried to post a blog once before, but as soon as I was done, it somehow disappeared. I'm apprehensive, but I am trying again. I am watching ESPN right now, as usual, and the news is that Bill Parcells is retiring, and therefore resigning from his post as the Dallas Cowboys coach.
I am not a Cowboys fan, and Parcells has never been my favorite person, but I am quite surprised by this decision. Supposedly, he had been telling those around him that he was returning and planning trips to college Senior Bowls, usually not signs of retirement.
It's hard not to think that Terrell Owens has something to do with this. I don't think it was the deciding factor, but it had to have played a role. Both of their personalities are too strong, so it's not shocking they didn't become the best of friends. Then again, can anyone become the best of anything with T.O.? Why do teams keep giving him chances? Is there any other player in the history of sports that seemingly controls his team because of his narcissism? I say no.
Back to the coaching vacancy that Dallas now faces, I have no clue as to who would want to go to that situation involving Owens. I can't imagine anyone, no matter how much they want to coach, openly welcoming T.O. as a player. I'm hearing Bum's son, Wade Phillips, because he is "a Texas person," whatever that means. Apparently, one only makes a good coach if he's from the team's area. Every year there are so many coaching vacancies, and I just wonder whether there are enough talented coaches to fill these NFL positions. It seems like any semi-talented assistant, coordinator, or college coach is automatically put into consideration.
Even though the situation is less than ideal, the Cowboys still have that "America's Team" aura and mystique. Coaching them is still a dream job, and I don't feel an unknown assistant will be good enough. It's a glamour position, therefore, a big name coach is probably what they're after. But, what do I know?
Not that I want Dallas to improve in any way, but I think an offensive coach would be best to develop Tony Romo into the great quarterback some people seem to think he can become. (I say he's average, at best, but then, I'm a diehard Bledsoe fan, so mine is not the most objective opinion.)

I've had enough of the Tuna talk, so I'll give my opinions on yesterday's Conference Championships. Things did not go my way at all. As I said before, I love Drew Bledsoe and became a Patriots fan when he was there, and I have continued my fandom through today's Brady-Belichick dynasty. And, being from Louisiana, I love the Saints, even though it hasn't always been the best team to root for.
I have more to say about the NFC Championship between the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints. Bears 39, Saints 14. One or two things go differently for the Saints and they're heading to Miami. I will admit that the Bears vastly outplayed them, but the Saints really killed themselves with the turnovers. With Chicago's defense playing as well as it was, New Orleans needed a perfect game to prevail. Despite their poor performance, the Saints have nothing to be ashamed of. Their season was one for the ages, an incredible feat to come from 3-13 last year to the NFC Championship. I live in Baton Rouge, so I feel fairly close to New Orleans, and no city could be more grateful to their team. One of the headlines to the Times-Picayune today was, "Thank You, Boys." Even though this loss stings, the 2006 Saints are forever winners.
The AFC Championship Game was really an instant classic, (Don Banks agrees) as it seems games between the Patriots and Colts usually are. On an ironic side note, the score, 38-34, was the same as when the two met in the 2003 AFC Championship Game, although with a different winner. My sister is a huge Colts and Peyton Manning fan, so a part of me is happy for her. I was so upset about the outcome (especially since I begged Tom Brady not to end this game with an interception, and not two minutes later, he did), but I watched the postgame press conferences on ESPN, and it's really tough not to like Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy. I'm happy for them, and hopefully Peyton gets the ring that's always eluded him.
My final thought on the upcoming Super Bowl: Did anyone ever think that Rex Grossman would be quarterbacking a team to the big game?