Patriots filled with questions
By Paul ArnettStar-Bulletin
Both have been asked so many times to players like quarterback Drew Bledsoe and running back David Meggett, they already know what to say before the questions are asked.
"I think I speak for everybody when I say we just wish the matter with Coach Parcells gets resolved as soon as possible," Bledsoe said after yesterday's American Football Conference practice at Aloha Stadium.
"The ruling by the commissioner puts the ball back in Coach Parcells' court. He has to decide whether he wants to stay or go. Once he reaches that decision, then I think we can move forward and start working on getting back to the Super Bowl."
That decision came today. Parcells announced that he would step down as coach of the Patriots after four seasons with the team.
National Football League commissioner Paul Tagliabue explained his reasons for deciding in favor of New England owner Robert Kraft yesterday morning during a brief interview. He felt the contract was clear-cut.
"I reached my decision by reading the contract and the amendment to the contract," Tagliabue said. "It was a straightforward amendment. In that language it said in the event he wanted to coach and the Patriots wanted him to coach, then he would coach for the Patriots in 1997.
"That's where it bottomed out. If there's any way for Bill to stay there, then they should get that done. If it's clear it's not going to work there, I'd like to see them work something out with another team for Bill's sake, and move on and hire their (Patriots) own coach, and get that Super Bowl team back in the Super Bowl."
New England running back and special teams artist Meggett, who played for Parcells when he coached the New York Giants, echoed those sentiments.
"I think the best thing is for both parties to sit down and reach an agreement, no matter what that is," Meggett said. "It's been a difficult situation for everyone. I know I'm tired of answering questions about it."
Defensive end Willie McGinest maintains it hasn't been as big a distraction as it has been made out to be.
"During the Super Bowl, we didn't even talk about it," McGinest said. "Like everybody else, we're just waiting to see what happens."
Tagliabue said that siding with the owners wasn't a conflict of interest.
"We have that all the time, you just have to call them as you see them," Tagliabue said of his ruling in the dispute in an ESPN-TV interview. "I'm like the umpire."
Kraft has said he wants to keep Parcells as his head coach, but that would seem unlikely. If something can't be worked out, then whatever NFL team tries to hire Parcells, will have to compensate the Patriots.
SOLD OUT AGAIN
As of Wednesday afternoon, there were only 200 end zone seats left of the 50,113 tickets available. Those were sold in time to make sure the game was not blacked out locally. It will be broadcast on ABC-TV in prime time on the East Coast. The local kickoff time is 3 p.m., two hours later than 1996.
The National Football Conference holds a 15-11 advantage over the American Football Conference as the game enters its 27th season. The NFC defeated the AFC, 20-13, in last year's Pro Bowl.
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Sanders rushed for 1,553 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Moore pulled down 106 passes for 1,296 yards and nine scores.
Cincinnati's Ashley Ambrose led all defensive backs with eight interceptions, including a 31-yarder for a touchdown. Chris Gardocki of Indianapolis is the top punter, with a 45.7-yard average.
Carolina's Kevin Greene leads his counterparts in sacks with 14.5 and Washington's Terry Allen is tops in touchdowns with 21.