Big Tuna swimming with Dolphins now

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Dec 21, 2007 | by Associated Press

DAVIE, Fla. -- A week ago, Wayne Huizenga seemed poised to sell his beloved Miami Dolphins and abandon his long quest for a Super Bowl title. Scratch those plans.

Huizenga brought in Bill Parcells instead, giving him the task of restoring Miami's lost luster.

Miami signed Parcells to a four-year contract Thursday as executive vice president of football operations, a fancy title meaning he'll oversee "anything that has to do with football, directly or indirectly," said Huizenga, the Dolphins' owner.

Simply put: Parcells is in charge.

"He's got the ultimate responsibility," Huizenga said.

The two-time Super Bowl champion coach will report directly to Huizenga, whose affinity for big-name help now has led him to a 66- year-old former coach of four NFL clubs who owns a home in South Florida and now has a job there, too.

"I'm honored to join such an illustrious franchise as the Miami Dolphins and to work for one of the best owners in the league in Wayne Huizenga," Parcells said. "He shares my same commitment to winning, and I told him I would do everything I can to help turn around the team's fortunes."

That will be a massive undertaking -- much like when Parcells went to the Giants, the Jets, the Patriots and the Cowboys.

His coaching plan helped turn those teams around.

Miami hopes Parcells can do the same thing from the front office.

"He has a proven track record of success everywhere he has been in the National Football League," Huizenga said.

BUSH MISSES PRACTICE: Saints running back Reggie Bush sat out practice Thursday, but coach Sean Payton is not ready to rule Bush out for Sunday's crucial home game against Philadelphia. "We backed off him some today," Payton said of Bush, who practiced to a limited extent on Wednesday.

PACMAN'S SUSPENSION STANDS: The NFL rejected an appeal by the players' union Thursday on behalf of suspended Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell turned down Jones' request for leniency Nov. 6. The NFL Players' Association appealed that ruling as excessive and had a hearing by telephone Dec. 14. But Jones must serve the final two games of his seasonlong suspension.

COLTS' UTECHT PRACTICES: Indianapolis tight end Ben Utecht returned to practice Thursday, a day after sitting out with an injured shoulder. Rookie outside linebacker Clint Session (ankle) and wide receiver Craphonso Thorpe (illness) also returned, and the Colts said all three might play Sunday against Houston at the RCA Dome. Sitting out Thursday's workout were safety Antoine Bethea (knee), defensive tackle Raheem Brock (rib), offensive tackle Ryan Diem (knee), rookie outside linebacker Ramon Guzman (foot), wide receiver Marvin Harrison (knee), cornerback Tim Jennings (team decision), defensive end Robert Mathis (knees), and safety Bob Sanders (team decision).

RAVENS' SMITH TO START: Rookie quarterback Troy Smith will make his first start Sunday when the Baltimore Ravens visit the Seattle Seahawks. With Kyle Boller missing his second consecutive day of practice due to lingering effects from a concussion, including headaches and sensitivity to light, Ravens coach Brian Billick confirmed Thursday Smith will take his place.

COOLEY TO PRO BOWL: Former Utah State football player Chris Cooley has been named to the Pro Bowl, one of three Washington Redskins to be selected. Cooley becomes the first former Utah State player selected to the Pro Bowl since Greg Kragen represented Denver in 1990. It is Cooley's first Pro Bowl bid.

DITKA DISTRIBUTES TRUST: Former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka made the first of two moves to dissolve his trust for needy retired players on Thursday by giving $300,000 to a Chicago-based charity. Ditka announced last week he would dissolve his Hall of Fame Assistance Trust Fund in the wake of a published report the charity had given only a small amount of money to its intended recipients.