Bill Parcells knows a thing or two about coaching in the NFL and the potential drama that can come with it, especially through the media.
Parcells took part in a Q&A with The Athletic and Gary Myers, and Parcells seemed to downplay the offseason drama between Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft.
"I don’t pay any attention to that. Nobody knows what’s what exactly," he said. "You are just hearing gossip and conjecture and opinion. I don’t put much stock in that. Having been in a position myself as a head coach, a lot of things are said about an organization, the coaching staff and the owner. Some of the things are just flat out not true. Yet they get out and they get publicized because they make good headlines. The only thing you got to do is watch the product on the field. When the season starts, all this offseason stuff, it doesn’t mean anything. Nothing."
The former Patriots coach believes the team still has a few solid years left.
"I wouldn’t underestimate them," he said. "Their track record is illustrious. You know, all things come to an end. We all know that. New England had quite a few players last year that couldn’t play defensively because of injuries. Some of them are coming back. Defense was one of their Achilles’ heels. If they can improve there, we know they are going to have the firepower.
"They have a prolific passer. They have [Julian] Edelman coming back, [Rob] Gronkowski is a target. They have some runners. Their back is a very, very good pass receiver. They got that young back from Georgia [Sony Michel], who looks like he can score touchdowns if he gets a step or so. I don’t see anybody right now in their division that I would say has the upper hand on them, that’s for sure. If you can win your division, you are a long way down the road to doing something."
Parcells also acknowledged he and Belichick still talk occasionally, as it appeared at the end of ESPN's "The Two Bills" last winter the two had at least returned to being on speaking terms.