NFL Films drops the ball in its portrait of Parcells

Bill Parcells, who guarded his privacy and his game plans with equal ferocity, agreed to cooperate with an NFL Films documentary on his legendary coaching career.

The results are predictable.

The Parcells profile recently aired on NFL Network and it wasn't exactly a complete portrait of the Big Tuna.

There were ample Parcells sound bites (expletives deleted) and plenty of salutes to his motivational skills from former players like Giants quarterback Phil Simms and running back Curtis Martin.

One of the running themes throughout the documentary featured Parcells stoically gazing into the camera while stressing the importance of living comfortably with "The Man in the Mirror.''

But this mirror is cracked.

Although Parcells spurned Tampa Bay twice, a decade apart, there is not one mention of how he walked away from agreements with Hugh Culverhouse and the Glazers to coach the Buccaneers.

According to NFL Films, it never happened.

Also omitted were any references to how former NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle had to intervene and squash a deal Parcells had worked out with the Falcons to flee the Meadowlands right after the 1986 Giants won the Super Bowl.

"You have to be able to look in the mirror and look at that guy and say you're OK with that guy,'' says Parcells, who led the Giants to two championships and coached the 1996 Patriots to an AFC title.

Parcells comes across as a charismatic and dynamic leader famous for memorable sound bites.

"Don't get me on the warpath, boys, it ain't pretty,'' he warns his Dallas players during warm-ups.

"This is not a game for the most well-adjusted people. Sometimes, purposely being irate in order to accomplish something can be more effective in sports than approaching with a rational approach. Creating the turmoil gets the attention where you want to get it.

"They want you to cook the dinner, at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries.''

Parcells is so entertaining, you can easily forget the man is a terrific coach.

The vast majority of Super Bowls are won by the more talented team, but the 1990 Giants edged the Bills at Tampa Stadium in large part because Parcells stuck to the game plan, running Ottis Anderson even when Buffalo grabbed a 12-3 advantage.

By maintaining possession for more than 40 minutes, the Giants minimized Jim Kelly's possessions and won 20-19 when Scott Norwood's infamous field-goal try sailed wide right.

The documentary is narrated by actor Donald Sutherland, who provides the proper tone of reverence.

As usual for an NFL Films production, the behind-the-scenes clips are priceless.

Approaching some of his Cowboys coaches before a practice, Parcells playfully admonishes them in front of some players.

"You're too nice to these guys,'' Parcells said. "What are you guys doing in meetings ... toasting marshmallows?''

There are also some touching moments when former players talk about how Parcells inspired them to succeed, on and off the football field.

"He constantly played with your head,'' said Simms, who became a hero among his Giants teammates for snapping back at Parcells during their many nasty exchanges on the sidelines.

In the profile, Parcells is often compared to Vince Lombardi.

Engaging Mickey Corcoran provides the New Jersey link - playing prep basketball for Lombardi and then serving as Parcells' high school basketball coach.

Speaking of New Jersey, Parcells is asked to describe a Jersey guy.

"We all know what it is,'' he says. "You can't be pretentious, you can't be a phony.''

This could have been a first-rate documentary had NFL Films been intent on utilizing a wide-angle lens. The Man in the Mirror motif seems silly when you are profiling a 69-year-old man who couldn't fulfill his commitments.

The waffling started early, when new head coach Ray Perkins named Parcells as Giants defensive coordinator in 1979, only to see his new hire change his mind before the season started.

Parcells, unable to work under owner Robert Kraft, bolted the Patriots to coach the Jets in 1997, but NFL Films offers scant mention of the mess he left behind.

In the final segment, Parcells is asked if he likes the man he sees in the mirror. "He's a little less than perfect,'' Parcells notes, "but he's doing better.''

NFL Films atypically fumbled this assignment because "Reflections on a Life in Football'' doesn't give viewers a sense of the man in full. Like Culverhouse, we feel jilted at the altar.