PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NFL : Parcells Reportedly Offered Tampa Job

Bill Parcells, who won two Super Bowls before leaving the New York Giants for the broadcast booth this season, reportedly has been offered the job of trying to rescue the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Two newspapers reported Wednesday that Tampa Bay owner Hugh Culverhouse is willing to pay Parcells more than $1 million a year to return to coaching, and that he wants an answer by this weekend.

The Tampa Tribune, quoting an unidentified source, said Parcells has been offered a multi-year contract worth $1.5 million annually, a deal that would make him the highest-paid coach in the NFL.

The Orlando Sentinel said Parcells met with Culverhouse in New Jersey on Monday, their second meeting in as many weeks. The newspaper added details to the offer, saying it is for five years and Parcells has been given assurances of having complete responsibility for personnel decisions.

“I have no comment on that,” Culverhouse said when the Sentinel reached him by telephone Tuesday night.

Parcells reportedly is also under consideration for the Green Bay Packer coaching job that opened when Lindy Infante was fired last weekend.

Sam Wyche’s former players would like to know why he is leaving the Cincinnati Bengals.

They were stunned Tuesday when the team announced Wyche quit as head coach and Wyche said he was fired.

“I’m confused as well as everybody in Cincinnati,” safety David Fulcher said. “I’m disappointed if they let Sam go. And if Sam quit, then I’m mad because I never saw any quit in this guy. If he quit, the pressure had to throw him out. The guy loves the game of football. If there’s a job open tomorrow, I’m sure he’ll go for it.”