Parcells Not Happy Facing Former Assistant Coach

Among the many things Bill Parcells expresses a dislike for, two will merge in the New York Jets’ fifth game: Monday nighters and matchups with a protege.

The Jets play host to a Monday night game for the first time since 1992 when they face the Jacksonville Jaguars. On the other sideline will be Tom Coughlin, who spent three seasons as receivers coach with the New York Giants, learning at the heels of head coach Parcells.

This isn’t the first time Parcells and Coughlin have faced off. In January, the Jets won a playoff game 34-24 against the Jaguars. Each meeting is just as uncomfortable as the previous one for Parcells.

“I don’t particularly enjoy it, never have enjoyed it,” Parcells said. “I have enough guys I’d rather coach against than people I like.

“I don’t think about it much and not at all [during a game]. Usually I spend some time with Tom in warmups, we talk. Afterward, I always will congratulate him, then usually speak with him the next day.

“Tom was one of my favorite coaches I ever coached with, one of the very few; you can count them on less than five fingers. We just think alike. I don’t know if it is intellectual incest, or we discuss things we agree on. I just think he believes a lot of the same things I do.”

Certainly, Coughlin believes in maintaining tight control on an organization. Like Parcells, Coughlin doesn’t allow his assistant coaches to talk to the media. He keeps practices closed. He has his hand in all aspects of the operation, with no decisions made without Coughlin playing a role.

It’s worked for both men. Parcells, of course, won two Super Bowls with the Giants and made one with the Patriots. His career mark is 131-95-1 (141-97 counting playoffs), but his injury-ravaged team is 1-3.

Coughlin, hired in 1994 to get Jacksonville’s program off the ground a year before the expansion Jaguars began playing, is 41-33 (including playoffs). He got the Jaguars to the AFC title game in 1996, losing to Parcells’ Patriots. They made the playoffs the last two seasons, as well.

“Bill is a great friend of mine and I’ll always be indebted for the opportunities he has given me in my career,” Coughlin said. “I think moreso than in perhaps the earlier years, we are both competitive and both consumed in the job we have rather than worrying about our own feelings for each other.

“Bill is a great coach, a proven coach.”

Parcells’ team hasn’t proven much this year. It has two starters (quarterback Vinny Testaverde and cornerback Otis Smith) gone for the season. Two key subs, running back-kick returner Leon Johnson and linebacker Chad Cascadden, a special teams ace, are on injured reserve, too.

There’s a chance Wayne Chrebet will return from a broken foot and boost the receiving corps, and starting nose tackle Jason Ferguson may play for the first time since injuring his ankle in the opener.

“We have to be aware of that,” Coughlin said of Chrebet. “He is a special player. He was extremely effective against us last year.”

Coughlin probably meant 1996, the pre-Parcells days, when Chrebet had the most productive day of his career with 12 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown in a loss at Jacksonville.

The Jaguars hope running back Fred Taylor is back from a hamstring problem.

This is the first Coughlin-Parcells Monday nighter and Parcells can do without it.

“I’d rather play Sunday at 1:00,” Parcells insisted. “It’s selfish; you don’t have enough time the next week. You don’t get a chance to evaluate the last game and you’re preparing on a short week.

“I’m not saying it is not good for football. There’s tremendous interest in it. I certainly have been involved in enough of it.

“But I’d rather play Sunday at home at 1:00.”

Despite their close ties, neither Coughlin nor Parcells will back off trying to beat each other Monday at 9:00. While the Jaguars (3-1) have some breathing room, the Jets remain in a somewhat desperate situation.

Neither side is offering or expects any sympathy.