The high-stakes poker game being played by Bill Parcells, Bob Kraft and the New York Jets took a new twist yesterday.
Parcells delivered a letter to Kraft, the New England Patriots owner, resigning as coach of the team, and Kraft immediately announced that he won't let Parcells go to the Jets unless they give up the first pick in the April draft.
Unless one of the sides is bluffing, that means Parcells will have ++ to sit out the season and the Jets will have to find another coach to replace Rich Kotite.
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue ruled Wednesday that Parcells is still tied to the Patriots for one more year unless Kraft allows him to leave. The Jets already have opened talks with Kraft, but have balked at giving up the No. 1 pick.
There has been speculation that the Jets might trade down and offer Kraft a lower pick in the first round, but he warned them that such a maneuver would cost them Parcells for 1997.
"Please don't trade your No. 1 draft choice because that must be part of the solution," Kraft said at a news conference that followed the one in which Parcells resigned after four seasons that included a 34-34 overall record, two playoff berths and one Super Bowl appearance, last Sunday's 35-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Kraft made it obvious that he believes the Jets tampered with Parcells, and that's the reason he's so adamant about getting the first-round pick.
He noted that the Jets haven't interviewed any other candidates, a sign that Parcells or his agent, Robert Fraley, had sent a message the coach is willing to take the job. Parcells denied he has talked to the Jets.
There has been speculation that the Jets might consider giving up a second-round pick this year (31st overall) and a first-round pick next year. Kraft is holding firm in his demand for this year's top pick, but he risks getting nothing if the Jets pass on Parcells.
Officials of the Jets, who earned the first pick by having the NFL's worst record last season at 1-15, said little yesterday.
"Nothing has changed," Jets president Steve Gutman said. "We'll have no further comment until the process has been concluded."
This is the second time Parcells has resigned after taking a team to the Super Bowl. He quit the New York Giants on May 15, 1991, after winning the NFL title four months earlier.
He also tried to go to the Atlanta Falcons two days after winning his first Super Bowl, after the 1986 season, but former commissioner Pete Rozelle ruled he was still under contract to the Giants.
