The Two Bills were … tired of filming.
Bill Parcells offered his explanation for a scene in ESPN’s latest “30 for 30” that raised eyebrows after airing Thursday night, in which he and Bill Belichick refused to enter the Jets’ locker room. Belichick coached under Parcells for two seasons with the Jets, from 1997-99, and left under tense circumstances, though Parcells said Friday he doesn’t want the scene to be construed in the wrong way.
“Here’s what happened,” Parcells began in an interview with ESPN. “We’d been there for quite a while and we knew we were pretty much done with the interview. They were just wanting to get more footage. Bill had a car waiting for him and I was ready to go. I remember, he was anxious to go and so was I, really.
“It was like, ‘Where are they taking us now?’ That’s when we realized they wanted to take us down there and we just didn’t want to go. It wasn’t anything against anything. It was just time.”
The two coaches appear flabbergasted in the film when Ken Rodgers, director of “The Two Bills,” prepares to lead them into the Jets’ facility following a long interview in the Giants’ locker room at MetLife Stadium. Dismissing Rodgers’ request, Belichick and Parcells gave off the impression there still was bad blood between them and the organization.
“Not the Jets’ locker room,” says an unenthused Belichick on camera.
“We’re not going in there. No, I’m not going in there,” Parcells says. “I don’t want to go in there. What’s the point?”
Unlike Belichick, who caused an uproar when he abruptly resigned as “HC of the NYJ” at the press conference prepared to introduce him as Parcells’ successor in 1999, Parcells did not blindside the Jets with his decision and said he holds no grudges against them. Belichick went on to sign as head coach of the Patriots, where he’s been since 2000, and Parcells was pulled out of retirement in 2003 to coach the Cowboys.
“I never had a problem with the Jets,” Parcells said. “Listen, you know, I’m hoping Todd (Bowles) does well. He’s one of my guys. …
“I’m 76 years old, I’m not looking for any trouble. I caused enough when I was younger.”
