Bill Parcells fell short of election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, but it looks like he still might find his way to the induction ceremonies in Canton this summer.
Curtis Martin was elected and the running back, who played for Parcells in New England and with the Jets, hinted that he was going to ask his former coach might be the man he chooses to present him for induction. In the days leading up to the vote, Martin said that he would delay his own induction if it meant Parcells got it but things wound up working the other way around. On a conference call following the announcement of the voting, Martin discussed Parcells, who has often called Martin one of his favorite players, once again.
“I told him that I would call him after the show was over, but there’s no one more befitting to introduce me or present me at the Hall of Fame. Parcells has meant everything to my career. There’s God and then there’s Parcells, as far as the meaning they’ve had on my career.”
The outpouring of praise for Parcells was indicative of the entire conference call. Martin spent more time talking about his old coach, his mother, the owners of the teams he played for, his teammates and the fans than he talked about himself. That fits for a player who has been described as unselfish by just about everyone who ever coached or covered him.