Reports: Parcells unlikely Saints' next coach

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Bill Parcells is unlikely to become the New Orleans Saints' interim coach, according to multiple reports.

Parcells prefers to remain retired and not replace his protege and friend, Sean Payton, who will serve a season-long suspension for his role in New Orleans' bounty system, the reports said.

Saints spokesman Greg Bensel declined Tuesday to confirm Parcells has been ruled out as a possible Payton replacement, saying the team "has nothing to report" concerning the search for an interim coach.

Parcells' agent, Jimmy Sexton, also declined comment.

If the Saints decide to select a replacement from their existing staff, the leading candidates are: assistant head coach Joe Vitt, who will serve a six-game suspension; offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr.; offensive line coach Aaron Kromer; new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

Last season, Vitt and Carmichael took on significant additional responsibilities when Payton was rehabilitating for weeks from a broken leg.

Vitt, who also oversees linebackers, took on many of the broader responsibilities, including handling the head coach's media availability. Carmichael began calling plays, something Payton had done before his injury. Payton allowed Carmichael to continue calling plays through the final 10 regular season games of 2011 as the Saints went 9-1 and broke numerous NFL offensive records.

If Vitt were to step back in as interim coach, he would be able to oversee the preseason, but then would have to step aside for the first six games of the regular season before returning for the last 10, plus whatever playoff run the Saints may make.

The Saints would have more continuity if they went with either Carmichael, Kromer or Spagnuolo as interim coach. Spagnuolo has head coaching experience after spending the last three seasons in that role with St. Louis, but has only been with the Saints for about three months.

Carmichael arrived in New Orleans with Payton in 2006 and Kromer joined the staff in 2008, but both have increasingly been mentioned as up-and-coming head coaching candidates around the league.

Dolphins agreement new deal with coach Sparano (Reuters)

DAVIE, Florida (Reuters) - the Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano awarded two-year contract extension Saturday him with the team until the end of the year 2013 will keep.

Dolphins have 7-9, the AFC East and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year in coach.

After a week of media intense speculation about the future, owner of Ross Stephen Sparano whom he had met at Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh.

He refused however to Ross, who said that meeting caused Sparano "fear" that the dolphins work offered on Friday named the San Francisco 49ers coach Harbaugh at.

Ross, "never did that," told journalists. "We realized that we had Tony man."

Ross said he was "naive" could be the last week and added that he expected Harbaugh meeting who was generally regarded as the hottest property in University football, waves.

"I never thought it would be national news." I would probably let Tony knows. "It was a mistake on my part," says the owner.

"I did have not spoken with coach until I decided that I want to change."

A clear pain Sparano, periods of watch off with an expression sets Saturday pass, said it is difficult to keep track of its staff up to date with the events had been.

"I have a lot of responsibilities, I have approximately 16 coaches, their families, my own family and about 60 players," said.

Sparano said that after the news of Ross met Harbaugh, he turned off his phone during the night of waking up to approximately 30 messages text in support of its players and one of the owner that he kept his job.

The coach said that now is the time to implement a stronger team.

"I always say the players — when we here are not place us debt." This is not what we are trying to do. Solve us problems, "he said."

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)