Vikings say 'no truth' to Parcells report

While Leslie Frazier is in the middle of a three-year contract and Rick Spielman was just promoted, a report said the Vikings were reportedly trying to lure Bill Parcells to coach and run the team. The Vikings say there is no truth to that report.

A Minnesota Vikings spokesman said there is "no truth" to a New York Post report that the team is pursuing Bill Parcells to "run the show" in Minnesota.

“There is no truth to the media reports,” said Vikings spokesman Bob Hagan.

Owner Zygi Wilf grew up a huge fan of the New York Giants, and that affiliation and affection for Big Blue has been public since he bought the Vikings. But the New York Post reported that Wilf took his admiration of Parcells one step further, saying Wilf offered Parcells the job to coach and run the Vikings.

The Post reported early Wednesday morning that Wilf “is putting the hard sell” on Parcells, the former Giants and Jets coach, to become the head coach of the Vikings and “run the show.”

Parcells is a coaching target of the New Orleans Saints, whose head coach, Sean Payton, has been suspended for the 2012 season by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. The Vikings, however, have both a coach – Leslie Frazier – and general manager – Rick Spielman – already in place. Frazier signed a three-year contract to coach the Vikings in January 2011 and Spielman was promoted to general manager in January 2012 and given full decision-making authority on personnel matters.

“Wilf, who has strong New Jersey ties, is simply seeking an upgrade over coach Leslie Frazier and GM Rick Spielman and believes Parcells is the guy,” the Post reported.

Frazier posted a 3-13 record in his first season as an NFL head coach and Spielman is entering his first season with full authority over the roster.

According to an anonymous source cited by the Post, Wilf told Parcells to “name his price” to coach the Vikings and oversee the football operations. The newspaper said Parcells, 70, “had reservations about taking such a job” and wondered if the game had “passed me by.”

Citing another source, 1500 ESPN reported that the Vikings did contact Parcells, but not recently. NFL.com reported that a source close to Parcells also said there is no truth to the Post's report.