Jets’ Tailspin Leaves Parcells Baffled

The New York Jets finally have gotten to Bill Parcells.

The coach who helped turn around the New York Giants and New England Patriots, winning three conference titles and two Super Bowls, hasn’t exactly thrown up his hands and stuck his head in the Meadowlands marshes. He is, however, wondering how this team that he had on an upward spiral could collapse so quickly.

He is, of course, forgetting that these are the Jets, who make a habit of such things.

“I would say today, emotionally, this is the first day I’ve been a little discouraged since I’ve been working here,” Parcells said Monday, reflecting on a 22-14 loss to the weak Indianapolis Colts the previous day that probably shattered New York’s playoff aspirations.

“To have to look at what I looked at (on film) … even though we lost some games, I was not discouraged. When we perform the way we did, there is no way you can not be discouraged.

“It is not down and out or despondent, just extremely disappointed. Don’t say, ‘He appeared to have no recourse,’ that’s not what I am saying. But the team performs like that, it bothers you.”

The Jets were 8-4 and alone in first place in the AFC East two weeks ago. Then they lost at Buffalo and at home to Indianapolis, and now must win their last two games and get help to make the playoffs.

Playoff picture

The AFC half of the playoff picture is simple. With two weeks left in the regular season, only seven AFC teams are alive for six playoff spots.

Don’t ask about the NFC - only four teams of the 15 teams are out.

In the AFC, if the season ended now, the order of seeds would be 1, Kansas City (13-3); 2, Pittsburgh (10-4); 3, New England (9-5); 4, Denver (13-3); 5, Miami (9-5); 6, Jacksonville (9-5).

The Jets (8-6) are the odd team out and probably will remain so - they have to play Tampa at home and visit Detroit and their offensive line is in shambles.

In the NFC, only four teams are out - Arizona, Chicago, New Orleans and St. Louis.

The only teams that have clinched are San Francisco (12-2) and Green Bay (11-3). They will be the two teams that get first-round byes.

Gone but not forgotten

Although former St. Louis Rams defensive end James Harris was acquitted of trying to use $52,000 to buy drugs, the government, which seized the money, says he cannot get it back.

Authorities seized the cash and accused him of supplying the money to buy cocaine that four other men planned to distribute in East St. Louis. Harris maintained he was carrying the cash because he was on his way to buy a 1984 Porsche. He said he stashed the money in the friend’s car for safekeeping.

U.S. District Judge Paul Riley entered a directed verdict of innocent Oct. 23, ruling the government failed to prove Harris was linked to the drug deal.

So Harris “is eager to recover his money,” said his lawyer, Ron Norwood.

Too late, authorities say.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration already has divvied it up among local law enforcement agencies.

People like Harris who fight charges of drug trafficking and win can get their money back, if they file a proper claim on time.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Merkel said no claim was filed for the money.