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Did he use 10-10-321?
The NFL is investigating a possible tampering charge against New York Jets coach Bill Parcells involving a phone conversation he had with New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe.
“We have made an inquiry into the reported telephone conversation to determine if there has been a violation of the league’s anti-tampering policy,” Greg Aiello, the NFL’s vice president of public relations, said.
CBS reported that Bledsoe sought out Parcells, his ex-coach at New England, for a handshake after the Jets defeated the Patriots 24-14 on Oct. 19.
Parcells was so touched by the gesture that he called Bledsoe the following week to thank him, CBS said. In that conversation, Bledsoe reportedly mentioned that wide receiver Terry Glenn would be unable to play the following weekend against Miami.
The network said the Patriots alleged Parcells then called Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson to advise him that Glenn would be out of the lineup. The Dolphins defeated New England 12-9. CBS reported that the Patriots filed a tampering charge, although the NFL did not confirm that.
“I called him (Bledsoe) to say thank you for coming up to me after the game,” Parcells said after the Jets game Sunday at Indianapolis. “It was about a three-minute conversation. He told me that (about Glenn). I didn’t tell anybody anything.”
Ironhead gets game ball
Colts tight end Marcus Pollard, who caught the winning TD pass against the Jets, played Sunday’s game with No. 33 on his helmet and shoes to honor teammate Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, who underwent brain surgery Thursday for a benign tumor.
Pollard said he plans to visit Heyward in Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis Tuesday and present him with the ball he caught to beat the Jets. “He probably won’t want it,” Pollard said. “I will try and give it to him anyway.”
Saturday morning, Colts coach Jim Mora asked his players to win the game for Heyward, who signed with Indianapolis on Sept. 30. After they beat the Jets, the Colts were chanting “Ironhead, Ironhead,” in the locker room. And Mora planned to take the game ball to Heyward last night.
Detroit, Dallas give thanks
Thanksgiving Day means football, and in the NFL that will continue to mean Detroit and Dallas.
Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt has been trying to talk other NFL owners into rotating the two Thanksgiving games, but commissioner Paul Tagliabue said Sunday the games will remain where they are.
“The discussion about possibly rotating the Thanksgiving games is over,” Tagliabue said. “There’s a renewed commitment to keep the games in Detroit and Dallas.”
Ditka’s father dies
Michael Ditka, father of New Orleans Saints coach Mike Ditka, is dead at age 80.
The elder Ditka died Friday at Villa St. Joseph nursing home in Baden, Pa., about 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. The cause of death was not disclosed.
The last word …
“I was standing on the sideline and I said, ‘Life can be really weird.’ Two weeks ago, four weeks ago, they were screaming at me, booing me. Strange things can happen.” - Kerry Collins, a winner in his first start as a New Orleans Saints quarterback.