Bill Parcells to be inducted into Patriots Hall of Fame
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — After an at-times tumultuous relationship with the franchise, Bill Parcells is headed to the New England Patriots Hall of Fame.
Team owner Robert Kraft announced Tuesday morning that he called Parcells and informed the former coach that he will be inducted as a contributor after being a finalist for enshrinement, which is determined by a fan vote.
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'In the early 1990s, the Patriots were in disarray,' Kraft said in a statement. 'But the hiring of Bill Parcells in 1993, a two-time Super Bowl champion, brought instant credibility to the franchise. We had never had a head coach with his credentials. He was a master motivator and always got the most out of his players.
'In my first season as owner,' Kraft continued, 'he led us on that unforgettable seven-game win streak to qualify for the playoffs. Two years later, he accomplished something Patriots fans had never seen before, leading us to our first two home playoff wins in franchise history, and another trip to the Super Bowl. Those are memories I will never forget and achievements worthy of this honor. As a five-time finalist, I am sure he would have been voted in eventually, but I wanted to expedite the process so he can enjoy the ceremony. I look forward to welcoming Bill back to Foxborough and celebrating his induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame.'
Parcells' time with the team didn't end well. There was a power struggle between him and Kraft, resulting in the coach's famous quote about getting the players he wanted: 'It's just like a friend of mine told me,' Parcells said. ''If they want you to cook the dinner, at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries.''
Perhaps that contributed to why Parcells, now 83, hasn't yet been inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame despite being named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.
'I thought it would be great, given what he's done for the team, if he would accept entry as a contributor into the Patriot Hall of Fame — he accepted,' Kraft said Tuesday. 'I actually wanted to meet with him in person, but he was on his way to Saratoga, where he goes. So I'm excited. We'll have him at our Patriots Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.'
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The Patriots' Hall of Fame committee is scheduled to meet Thursday to choose three finalists to potentially join Parcells this year. After the finalists are chosen, induction will be decided by a fan vote. Last year, the committee didn't come up with three finalists because the Patriots chose to waive their prior rules and name Tom Brady to the Hall. This year, Julian Edelman and Adam Vinatieri will be eligible for the first time, while Logan Mankins has twice been a finalist.
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