Bill Parcells won two Super Bowls as head coach of the Giants and was an inaugural member of the team’s Ring of Honor. He now is one step closer to the ultimate NFL honor. The Pro Football Hall of Fame yesterday announced he is one of the 15 modern-era finalists for induction into the class of 2012.
When Parcells was head coach of the Patriots in 1995, he drafted a running back named Curtis Martin. When Parcells moved to the Jets, he made sure to sign Martin as a free agent. Martin went on to become the Jets all-time leading rusher with 10,302 yards. Martin, who retired after the 2005 season, is also one of the finalists.
The final selections will be made Feb. 4 in Indianapolis, the day before Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium.
If it were up to Giants fans, Parcells likely would be a unanimous selection, as he guided the franchise to its first two Super Bowl titles, after the 1986 and 1990 seasons. Parcells went on to coach the Patriots (1993-96), leading them to a Super Bowl. He also coached the Jets (1997-99) and Cowboys (2003-06).
Martin finished his career with 14,101 yards, fourth on the all-time rushing list.
One towering Giants executive, general manager George Young, was not among the finalists despite the prominent role in played in building .those first two Super Bowl titles.
The other finalists: RB Jerome Bettis, WR/KR Tim Brown, CB Jack Butler (senior committee finalist) WR Cris Carter, C Dermontti Dawson, owner Edward DeBartolo Jr., DE Chris Doleman, LB Kevin Greene, DE Charles Haley, DT Cortez Kennedy, WR Andre Reed, OT Willie Roaf, G Will Shields, G Dick Stanfel (senior committee finalist) and CB Aeneas Williams.
paul.schwartz@nypost.com