THE WAITING GAME: Former Giants defensive end Michael Strahan will have to wait to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as he did not make the cut for the final five players in his first year of eligibility. (Anthony J. Causi)
NEW ORLEANS — Bill Parcells is now in the same company as Vince Lombardi.
“It’s beyond comprehension, really,’’ Parcells said last night. “It’s just unbelievable.’’
Believe it. The Giants hoped to cover the Pro Football Hall of Fame with a Big Blue brush, with Parcells and Michael Strahan among the finalists for the Class of 2013. They fell one stroke short. Their two-time Super Bowl winning head coach made the cut, but after getting to the round of 10, Strahan did not gain admittance in his first year of eligibility.
Parcells made in his second try.
“When you start in this business, you’re not aspiring to do anything but really trying to win games and keep your job,’’ Parcells said from his home in Jupiter, Fla. “Then, after a while, your aspirations change to try and win divisions and win playoff games, and after that, to the championship level if you can get there. You know, when it’s all over with like it has been for me for a few years, and your name is mentioned, you obviously think about it some.
“I’m just appreciative of everything and it’s really a tribute to the players that I had that worked hard and played hard … and who had a better coaching staff than I did? I mean, nobody has had the kind of guys that I had. I’m lucky in that respect.’’
Privately, some among the Giants felt Strahan had a better shot at getting in this time around than Parcells. Co-owner John Mara this week said, “To me, Michael is kind of a no-brainer. Very few people played the position at the same level that he did. I think he’s one of those few people that deserves to get in in his first year of eligibility.’’
That didn’t happen. Strahan on Twitter congratulated the Class of 2013, writing, “Enjoy the well-deserved honor.’’ He also tweeted, “I look at it as a delayed blessing and I have many now!’’
Mara last night told The Post: “I’m disappointed for him, but it was his first year of eligibility, and it’s only a matter of time before he gets in. Nobody played the position any better than Michael.’’
Perhaps Strahan will get in next year when, for the first time, the Super Bowl is a New York/New Jersey experience at MetLife Stadium.
Joining Parcells in the Class of 2013 are offensive linemen Jonathan Ogden and Larry Allen, receiver Cris Carter, defensive tackle Warren Sapp and senior committee selections Dave Robinson and Curley Culp.
It is likely Sapp took away votes from Strahan, as the two are defensive linemen and contemporaries. Strahan spent his entire 15-year career with the Giants and finished with 141 1/2 sacks. He led the NFL in sacks with 22 1/2 (a single-season record) in 2001 and again in 2003 with 18 1/2 . In 2001, he was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year. He was a two-way end, excelling against the run in addition to his pass-rush prowess.
This won’t sit well with many of Strahan’s former teammates. Osi Umenyiora earlier in the week said, “He better get in or there’s going to be some furniture moving.’’ Justin Tuck said if Strahan did not get in, “It will be a black, gloomy day for the NFL. I don’t see how he’s not a shoo-in for a first ballot Hall of Famer.’’
Parcells reversed the fortunes of four franchises, first and most notably the Giants from 1983-1990, winning the first two Super Bowls for the franchise. He also took the Patriots to the Super Bowl and was named the NFL’s Coach of the Year in 1986 and again in 1994. He took over a 1-15 Jets team in 1997 went 9-7 and 12-4 the next two seasons, the best two-year turnaround of a 1-15 team in league history.
“I’m very happy for Bill,’’ Mara said. “This is long overdue. He’s one of the best coaches in NFL history. He turned our franchise around. We went through a long period in the 1960’s and 70’s when we were a laughing stock. When Bill took over in 1983 he survived a very difficult first year, but then turned us into a perennial playoff contender and won two Super Bowls for us. He coached three other teams and everywhere he went, he had great success.’’