MOBILE, Ala. – Bill Parcells is retired and not coming back.
But that doesn't stop the business of the Cowboys.
This week, the scouting department, led by Jeff Ireland, is here watching practice and interviewing players who will participate in Saturday's annual Senior Bowl.
The job of assessing talent ahead of the April draft is tougher without a coach in place, said Ireland, the Cowboys' vice president of college and pro scouting.
"It's harder right this moment because you don't have a head coach," Ireland said Tuesday night before interviewing more college players.
"You don't have a blueprint. Is it hard right now? Sure it is because you don't know who the next guy is. But once the next guy gets in, I want to try to help him evaluate the team and help him understand what he has on the team and where people fit," he said.
The Cowboys have several needs, including offensive and defensive linemen, secondary and possibly wide receiver.
The team could also draft a quarterback as a backup to starter Tony Romo.
But it all depends on the new coach and what he wants.
Mike Zimmer, the new defensive coordinator of Atlanta, said evaluating players is hard when nobody knows what the head coach wants.
Jim Haslett, the defensive coordinator for St. Louis, had an opposing view.
"I don't think so," he said. "You look at players and once [a team] decides what to do on offense and defense, they will figure out what scheme is best."
Originally, owner/general manger Jerry Jones, his son, Stephen Jones, the director of player personnel, and Parcells were going to join the scouting department in Mobile on Monday.
Things suddenly changed with Parcells' decision to retire.
It was a surprise to Ireland, who developed a close relationship with Parcells.
After Parcells made his decision, he left a message on Ireland's cell phone. Ireland missed the call because he was in a meeting.
Ireland called Parcells back to find out the news. When Ireland flipped down his Razr, it starting ringing constantly from people who wanted to know what was going on.
"He never said one way or the other, it was just business as usual," Ireland said. "I'm feeding him with free agency information and draft information."
Even with Parcells gone, Ireland said he could reach out to the coach for advice.
"He's a friend. I'll ask him what his opinion is," Ireland said. "I think he's one of the finest men I've ever met in my life. Not only as a coach, because a coach is different, but he's one of the finest men."
Ireland was told by upper management that there is no timetable to hire a new coach.
But after speaking with Stephen Jones, Ireland was assured the team is moving forward.
"You ask any personnel director what their job is and for lack of a better word, it's to find the head coach some football players," he said.
E-mail cwatkins@dallasnews.com
