For Pete Carroll, it’s personnel
MOBILE, Ala. – Pete Carroll is on the move. He’ll discuss his past two weeks, a whirlwind that led him to one more stint in the NFL as the Seattle Seahawks coach.
But he’ll only do so with rapid-fire words, while moving even faster. From the 50-yard line at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, out the chain link fence, up the bleachers, back down the ramp and out into his car, Carroll dashes like a Senior Bowl prospect trying to win a job.
Every moment is precious for the former Southern California coach.
“We’re scrambling,” Carroll said, as a Herald reporter hustled to catch up. “A lot of stuff happening at the same time.”
When the energetic 58-year-old finally paused, it was to reflect.
So much time has passed since Carroll served as the Patriots [team stats] coach from 1997-99. So much has changed, realities Carroll believes will allow him to surpass the 27-21 record he compiled with the Patriots before getting fired to make way for Bill Belichick.
And this time in the NFL, Carroll is pulling the strings on personnel.
“It’s much different in that the level of involvement is much more,” Carroll said. “(New general manager John Schneider) and I are doing this thing together and it felt different before in that regard.”
That wasn’t the case in Carroll’s stint in New England. Bill Parcells had left a Super Bowl team because he couldn’t shop for his own groceries, and vice president of player personnel Bobby Grier did the shopping during Carroll’s three seasons.
BostonHerald.com
1/29/10
Magnolia Tribune
