How’s this for a no-confidence vote for Rich McKay? If nothing else, the supposed availability and interest of Bill Parcells (above) explains why the Falcons took no legal measures to enforce Bobby Petrino’s contract.   From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Steve Wyche :

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank has offered former New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells a top football decision-making job with the franchise, a high-ranking team official confirmed Tuesday night.

Parcells, an analyst with ESPN, is weighing the offer and could come to a decision by Wednesday, the team official said.

The position would trump the authority held by current president and general manager Rich McKay, who could remain with the franchise but be stripped of any decision-making powers with the football team. Instead, McKay would run the business side of the organization – if he decided to stay with the Falcons.

Though ransacked by injuries, McKay’s evaluation of personnel has come into question as several free-agent acquisitions – Ed Hartwell, Jason Webster, Ike Reese, Joe Horn, Ovie Mughelli – have not made the splash that was expected when they were signed to big money deals.

Blank initially reached out to former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher to gauge his interest in taking the head coaching job but Cowher, who resigned after the 2006 season, said he planned to stay out of coaching until 2008 at the earliest.