TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Bill Parcells jilted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the altar before they paid a king's ransom for Jon Gruden in February 2002. On Sunday, Parcells and the Dallas Cowboys visit the defending Super Bowl champions.
The Parcells Reunion Tour kicked off with wins over two of his former teams - the New York Giants and New York Jets - in September at the Meadowlands. On Sunday, Parcells faces the team he could have coached.
When the Bucs fired Tony Dungy after the 2001 season, owner Malcolm Glazer offered the job to Parcells, who coached the Giants to Super Bowl titles in 1986 and 1990. Parcells appeared ready to accept it, but backed out at the last minute and decided to stay in retirement.
The Bucs then pursued Gruden and Steve Mariucci. Both were under contract, but Glazer was willing to pay a heavy price to pry Gruden loose from Al Davis, sending the Oakland Raiders four draft picks and $8 million.
Gruden proved to be worthy, leading the Bucs to their first Super Bowl title last season. At 39, he became the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl.
At age 62, Parcells is back in the NFL as coach of the Cowboys and has made an immediate impact for owner Jerry Jones. The team was beginning to become better known for its meddling boss than its reign as "America's Team."
However, this is clearly Parcells' team. Before he arrived, the Cowboys did not have a winning season since 1998 and went 5-11 each of the past three seasons under Dave Campo. Now they are riding a five-game winning streak for the first time since 1994.
"It has everything to do with his (Parcells') skill level and experience," Jones said of the rapid turnaround. "Our players believe in him."
Quarterback Quincy Carter has especially flourished under Parcells. In last week's 38-7 rout of Detroit, Carter passed for a career-high three touchdown passes - all to Terry Glenn. Troy Hambrick and fullback Richie Anderson took care of the ground game, totaling 126 yards on 31 carries.
Dallas' defense, led by La'Roi Glover and Greg Ellis on the line and a fast trio of linebackers - Dexter Coakley, Dat Nguyen and Al Singleton - has also improved steadily, allowing a total of 41 points over the last four games.
Singleton signed as a free agent with Dallas last March after starting at strongside linebacker on Tampa Bay's Super Bowl-winning team. Overshadowed in a defense which features linebacker Derrick Brooks, the Defensive Player of the Year in 2002, and Pro Bowlers Simeon Rice, Warren Sapp and John Lynch, Singleton joined a Cowboys unit which had just one Pro Bowler - Glover.
The Bucs' vaunted defense proved mighty vulnerable last week in a 24-7 loss at San Francisco. The 49ers rushed for 212 yards and Terrell Owens caught six passes for 152 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown.
Parcells always says "you are what your record says you are" and right now the Bucs are 3-3. They lost only four games all of last season.
"We don't look like the best team in the game, that's for sure," said Bucs cornerback Ronde Barber. "We're pretty average, pretty inconsistent. It's unfortunate, because we're a better team."
But injuries are clearly hampering the Bucs. Barber will not have fellow cornerback Brian Kelly on Sunday in a matchup against Dallas' talented trio of receivers - Glenn, Joey Galloway and Antonio Bryant.
Kelly, who tied for the league lead with nine interceptions last season, was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with a torn pectoral muscle. He originally suffered the injury in an October 6 game against the Indianapolis Colts. Kelly sat out a game before aggravating the injury in last week's loss at San Francisco.
Kelly's injury is another significant blow for the Bucs, who already have lost fullback Mike Alstott (neck) for the rest of the season. The club also has been without wide receiver Joe Jurevicius (knee) for the last four games.
When Kelly was injured against the Colts, the Bucs were forced to use Tim Wansley at left cornerback. Tampa Bay squandered a 21-point lead with under five minutes remaining in that contest before eventually losing in overtime.
Tampa Bay (3-3) also could be without Lynch for this week's game against Dallas due to a stinger.
Also, receiver Keyshawn Johnson is bothered by a strained quadriceps and tight end Ken Dilger has a sore foot.
"We've been hit with more injuries than I've ever seen," Lynch said. "But if you still want to be a champion, you've got to work through that."
That has caused quarterback Brad Johnson to rely too heavily on Keenan McCardell, who had three catches for 119 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown, in the loss at San Francisco. Brad Johnson, who had a touchdown to interception ratio of 22-6 last year, was picked off three times last week.
Dallas leads the series, 8-2, but the Bucs won the last two meetings in 2000 and 2001.
