Parcells, Patriots and Tagliabue Talk

With Bill Parcells’ future at stake, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue presided Tuesday in a conference call in which the coach and the New England Patriots aired their contract differences.

The dispute involves a provision added to the contract in 1996, which the team claims gives it the exclusive right to employ Parcells for 1997.

Parcells claims other parts of the contract entitle him to leave the Patriots and coach another NFL team next season.

Tagliabue said he would rule as early as today. Meantime, he has barred Parcells from negotiating with any other club.

It has been speculated that Parcells already has decided to go to the New York Jets.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers re-signed running back Reggie Brooks, a starter during Errict Rhett’s seven-game holdout last season.

Brooks, who signed a two-year contract, led Tampa Bay in rushing during the first seven games of the year, with 341 yards in 99 carries. He finished with 368 yards and two touchdowns in 112 carries and also registered the team’s only 100-yard performance with 114 yards against Denver in September.