BY NICK ST. DENIS
The New England Patriots were happy to have Dante Scarnecchia for the first dozen years. They were even happier to have him for the next dozen and a half.
The legendary assistant coach (mostly with the offensive line), who retired this week, revealed an interesting tidbit Friday morning during an interview on WEEI radio, telling the "D&C" show that former Patriots coach Bill Parcells tried to get Scarnecchia to come with him to the rival New York Jets in 1997.
Parcells took over head coaching duties for Gang Green that year after spending four years leading the Patriots. He coached the Jets for three seasons.
Scarnecchia respectfully declined Parcells request, saying he didn't want to leave the area with his daughter still in school. It turned out to be a pretty good move (or non-move) for Scarnecchia, as he went on to win three Super Bowls and participate in seven during his 30-year stint with the Patriots.
Scarnecchia coached under three owners and six head coaches in New England.
"As many games as he helped us win and as much as we would like to work with Dante forever," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said earlier this week, "we are blessed with the opportunity to have been with him as long as we were."
