If there is one person with an opinion of Bill Parcells and his imprint on the New England Patriots franchise that deserves mention, above all others, it is Pat Harlow.
Parcells, it was announced by owner Bob Kraft at the NFL Owners’ Meeting’s in Palm Beach, Fla., on Tuesday, would be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame this summer as a contributor.
A great move by the long-time Patriots owner, one I’ve been making a case for since I joined the Patriots Hall of Fame Committee several years ago.
Harlow, a 6-foot-6, 295-pound offensive tackle, was a first-round pick in 1991 out of USC, two years before Parcells was hired.
The best part, Harlow and Parcells, had their battles when the new coach and President of Football Operations took over in 1993.
“Bill coached through fear,” said Harlow, now in San Clemente, Calif. “Fear in that ‘I’m gonna take your job if you don’t do it my way.’ That works for some guys. And the franchise needed that, a lot of guys needed that. It just wasn’t for me, personally.”
That being said, Harlow said the landscape of Patriots football changed the day Parcells was hired.
“He had won a Super Bowl, two of them (with the Giants),” said Harlow. “It was all about accountability. And he had done it before.”
Parcells, said Harlow, immediately instituted an off-season plan that included players getting to Foxborough and proving themselves.
“I remember telling my wife, ‘I have to go back,’” said Harlow, referring to a cross-country trip to Boston. “We definitely needed somebody that was going to make people work, more participation, got to get better. Honestly, before that, we did next to nothing.”
One of my distinct memories at one of the first practices in Smithfield, R.I., was Parcells shouting loud enough that the media heard that the Pats offensive linemen allowing the most sacks (65) – actually the second most – in the previous year in 1992.
Long-time lineman and tough guy Rich Baldinger, who had 11 years in the league, eight as a starter with the Kansas City Chiefs, was one of the first newbies brought in at right guard, next to Harlow.
“I had watched a ton of film on Baldinger before we got him. He was a real pro,” recalled Harlow. “He mentored me. He taught me how to be a pro.”
In Parcells first year in 1993, the Patriots won their last four games of the season, knocking the Miami Dolphins out of the playoffs in the finale, but they finished allowing only 23 sacks, second best in the NFL.
They also ranked 13th overall in rushing yards after being 22nd the year before.
“Bill put in a friendly offensive line scheme – make the quarterback throw it on time and play-action – but we were a much tougher group,” said Harlow.
The Patriots made the playoffs in 1994 (10-6) and then, took a mini-dive in 1995 (6-10), when Parcells had experienced some health issues.
Harlow had a few injury issues and was moved to backup behind then-rookie Max Lane in his final season there in 1995.
Harlow was traded to the Oakland Raiders for a second round pick before the 1996 NFL Draft and later reconnected with many of his Patriots teammates at Drew Bledsoe’s wedding a month later.
“I didn’t want to get traded,” recalled Harlow. “My kids would have a Boston accent if I didn’t get traded … That pick ended up going back to the Raiders, so essentially they got nothing for me, which made me kind of happy.”
Harlow recalled having a conversation with his replacement and friend, Lane, about the direction of the team.
“I knew something special was going to happen in 1996,” said Harlow. “Everything was coming together. The talent was better every year. Bill had his team.”
Harlow played three more seasons with the Raiders, but recurring back pain, going back to his college days – he had surgery before his final season in 1998 – sent him into retirement.
His son Sean Harlow, also an offensive lineman at 6-foot-4, 285 pounds, has spent seven years with eight teams. Last year he was on the Miami Dolphins practice squad.
As for his favorite team, outside of his son’s teams, the Patriots have been it the last quarter-century.
“Since retiring, I’ve been a Patriots fan,” said Harlow. “I was there when it all started. I really believe Bill and Drew started it all, what we saw when (Bill) Belichick took over. Drew was a Patriots Hall of Famer. And so was Bill. We didn’t see eye to eye, but I’m happy for him. It was long overdue.”
You can email Bill Burt at bburt@eagletribune.com.