But what's really hard to imagine is the clock moving close to the Sunday opener and Peterson's name even being raised. That's Parcells' doing. Why didn't he announce this a month ago? Or two months?

What triggered Tuesday's announcement to add this to the legitimate football questions going on in Davie (Will Allen? Sean Smith? The offense?)

Parcells is a big, strong, good force inside this team. Everyone says so. Veteran safety Yeremiah Bell says he, "might be the smartest person I ever met" for how he talks and educates on football points. He's not alone. Williams. Cobbs. Rookie Jared Odrick said, "I really get a lot out of talks with him."

But Tuesday's announcement was flat strange. It smacked of exactly what he has spent a career guarding against. Maybe it's not much of a distraction. But in the week of the opener, was it really necessary?