Bill Parcells says if he’s asked by Sean Payton to coach the New Orleans Saints, he’ll do it.

That takes us a step closer to Parcells coming out of retirement, something that could take place in the next few weeks.

“If this guy says to me, 'Bill, I need you to do this,' " Parcells told Bob Glauber of Newsday. "That's what friends are supposed to be for."

Per the report, Parcells has turned down two head-coaching opportunities since retiring from the Dallas Cowboys after the 2006 season. He calls this one “personal to me because this is one of my guys.”

It’s been detailed how Payton and Parcells have already met. Payton will begin serving a season-long suspension from the NFL on Sunday unless he appeals to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, a process that would be expedited. The meeting Tuesday was for Parcells to get to know general manager Mickey Loomis.

"We literally did not talk about that job at all (Tuesday)," Parcells told Glauber. "The only thing he told me is, 'You're going to like this situation .' I know a few of their players, just a couple. I think Sean wanted me to meet Mickey Loomis. I didn't know him very well."

As we speculated here earlier today, even after Payton is suspended, he could continue to meet with an unemployed Parcells to review the roster and go over the Saints. In that time, he could get Parcells up to speed with the franchise before he decided if he was going to jump in. It sounds like all Payton has to do is ask.

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune