American football: Round-up

Bill Parcells, who took the New England Patriots to the Super Bowl last week, is stepping down after four years as head coach. His resignation comes two days after the NFL commissioner, Paul Tagliabue, ruled that Parcell's contract with the Patriots prohibits him from working for another NFL team next season without permission. Parcells has been strongly linked with the vacant New York Jets post.

Joe Bugel, the Oakland Raiders' offensive coach for the last two years and a former Arizona Cardinals' coach, has been named head coach of the Raiders.

Jim Kelly, the quarterback who led the Buffalo Bills to an unprecedented four consecutive Super Bowl appearances in the 1990s and lost each time, announced his retirement yesterday.