Bill Parcells believes Mike Zimmer is ready to be a head coach

Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has been a candidate of multiple head coaching vacancies over the past two years. Considering Cincinnati's defense has ranked in the top-ten three times in the past five years and never worse than 15th (2010), there's a validity to that interest. For whatever reason, he's currently with the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium heading into his sixth season with Cincinnati.

We're not complaining; we're extremely grateful. Has there ever been an assistant coach so widely loved in Cincinnati as Zimmer is?

Bill Parcells has a certain affection for Zimmer, who was the defensive coordinator in Dallas when Parcells was the Cowboys' head coach from '03-'06. And the former head coach, taking his rightful place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend, told reporters on Friday that Zimmer is ready.

Bill Parcells says Bengals DC Mike Zimmer is ready to be a head coach. "I don't know what they're waiting for with this guy. He can coach."

— Bob Glauber (@BobGlauber) August 2, 2013

This subject has been brought up every year when Zimmer turns into a candidate for a head coaching gig, but fails to secure the job. Generally speaking, Zimmer's blunt honesty (though celebrated in Cincinnati), may have hurt his chances. At least that's true for the Dolphins job last year.

The Dolphins liked Zimmer’s rèsumè, and he and general manager Jeff Ireland have a good relationship. But one source said he might have been too blunt and honest for the Dolphins’ liking. Zimmer can be outspoken at times, including calling former Falcons coach Bobby Petrino a "gutless b--tard" for leaving the job without telling any of his assistants.