Bill Parcells said Thursday he retired as the Cowboys' coach because he was mentally burned out, and that the team's heartbreaking first-round playoff loss to the Seahawks also factored into his decision. He said his relationship with controversial wide receiver Terrell Owens was not a major issue in his move to step down.

Parcells, in his first interview since retiring on Monday, told WFAN's Mike Francesa and Chris Russo that he wrestled with the issue of whether to retire for nearly seven weeks before finally stepping down.

Parcells also said he is undecided about his future, but said he still loved the game and suggested that he might be involved in some capacity.

"At the end of the day, it was a mental thing," Parcells told WFAN. "Physically, I know I can do it, [but] it's a 13-month job. There are no days where you can relax. I'm just at the point mentally where you don't want to undertake it again because you know what you have to do. Mentally, I'm not up for it right now. It's difficult only in the respect that you know that this is it and you're giving up your life's work. The decision was difficult, but I just think it's time."

As for his future, Parcells wouldn't confirm he wants to return to the NFL in some capacity. But he didn't deny it either.

"I'm not a sit-around guy," Parcells told WFAN. "I'm going to do something. I don't know what it's going to be."

Parcells said he had a good relationship with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, and that his relationship with Owens was not as bad as it was portrayed, but he admitted that he refrained from criticizing Owens on the sidelines during games because of how it might have impacted the receiver.

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"When you get a player on your team, no matter who he is, as a coach, it's your job to try to utilize that player and try and make it work," Parcells told WFAN. "I tried to make it work as best I could. It wasn't without a few little things here and there, but I never felt anything was insurmountable. I never had to draw a line in the sand. He did the best he could in his way, and I tried to use him the best I could. It wasn't perfect, but that's the way it was. It wasn't as problematic as it was portrayed."

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Owens was at times critical of the way Parcells used him in the passing game.

Parcells said the Cowboys' 21-20 loss to the Seahawks in the wild-card round was difficult to handle. The Cowboys lost when quarterback Tony Romo, also the team's holder on field goals, mishandled the snap for what potentially would have been the game-winning field goal in the final seconds.

"I thought our team was capable of doing something in this tournament," Parcells told WFAN. "Even though we didn't finish the season strong, I felt we had a good chance to win." 

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