IRVING, Texas -- In his first news conference on Dallas Cowboys turf since his hiring, head coach Bill Parcells said Tuesday a decision on Emmitt Smith is coming soon, and he's leaving it up to team owner Jerry Jones.

"It's in everybody's best interest for it not to go on longer," Parcells said in his new locker room following an informal introduction of his 14 assistant coaches. "Jerry asked me to let him handle that one. That was way back when we first met. ... They're going to talk it out. I don't know what he is going to say."

Wannstedt refutes Aikman report

Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt refuted a report claiming he spoke with Troy Aikman about a possible comeback. Quoting an anonymous source, the MSG Nework reported that Wannstedt approached Aikman about coming out of retirement last week. The report aired Tuesday on radio station WQAM and appeared in the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel on Wednesday. Wannstedt acknowledged that he spoke with Aikman during Super Bowl XXXVII festivities in San Diego, but not about playing for the Dolphins. In a team-released statement, Wannstedt said he and his wife, Jan, "ran into Troy and his wife and had an informal conversation with them, just as I did with other people I saw at the Super Bowl, such as Phil Simms and Jim Kelly. "Our discussion was purely personal in nature. I asked him how he was feeling and we talked about a lot of different things, just as I would do with anyone I was friendly with who I haven't seen for a while." Agent Leigh Steinberg said Tuesday he was unaware Wannstedt and Aikman had spoken at the Super Bowl. Steinberg has said that Aikman would have interest in playing again under the right circumstances. The Dolphins were also linked with Aikman two months ago when ex-coach Jimmy Johnson contacted the quarterback to gauge his interest in a comeback. Johnson, who called Aikman while Dolphins backup quarterback Ray Lucas was struggling to replace injured starter Jay Fiedler, said he was acting on his own behalf. Now an NFL analyst for Fox, the 36-year-old Aikman retired after the 2000 season because of concussion- and back-related ailments. -- ESPN.com news services

Parcells also said retired quarterback Troy Aikman wasn't likely to be coming back.

"My best sense is that wouldn't be the direction I'm looking. But you never know," Parcells said. "I'll keep all options open. I'd like to have a guy like him, I'll tell you that."

Parcells has yet to see much of his new surroundings. Arriving at work before dawn, going back to his hotel after dark, some of the few breaks he's taken have been to eat dinner at a restaurant -- once -- and to look for a house on the weekends.

Less than three weeks into his tenure as Cowboys coach, he's been busy designing and implementing a blueprint for turning around a team that's won only five games each of the past three seasons.

Still dripping wet from a workout, Parcells gave a progress report on what he's done so far, and what's next.

"I'm just looking for good players," he said. "I haven't really evaluated the whole team yet. There's a lot of things we're going to need. I'm making an effort to get it. Be patient in that regard."

Parcells said he met last week with assistants to explain how he wants things done. He said his top priority the next six weeks is creating the systems each unit will use.

He's already decided that the offense will use terminology he's familiar with and that the defense won't have to change. Instead, he will adjust to what the Cowboys have been using since it's been working.

As for who will call plays on offense, he hasn't decided. He pointed out that he's done it before and could do it again, but he also stressed that every coach will have input into game plans.

The only specifics he mentioned about the roster was that he'd like to re-sign offensive lineman Flozell Adams. He said he's started looking at free agency, beginning with evaluating the team's own free agents. He'll start digging into the draft soon, and also has a meeting with the entire team coming up.

His message will be simple: "I'm going to go by what I see."

Here's more on what Parcells had to say about all those subjects and others, including the Super Bowl victory by Tampa Bay, a team he signed to coach a year ago before walking away from the deal.