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Haslett the latest victim on NFL's 'Black Monday'
wwltv.com ^ | 01/02/06 | AP

Posted on 01/02/2006 12:41:11 PM PST by Ellesu

SAN ANTONIO -- The Saints fired coach Jim Haslett on Monday, the day after ending a 3-13 season overshadowed by the hurricane that devastated New Orleans and forced the team to abandon the city.

Haslett was 45-51 in six seasons with the Saints and had the second-most victories in team history behind Jim Mora's 93.

Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said Jim Haslett was relieved of his duties Monday morning, and that general manager Mickey Loomis would discuss the situation at a news conference.

Haslett, 50, wasn't expected to attend the news conference.

Haslett, the 2000 NFL Coach of the Year after leading the Saints to the only playoff victory in team history, had one year left on his contract. He was 45-51 in six seasons with New Orleans and had the second-most victories in team history behind Jim Mora's 93.

New Orleans hasn't had a winning season since 2002, and this year was marred before it even began. The Saints were forced from their city when Hurricane Katrina blasted the Gulf Coast in August, moving their training camp to San Antonio, then playing four home games in Baton Rouge, La., three in San Antonio and one in New Jersey.

New Orleans opened the season with an emotional win at Carolina, but finished by losing 11 of 12, including Sunday's season-ending 27-13 defeat at Tampa Bay.

The turmoil surrounding the Saints slowly took its toll on them.

Their practice site changed frequently because of previously scheduled events in the Alamodome, and their locker room was part of a high school baseball complex. Players voiced their frustrations, and receiver Joe Horn was a frequent critic of the league.

"This is not a 3-13 football team. They've been through a lot," Haslett said after the loss to Tampa Bay.

Haslett never followed up his fast start in New Orleans. Although they had just two losing seasons, the Saints never returned to the playoffs under Haslett after 2000. They were 9-4 and appeared headed for the postseason in 2002 before losing their last three. New Orleans was 8-8 the past two seasons.

Haslett broke in as an NFL coach working with linebackers with the Los Angeles Raiders in 1993 before his first stint with the Saints in 1995-96. He was the defensive coordinator his second year with the Saints and for three seasons with Pittsburgh from 1997-99.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: Louisiana
KEYWORDS: blackmonday; jimhaslett; nfl; nosaints; sports; tombenson
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To: nicollo
Gotta say, my stomach went into a knot when I heard he was getting Gibbs, because Gibbs constantly beat the Cowboys until Jimmy came.

Long term, though, I think you have problems with Arrington and Taylor, not to mention the absence of a QB.

41 posted on 01/03/2006 6:48:47 AM PST by LS
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Comment #42 Removed by Moderator

To: SteveJudd

Hehehe. He's universally hated in Dallas, too :)


43 posted on 01/03/2006 11:37:16 AM PST by LS
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To: LS
Hehehe. He's universally hated in Dallas, too :)

Yep. He's not unlike our own Jerry Jones, is he?

44 posted on 01/03/2006 11:47:40 AM PST by al_c
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To: BW2221; dfwgator

I think Martz is highly overrated. Anyone who thinks he was the mastermind behind the Rams Superbowl got conned. Martz is a stubborn fool who learned from Vermeil, not the other way around. Martz somehow believed that he did not have to run the ball when he took over and therefore exposed his whole offense, especially the QBs, which he wears out in record time.


45 posted on 01/03/2006 11:52:27 AM PST by KC_Conspirator
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Comment #46 Removed by Moderator

Comment #47 Removed by Moderator

To: SteveJudd
Or, in the short run the Skins are a little up on the Boys. In the longer run, the Boys look a little better.

Personally, I think the Cowboys are about two pro-bowl guards and a FS away from a Super Bowl with what they have.

48 posted on 01/03/2006 12:28:04 PM PST by LS
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To: GLDNGUN; gbaker; LS
"What kind of coach can NO expect to get now...?"


49 posted on 01/03/2006 12:33:41 PM PST by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum.)
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To: Ellesu; CurlyBill; mainepatsfan

Too bad.

Hey I'll bet you won't see Bill Belichick naming anymore "coordinators" after his staff was decimated last year. That guy doesn't make the same mistake twice and it will be a long time before he ever gets fired from his job.


50 posted on 01/03/2006 12:39:30 PM PST by Radix
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To: SteveJudd

Jones has been booed quite often at Texas Stadium as well.


51 posted on 01/03/2006 1:44:57 PM PST by al_c
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To: Ellesu

It's scandalous, I tell ya. Half the NFL teams had a losing season! Somebody do something about it quick!


52 posted on 01/03/2006 1:48:29 PM PST by Revolting cat! ("In the end, nothing explains anything.")
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To: Joe 6-pack

Well the way the Saints play it could be an improvement.


53 posted on 01/03/2006 1:50:37 PM PST by CajunConservative (Don't Blame Me, I Voted for Jindal.)
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Comment #54 Removed by Moderator

To: CajunConservative
"Well the way the Saints play it could be an improvement."

At least the excuses would be more original than Haslett's.

55 posted on 01/03/2006 2:02:38 PM PST by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum.)
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To: LS
I'm more of a blame the players and coaches guy.

Me, too. Speaking of the Cowboys, what's your over/under on whether or not Parcells stays?

56 posted on 01/03/2006 2:07:20 PM PST by Wolfstar ("We must...all hang together or...we shall all hang separately." Benjamin Franklin)
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To: CurlyBill

How much does he pay you?

;)


57 posted on 01/03/2006 2:13:55 PM PST by wallcrawlr (Pray for the troops [all the troops here and abroad]: Success....and nothing less!!)
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To: CurlyBill

Mike Shanahan is still working too.

To another poster: being a Vikings fan, I can say that Mike Tice deserved to be let go. He's in over his head as a head coach in the NFL. Too much of a buddy to the players and not enough of a coach.

In addition to that, some of the comments he made regarding who would play or sit on the bench on a given Sunday were made as though he had no hand in the decision making process. His inexplicable, unwavering allegiance to the often inept Daunte Culpepper, coupled with annual multi-game meltdowns and losing every must-win game he ever coached, helped to seal his fate.


58 posted on 01/03/2006 2:24:39 PM PST by NorthWoody (Hey, politicians! Stand up, be men, do your jobs and close the borders while there's still time.)
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To: NorthWoody

Fair enough.... we'll see how he fares when he gets another gig.


59 posted on 01/03/2006 2:30:43 PM PST by CurlyBill (Democratic Party = Surrender Party)
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