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.
What? Was Fred Smoot scalping Superbowl tickets too?
He went 26-22 over three seasons despite key injuries, having a low budget for a staff, etc, etc, etc.
Get your facts straight. 33-33 over four seasons with only one post-season appearance and no North Division titles. Every coach has to deal with injuries, etc. There was no reason to expect that Tice's Vikings were ever going to get better than a 0.500-level squad with occasional appearance in the post-season. That ain't good enough.
Howz' that old saying go? There's only two kinds of coaches in the NFL:
Just Fired
Soon to be Fired.
Unless your last name is Cower.
The best way to describe Tice as an NFL head coach, is that he's playing checkers while the coach on the other side of the field is playing chess.
The current playoff teams didn't lose their ProBowl starting quarterback to a season ending injury. Not to mention the Vikings are still 20 mil under the cap. Tice was handicapped since day 1 with the organization. It is simply unfair to rip his performance without pointing those factors out.
I'm more of a blame the players and coaches guy.
Culpepper is heinously overrated.
Fred Smoot was responsible for the stripper cruise. Mike Tice went 9-7, 8-8, and 9-7 over the last three seasons.... that's 26-22.... which was my point... my facts are straight. He did damn well with what he had.
I'm sending them my aplication. I figure if I get the whole team to improve their free throw percentage we'll be good to go.
They actually played better WITHOUT Culpepper. He was a turnover/interception machine in the games that he did play.
Not to mention the Vikings are still 20 mil under the cap. Tice was handicapped since day 1 with the organization. It is simply unfair to rip his performance without pointing those factors out.
Fine, you've pointed them out. Now try to point out what he has done in the past four years that justify him keeping his job. His best regular season record is 9-7 with 1-1 in the playoffs. Not good enough.
??? Oh I see you want to ignore the 6-10 season. You might also want to ignore the Vikings pathetic road record, it'll make his record look even better. By why bother? Everyone can see what a towering achievement a 9-7 season is.
As a Packer fan, I felt the same way regarding Wannstedt and Jauron. You have a good coach now, darn it.
The only fans who don't take this point of view is when owners like little Danny Snyder spend money like he's the UN in a Third World country.Larry, nobody -- n-o-b-o-d-y -- here in DC was happy with Danny Boy, no matter how much money he spent on Lavar, Coles, Deion, Bruce Smith... and all the other disasters. The farce was self-evident from day one.
The only reason anyone is tolerating Danny Boy this year is not because of Gibbs but because some genuis in marketing finally figured out that the best way to salvage his public image is to hide him under a tarp. Not a word from the bastard all year.
The Lions already have a good OC - Greg Olson(sp?), who took over the job when Mooch was canned.
The Fords have not been *successful* owners(and I include the younger one now), but they are indeed good owners. They give the guys they hire plenty of freedom and do not run a cheap outfit.
For many years the Lions have been known as just about the best franchise in the league for assistant coaches. Good pay, top bennies, moving allowances, etc.
The Fords just can't hire the right guys, that's all.
If Monte Clark could have learned to be himself, he might have done very very well here. One of the top NFL minds of the last 35 years.
In post 6 I mentioned I didn't like Haslett. I didn't care for the Dikta (sp?) selection as a coach a few years back. Basically the Saints need anther Jim Finks. Unfortunately they're few and far between.
Heck if I was Benson I'd keep Haslett simply because I'd know I couldn't get anybody worth anything. I solve my Saint problems by not watching the 2 half. Better on my blood pressure.
Well, every coach is judged on what they've done lately... The Vikings organization is a wreck. Funny thing is.... you are one of only a few that has considered this a good fire. Just about every football analyst I've heard has praised Tice for what he was able to accomplish with what little he had.
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