JUDGING JIM
 

JUDGING JIM


Saints coach Jim Haslett says the time to talk about his future will be after the season



the losses mount for the beleaguered Saints, so do reports that Coach Jim Haslett either will be fired at season's end or plans to resign if he does not receive a lengthy contract extension.


Haslett said he has not discussed his future with owner Tom Benson and does not plan to do so until after the season or unless Benson initiates talks.

The Saints (3-11) have two games remaining, beginning with the Detroit Lions (4-10) at noon Saturday at the Alamodome.

"I'm sure I will sometime, but not today, not this week," Haslett said Monday. "It's his time frame. It's his team. We'll wait and see."

Asked if he deserved an extension, Haslett replied: "We got three wins. That ought to tell you something. That's not for me to judge. That's for somebody else to judge."

Haslett's contract expires after the 2006 season. He is being paid $3.2 million this season and next. Saints general manager Mickey's Loomis' contract expires after the 2007 season.

"Why don't you put out a report that I'm not re-signing so we can get the ball turned the other way," Haslett joked with a reporter. "Just say I'm going to coach these next two games and try to win these next two games, and then we'll worry about '06 when the season's over. I would appreciate if you can do that for me."

Haslett said the last thing he and his displaced team needs is another distraction.

"Let's let it go until the season's over, and we'll worry about trying to win a game," Haslett said. "Let's see if we can concentrate on football this week and try to worry about Detroit, not union matters, not facility matters, not Jim Haslett, not every other thing that's gone on. Let's worry about trying to win a football game this week."

After the Lions, the Saints end the season at Tampa Bay on Jan. 1.

"Everybody is worried about where we're practicing and where we're living," Haslett said. "Let's not worry about those things. Let's try to end on a good note and let all those other things take care of themselves.

"All that stuff will play out -- my (situation), the facilities, where we're going to live. You got no control over any of it."

Benson was in New York on Monday preparing to meet today with the NFL's New Orleans Advisory Committee about his team's prospects for next season.

"I really haven't sat down and talked to (Benson) during the season about anything," Haslett said. "He's got other things on his mind. He's got stadium issues, where we're going to play. He's got a lot of things on his plate. I don't think he's going to be worried about whether I have a grease board up in my (office).

"The guy is stressed out. It's been a hard couple of months for him. He's got a lot of things going on. He's got tough decisions ahead of him."

Meanwhile, Haslett said quarterback Todd Bouman would start Saturday against the Lions, despite throwing four interceptions and losing a fumble in Sunday's 27-10 loss against Carolina at Tiger Stadium.

"He had three disappointing plays -- the fumble when he didn't secure the ball, the interception when the score was 10-7 and the interception at the one-yard line when he should have been under center," Haslett said. "That was probably our fault as a coaching staff. We should have been in goal line and run the ball in. But we stayed in three wideouts, and he made a bad decision to throw a fade not being under center. I don't know how you throw a fade when you're not under center.

"I thought he made good decisions for the most part, and he ran the offense extremely well. I thought there was good conversation on the sidelines between him and the receivers and the coordinator. He brought some energy to the field. He'll be better this next time."

NOTES: Saints receivers dropped six passes in Sunday's loss to Carolina, five by DontÃÃâ€*’© Stallworth, who caught five passes for 102 yards and one touchdown. . . . Injury report: Guard Jermane Mayberry (elbow), left tackle Wayne Gandy (calf), guard Kendyl Jacox (knee), linebacker Sedrick Hodge (ankle), safety Josh Bullocks (shoulder), wide receiver Az-Zahir Hakim (hip/knee) and center LeCharles Bentley (elbow) are questionable. Right defensive end Darren Howard (knee) will not play against the Lions.

http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index...6419264110.xml

GUILTEEEEEE!!!!

Execute him!!!

:bang:

a coach should be judged on the fact if he gets the most out of his players. haslett has never done that, in fact just the opposite.