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You guys had better say \"no\" or this is going to become one of those threads.

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That all depends, Gator.

Playoffs isn\'t my prerequisite. While the playoffs are the goal for every team, there are many things that can happen, during the course of a season that is out of control of the coach.

Let me just say this, though. I think we should make the playoffs and barring some kind of catastrophic event, if we don\'t make the playoffs, I will be calling for Haslett to go.

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While I think that the idea of whom you\'d trade for whom is generally illuminating, the question I was asking is this: does it seem that Haz has trouble motivating players (by means of charisma, understanding, rah-rahness, or whathaveyou) independently of his abiliity to punish them (some sort of mere classical conditioning)? That question will not be answered by looking at who you\'d trade for whom - since there may be many other reasons to make the trade. The question that you could get some mileage out of might be this: if you were going to bring in an attitude coach, who had no other duties that getting the players to grow up and act maturely, which coach would it be? I\'d have to say that I don\'t think we have any reason to say \"Haz\" - that doesn\'t mean he can\'t, it just means we haven\'t seen any progress there. WhoDat might say Jimmy, since he managed to keep his cancerous players from preventing important wins - a decent answer.

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IMHO, the players do not seem to be fired up for the games. They seem to be lackadaisical when on the field. I\'ve always heard that teams take on the personality of the coach. But, that\'s not how it is in this case.

I think there has been some things that have affected the confidence of this team. Especially the late season collapses. Because their confidence is shaky, I think when any little thing goes wrong, they play scared, or without any confidence. That usually happens with young teams. And, we are a relatively a young team. Then it\'s so much player turn-over every year, they\'re not sure what they have.

Confidence is a funny thing. People can do great things when they\'re confident. When they start doubting themselves, things usually don\'t go well.

With that said, it is Haslett\'s job to get the players to believe in themselves. X\'s and O\'s are fine and dandy, but coaching goes way beyond that. Another thing, maybe the players aren\'t confident in Haslett. I can\'t say for sure that they aren\'t. I can say with confidence, they didn\'t quit on Haslett last year. I think that speaks volume.

That\'s why I think it\'s imperative to start the season out on a high note. What comes first, winning or confidence?

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That has much to do with WHY they didn\'t make the playoffs. If I see injuries to key players that take \'em down for several games at a time...if I see otherwise capable WR\'s dropping passes that hit \'em in the hands (Whodat blames Haz for this...I hold the players SOLEY responsible), all combined -- I might be inclined to keep Jim around.

However, if the Saints bumble and stumble all over the field playing like bums while they are otherwise healthy then I might be inclined to think otherwise.

So the answer is it depends on why they didn\'t make it. See, I saw the Saints win 7 of thier last 11. They got Howard back and that seemed to make a large difference in the play of the defense. A-N-Y-B-O-D-Y that tells me that injuries don\'t make a difference isn\'t watching the same game I\'m watching. I really think Haz, barring all the injury (out of his control) and roster turnover (within his control) can take the team into the playoffs and beyond.

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So basically - if the Saints are healthy they have to make the playoffs for Haslett to keep his job?

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I would have to say yes. I can even see a case where they do make the playoffs and I would still want Haslett gone.

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I\'m going to hold you to that statement William.

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Perhpas so, and perhaps not Gator, but I\'d rather be depressed in January than stay that way from now \'til then ;)

:P

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Gator\'s havin antoher pipe dream! LOL

All I can say Gator is that I hope you\'re wrong about Haz. If last years team hadn\'t been so wet behind the ears and if the injuries hadn\'t hit \'em so hard I might be whistelin\' a tune similar to yours. We\'ll just have to see -- and I\'m willin to put the price of a six pack (import of course) on the line. Let\'s make that bet after the final pre-season game...

:P