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Haslett backs off post-game tone
10/17/2005, 7:09 p.m. CT
The Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — New Orleans coach Jim Haslett said Monday he went too far in his post-game comments after a penalty gave the Atlanta Falcons a second chance to win Sunday's game with a last-second field goal.

Haslett, who used the same expletive four times to describe the official's call of a defensive-holding penalty that allowed the Falcons to kick a 36-yard field goal on the last play of Atlanta's 34-31 victory, said Monday he has not been told by the NFL that he will be fined. That announcement could come Wednesday.

He backed off from the tone of his post-game rant Monday.

"I said some things in the heat of battle that I probably shouldn't have said," he said.

"I don't want to get into (officials') calls," Haslett said. "For the most part, NFL officials do a great job. I think Bill Carollo and his staff have done a good job for the most part. I just didn't agree with the timing of the last call."

Carollo was the crew chief for Sunday's game.

On Sunday, Haslett singled out side judge James Coleman for making the call. Atlanta kicker Todd Peterson missed a 41-yard field goal with two seconds remaining, but he got another shot five yards closer when the Saints' Tony Bryant was flagged for holding in an attempt to allow teammate Jason Craft to "shoot the gap" and block the kick. Craft didn't get to the ball.

Haslett compared the situation with an NBA player's drive down the lane for a try at a game-winning shot, contending that most referees wouldn't call a foul.

Haslett and his staff showed the game film to the players Monday, as is routine. Haslett said he'd stand by any of their comments about the officiating, which also included an offensive pass interference call against Az-Zahir Hakim that nullified a touchdown.

Offensive tackle Wayne Gandy and tight end Ernie Conwell contend the flag on the defensive holding call wasn't thrown until after the Saints celebrated the missed field goal.

"(The official) is looking and then he sees guys celebrating that it's a missed field goal and then the flag comes," Conwell said. "It's tough to watch that from the standpoint that as hard as we fought, as many good things that happened, and have it come down to a couple of calls. I know officials aren't perfect and they make mistakes like anyone else, but it's tough to swallow."

Conwell later said he wasn't blaming the officials. Like Haslett, he said the Saints should blame themselves for committing three turnovers or other mistakes that directly led to three Atlanta touchdowns.

Running back Antowain Smith fumbled and Falcons cornerback Deangelo Hall returned it 66 yards for a touchdown. Kevin Houser's high snap on a 47-yard field-goal try led to a blocked kick that was returned 59 yards for a score by Demorrio Williams on the final play of the first half. And two plays after quarterback Aaron Brooks was intercepted by Keith Brooking, the Falcons went ahead by a touchdown when Warrick Dunn scored on a running play in the fourth quarter.

The Saints outgained Atlanta 456 yards to 266 and picked up 11 more first downs. But the turnovers contribute to New Orleans being last in the NFL in take-away/give-away differential at -11, which is three turnovers worse than the next closest team.

"This was probably one of our better-played games," Haslett said. "But when you turn the ball over three times that lead directly to 21 points, those are the things that kill you. Those things are hard to overcome."
And that doesn't mention another penalty before the game-winning field goal. On the play prior to the New Orleans defensive-holding penalty, the ball was moved five yards closer because the Saints had 12 players on the field.

Defensive line coach John Pease approached the media Monday and took responsibility for the penalty.

Notes@: After missing two games because of a pulled hamstring muscle, receiver Joe Horn pulled himself out of the game Sunday in the first quarter because he said he was not effective and not comfortable with the injury. ... Dwight Smith, a starting safety signed as a free agent from Tampa Bay during the offseason, sprained a medial collateral ligament in a knee and will be questionable this week against St. Louis according to Haslett. ... The Saints are on a pace to commit 157 penalties, which would break the franchise record of 129 set last year.

http://www.nola.com/newsflash/louisi...list=louisiana

Wonder where I heard that before............................................................