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Saints hire Vitt, two other assistants


January 27, 2006

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The Saints hired former Rams interim coach Joe Vitt as linebackers coach Friday.

New coach Sean Payton also hired Doug Marrone as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, and John Bonamego as special teams coach.

Vitt, who also will carry the title assistant head coach, took over in St. Louis six games into last season when Mike Martz was sidelined for health reasons and ultimately led the Rams to a 6-10 mark.

Before his promotion, Vitt was the Rams' assistant head coach-linebackers. From 2000-2004, he served as Chiefs linebackers coach.

Vitt was the Packers' defensive backs coach in 1999. He also coached linebackers for the Philadelphia Eagles and spent 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.

"I worked with Joe at the Eagles and the one thing you can say is that his players always excel," Payton said.

Marrone, a former offensive lineman who played the 1989 season with the Saints, spent the last four seasons with the New York Jets as offensive line coach. Marrone spent the 2001 season at the University of Tennessee, where he worked with the tight ends and offensive tackles.

Bonamego enters his eighth year in the NFL after a three-year stint with the Packers as special teams coordinator.



Updated on Friday, Jan 27, 2006 5:43 pm EST

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

I guess this means the rumors about Palmer were false.