Coughlin headed to New Orleans???

Danno · 12-11-2003, 09:27 AM

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COUGHLIN A CAJUN CANDIDATE?

Notwithstanding mounting rumors that former Jags coach Tom Coughlin will be the new coach of the Giants after Jim Fassel is politely instructed to get the hell out of town, a league source tells us that Coughlin could resurface not in New York, but in New Orleans.

Coughlin worked discreetly as a consultant for Saints owner Tom Benson during training camp, reporting neither to coach Jim Haslett nor G.M. Mickey Loomis but directly to Benson himself.

Yeah, Jim Haslett is still the coach. And, sure, it's hardly a foregone conclusion that he'll be released. But with rumors that Haslett has an escape clause allowing him to leave the Saints for one other team (supposedly the Bills) and Benson's impulsive nature, Haslett could be gone -- especially if the Saints finish (again) on the wrong side of .500.

Per the source, the Saints job is more attractive to Coughlin than the Giants gig because Coughlin wants the same level of control that he enjoyed in Jacksonville. At the Saints, G.M. Mickey Loomis could stick around without usurping any of Coughlin's potential authority, since Loomis is a cap-and-contracts guy, not a personnel evaluator.

In New York, Coughlin would have little authority over personnel, given the presence of G.M. Ernie Accorsi.

If/when Coughlin is out of the picture in New York, look for the Giants to make a strong run at LSU coach Nick Saban, whose star has risen about as high as it ever will in the NCAA ranks

12-11-2003, 09:27 AM	#1
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,748	Coughlin headed to New Orleans??? www.profootballtalk.com COUGHLIN A CAJUN CANDIDATE? Notwithstanding mounting rumors that former Jags coach Tom Coughlin will be the new coach of the Giants after Jim Fassel is politely instructed to get the hell out of town, a league source tells us that Coughlin could resurface not in New York, but in New Orleans. Coughlin worked discreetly as a consultant for Saints owner Tom Benson during training camp, reporting neither to coach Jim Haslett nor G.M. Mickey Loomis but directly to Benson himself. Yeah, Jim Haslett is still the coach. And, sure, it's hardly a foregone conclusion that he'll be released. But with rumors that Haslett has an escape clause allowing him to leave the Saints for one other team (supposedly the Bills) and Benson's impulsive nature, Haslett could be gone -- especially if the Saints finish (again) on the wrong side of .500. Per the source, the Saints job is more attractive to Coughlin than the Giants gig because Coughlin wants the same level of control that he enjoyed in Jacksonville. At the Saints, G.M. Mickey Loomis could stick around without usurping any of Coughlin's potential authority, since Loomis is a cap-and-contracts guy, not a personnel evaluator. In New York, Coughlin would have little authority over personnel, given the presence of G.M. Ernie Accorsi. If/when Coughlin is out of the picture in New York, look for the Giants to make a strong run at LSU coach Nick Saban, whose star has risen about as high as it ever will in the NCAA ranks