Haslett Gone

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

FOXSports.com/ESPN.com report.

[Pistons < Spurs]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2278052


The season of displacement has concluded with New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson deciding his franchise needed a replacement for head coach Jim Haslett.

After weeks of requesting that he be freed from his contract, a frustrated Haslett finally was dismissed by the Saints on Monday, team sources confirmed to ESPN.com. The two sides essentially reached a mutual agreement that Haslett would not return for 2006, the final year of his contract.

It is believed a settlement was reached on the contract, which was to have paid Haslett in excess of $3 million. ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports that Haslett could get a lump sum payment worth half of his annual salary (which is $3.3 million), depending on whether he gets another job.

Haslett, 50, is expected to be a highly sought candidate in an exploding market. More respected leaguewide than within some quarters of his own organization, Haslett likely will hear from multiple suitors as franchises begin the process of filling vacancies.

In six seasons, Haslett compiled a 46-52 record. He led the Saints to a division title in 2000, his first season with the team, but New Orleans only had one more winning year under his stewardship. The club collapsed this season, posting a 3-13 mark in a year marked by having to relocate to San Antonio because of Hurricane Katrina.

Haslett had indicated to ESPN.com a few weeks ago that it would be difficult for him to continue with the team in 2006. He denied reports that he had requested that Benson fire him, but it was obvious neither side wanted the relationship to continue.

Rumors swirled after the 2004 season, when the Saints finished 8-8, that Haslett would be fired. Not only did the team retain him, but Benson and general manager Mickey Loomis also announced plans to sign Haslett to a two-year contract extension. But the extension never came, even though the prospects of an add-on were briefly resuscitated when the club was forced to move to San Antonio, and it became increasingly clear as the season progressed that Haslett might move on.

A popular coach with his players, and viewed as a solid football man, Haslett nonetheless presided over a team that did not play up to its talent level during his tenure.

The Saints have called a 3 p.m. ET news conference.

[exstatic]

I thought he was kind of whiney. Pop is always kind of my coach guide, and he never let the Spurs think they didn't have to win games last year when both Tim and Manu were out. The result were those B2B OT wins that probably made me prouder of SA than just about anything else. Haz always seemed to be making excuses, which lets the players off the hook.

[McKenzie]

Haz isn't whiney. That will probably be the one and only issue that you and I will disagree on.

Can we change this thread title to HAZ FIRED to go along with all of the other FIRED threads?

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Haz isn't whiney. That will probably be the one and only issue that you and I will disagree on.

Can we change this thread title to HAZ FIRED to go along with all of the other FIRED threads?

Haslett asked to be released from his contract (or given an insane amount of power with an extension) during the season.

[McKenzie]

Asking for power doesn't make him a whiner. Fuck, look at what Nick Saben got in Miami. Haz needed more power than Loomis wanted to give up. Loomis will end up fucking Benson and the Saints for years unless he gets canned.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

I don't think he's a whiner at all.

He made a power play and it didn't come through. I wouldn't be surprised if he has a head coaching gig by the beginning of the 2007 season.

[Horry For 3!]

I think Haslett kinda wanted to be let go so he didn't have to deal with all of this stuff.