Ellington

New Orleans Saints coach Jim Haslett was among four NFL coaches who got fired on Monday. The other casualties on Black Monday: Mike Martz, St. Louis Rams; Mike Sherman, Green Bay Packers; and Dom Capers, Houston Texans.

Haslett had earlier turned down a contract extension and the word was that he planned to resign rather than honor the final year of his contract. So the Saints did him a favor. Haslett is still the only coach to lead the Saints to a playoff victory. But they had underachieved badly under him, never winning a game late in the season when it counted, even against inferior competition.