Bum Phillips Says Saints’ Owner May Have to Change Head Coaches

After laughing off a flurry of reports indicating that he had been fired as head coach of the New Orleans Saints, Bum Phillips said Monday that if the struggling 3-7 team does not make a dramatic turnaround, he thinks owner Tom Benson should find a new coach.

“If we don’t win five out if these next six ball games, then he has got to make a change,” Phillips said.

The Saints, who have lost their last five games, have three road games (Green Bay, Minnesota and St. Louis) and three home games (the Rams, San Francisco and Atlanta) remaining.

When asked if he would really step down, Phillips replied: “Yep, I think you’d have to.”

“Obviously if the year continues like it is, I would be the first one to go to him and say, ‘Tom you’ve got to make a change,’ ” Phillips said.

A change is already in the offing for the Saints. Former United States Football League quarterback Bobby Hebert will draw his first NFL starting assignment Sunday at Green Bay, Phillips said.

Hebert played out his contract with the Michigan Panthers of the USFL and signed a $3.5-million contract with the Saints in August. He has been working with the scout squad, behind starter Dave Wilson and last year’s starter Richard Todd, since the regular season began.