Saints Fire Ditka, Who Says He Will Never Coach Again

L.A. Times Archives

Jan. 6, 2000 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

Mike Ditka’s grand plans to transform the New Orleans Saints ended Wednesday when he was fired along with his assistants and the general manager after a 3-13 season.

The 60-year-old coach, who won a Super Bowl with the Chicago Bears in 1986, said he will never coach again.

“I’m sorry it didn’t work out,” Ditka said.

Ditka had a 15-33 record in his three years with the Saints, including a 6-23 mark in the last 29 games.

Also dismissed was General Manager Bill Kuharich in a housecleaning by Saint owner Tom Benson three days after the season. Terry O’Neil, the Saints’ executive in charge of the salary cap, was fired as well.

“It was necessary to clear the slate,” said Benson, who returned a day early from a Florida vacation to make the moves.

Ditka said he didn’t fight to keep his job.

“I understand it fully: You’re 3-13, you have the expectations we do, you bring in Ricky Williams, and it doesn’t work out,” Ditka said. “I mean, we got to be realists.”

The Green Bay Packers have been granted permission to interview Wisconsin Coach Barry Alvarez for their coaching job.

Wisconsin Athletic Director Pat Richter, who serves on Green Bay’s board of directors, declined to comment Wednesday, but the university issued a statement saying that the Packers “asked to be in touch with Coach Alvarez. As a courtesy, we said yes. We have no further comment.”

A rarely used abortion law used to indict NFL player Rae Carruth and three defendants will allow a jury to regard Cherica Adams’ child as a second victim, a legal scholar said at Charlotte, N.C.

Written in 1881 and revised about 20 years ago, the statute invoked by the Mecklenburg County grand jury on Tuesday charged the four with trying to destroy an unborn child.

Former Arizona Cardinal lineman Luis Sharpe, 30, was arrested on drug charges Tuesday after an altercation at a convenience store in the Phoenix suburb of Guadalupe. Sharpe, also arrested in November on similar charges, was being held on suspicion of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Cornerbacks Kevin Smith and Kevin Mathis returned to practice for the Dallas Cowboys and might be able to play Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. . . . Ricky Watters, who played in the regular season finale with a sprained right knee, is questionable for the Seattle Seahawks’ opening playoff game against Miami.

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Playoff Matchups

WILD-CARD GAMES

Saturday

* Buffalo at Tennessee, 9:30 a.m., Ch. 7

* Detroit at Washington, 1 p.m., Ch. 7

Sunday

* Dallas at Minnesota, 9:30 a.m., Ch. 11

* Miami at Seattle, 1 p.m., Ch. 2

DIVISIONAL GAMES

Jan. 15

* Buffalo, Miami or Tennessee at Jacksonville, 9:30 a.m., Ch. 2