Haslett Gets Coaching Honor on a Day That He Can’t Enjoy It

New Orleans Saint Coach Jim Haslett was named Associated Press NFL coach of the year on the same day his team was eliminated from the playoffs, which explained the lack of champagne in the Saints’ locker room Saturday.

Haslett, who oversaw a Saint turnaround from 3-13 in 1999 to 10-6 and the franchise’s first playoff victory in 2000, received 30 1/2 of 50 votes cast in a nationwide poll of sportswriters and broadcasters. Philadelphia’s Andy Reid was second with 9 1/2 votes.

“Guys that had been here a long time, that had never won, never had a winning season, that takes a toll on you,” said Haslett, hired after the 1999 season to replace Mike Ditka. “The franchise wasn’t in great shape, after four bad years.

“I think the No. 1 thing we had to do was get them on board with what we were trying to do, and that was to build a team and an organization that people could be proud of . . . to try to change people’s thinking inside by learning how to win, learning how to deal with adversity, learning how to deal with success. It wasn’t easy.

“I don’t think we’re where we want to be yet, but I think we have a good start, a good foundation.”

Haslett, formerly the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive coordinator, guided the Saints to their first NFC West championship since 1991 and their first playoff victory in the franchise’s 34-year existence, last week’s 31-28 triumph over St. Louis.

Tennessee’s Jeff Fisher, Oakland’s Jon Gruden and the New York Giants’ Jim Fassel received two votes apiece. Miami’s Dave Wannstedt, Baltimore’s Brian Billick, Denver’s Mike Shanahan and San Francisco’s Steve Mariucci got one vote.

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Haslett, on his team’s performance during Saturday’s 34-16 loss to the Vikings: “I’m not happy with any of our play today. I don’t think you would be happy with any of our DBs today.”

Minnesota wide receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss combined for 10 catches for 241 yards and three touchdowns.

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New Orleans running back Ricky Williams played for the first time since breaking his ankle Nov. 12, but his impact was minimal.

Williams had 14 yards in six carries and caught one pass for two yards.

“I felt pretty good,” Williams said. “It felt good to get out there. It was a little sore, but nothing I didn’t expect.”

As for the rest of the team, Williams surmised, “We never got in rhythm. We did make some plays, but not enough.”

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Viking quarterback Daunte Culpepper said the Saints committed a critical mistake by playing single coverage against Moss early in the third quarter, when Moss took a one-yard hitch from Culpepper and turned it into a 68-yard scoring play.

“If you go one-on-one on Moss, we’re going to go to him,” Culpepper said. “Because he’s deadly.”