| There are a lot of interesting things worth
pondering in the aftermath of Randy Mueller’s jaw-dropping dismissal as the
Saints’ general manager. For some reason, though, there was one predominant thought
that popped into my head after hearing that Mueller had been canned.
Without a doubt, the most clear-cut favorite to win its division in 2002 is Tampa Bay
in the sorry NFC South.
If the Bucs did indeed have a challenger for NFC South supremacy, it figured to be the
Saints — until the team’s owner, Tom Benson, decided his failure to communicate
with Mueller had become too big a cross to bear.
After completely falling apart in the final month of the 2001 season, Mueller spent
little time licking his wounds. He aggressively rebuilt the New Orleans roster, and among
the Saints people I talk to regularly, the consensus was that he definitely was on the
right track.
Until he was derailed by the quirky Benson.
At this writing, Benson was stressing that his top priority was to extend the contract
of head coach Jim Haslett, who was as shocked as everybody else by Mueller’s firing.
Even if Benson is successful in keeping Haslett around, there still figures to be
considerable tension within the organization.
All the organization’s higher-ups, headed by Mickey Loomis, who was promoted to
Mueller’s post, were extremely tight with Mueller. Included in that mix is director
of player personnel Ricky Mueller, who also happens to be Randy’s brother.
How awkward is that?
All those guys are going to be walking on eggshells, wondering whether another mood
swing by Benson will bring down another guillotine in The Big Uneasy.
The Saints could send a strong message by quickly locking in Haslett to a lucrative
long-term deal — $3 million a year should do the trick — in addition to kissing
and making up with Joe Horn, the disgruntled wide receiver whose ill-timed demand for a
heftier contract has been completely forgotten for the time being.
But I just don’t see that happening.
Which brings me back to the Bucs.
With the Saints continuing to flirt with turmoil, the Falcons’ front office also
in a confusing state of flux and the Panthers probably two full years away from making
their fans forget last year’s 1-15 nightmare, Jon Gruden has it made.
Number one draft choices? The Bucs don’t need no stinking No. 1 draft choices. Not
in the NFC South, where mediocrity prevails.
Granted, Tampa Bay has its share of flaws, especially on offense, where more key moves
are expected to take place after June 1. But as long as the Bucs’ defense remains
intact, "Chucky Doll" sales should continue to skyrocket.
One last thought on the Saints’ shenanigans.
It’s not all that gigantic a stretch to envision both Mueller and Haslett
eventually ending up in Atlanta, where the Dan Reeves era is definitely winding down.
Stranger things have already happened. |
