Steelers notebook
In reunion of sorts, Haslett fields questions from old media friends PITTSBURGH – New Orleans Saints coach Jim Haslett was asked to comment on the new quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Steelers’ former defensive coordinator responded that he’d only seen Tommy Maddox play in the XFL.
The XFL? What was a cool dude like Haslett doing watching the XFL?
“I wanted to watch the cheerleaders,” Haslett said, and thus the merriment was under way during Wednesday’s conference call.
Haslett, of course, is a native of nearby Avalon and went to school at Division II Indiana University of Pennsylvania, located approximately 35 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. Haslett played for the Buffalo Bills and once intentionally spiked Terry Bradshaw in the head after his helmet came off on the sideline. All was forgiven, though, when Haslett became Steelers coach Bill Cowher’s defensive coordinator in 1997 and the Steelers reached the AFC Championship Game.
Haslett left to coach the Saints after three years in Pittsburgh and took what had been a 3-13 team and turned them into a 10-6 playoff squad. Last year’s record dipped to 7-9 as they lost their last four games by an average margin of 27 points. The Saints appear to have recovered, starting this season with a 3-1 record. Haslett credited the strong start to the many lineup changes made in the off-season.
“We wanted to make changes our first year, but we ended up winning 11 games and you end up not doing it because you are satisfied with the wins,” he said. “But, it is something that we probably should have done anyway. We just did it a year later.”
In a reunion of sorts, Haslett fielded a variety of questions from reporters with whom he had been friendly in Pittsburgh.
l On learning to speak Cajun: “All you have to do is mumble.”
l On not selling out his stadium this week: “Maybe nobody wants to see the Steelers.”
l On coaching with the Steelers: “The only reason I went there was to try to win a championship and become a head coach. I thought coming out from Bill Cowher’s staff and Mr. Rooney that that was the two best ways to accomplish those goals. We fell short on the one, but I got the other one.”
l Are you going to celebrate your contract by leaving us an open tab somewhere? “Where? This place is expensive now. I’ve seen (you guys) drink.”
l Do you keep tabs on IUP? “How did they lose to Findlay?”
l Who do you miss more, Omar Khan or Ron Zook? “Omar was my man. He did everything down here for me.”
l Will your family root for the Steelers? “Knowing them, yes. They say Steelers are thicker than blood.”
X’s & O’s: Kendrell Bell (ankle), Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala (ribs), Mike Schneck (elbow) and Mike Logan (hamstring) missed practice Wednesday. Schneck and Fuamatu-Ma’afala have been ruled out of Sunday’s game. Bell is doubtful and Logan is questionable. The Saints’ injury list reads: CB Keyuo Craver (knee), WR Donte Stallworth (hamstring) and DE Willie Whitehead (leg) out; LB James Allen (knee), WR Joe Horn (knee) and RB Fred McAfee (hamstring) questionable. … They are rookies, but both Antwaan Randle El and Lee Mays rank among the Steelers’ all-time leaders in kick-return average. Randle El averages 26.3 yards per return to rank third behind Lynn Chandnois (29.6) and Gary Ballman (26.7), and Mays averages 24.6 yards per return to rank sixth. … Linebacker Joey Porter has three interceptions to lead the team. The Steelers’ record for interceptions by a linebacker is six by Jack Lambert in 1979.
QUOTABLE: Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks on the Steelers changing quarterbacks: “Whether it’s going to cause controversy depends on how professional they are about their job. I think some of the situations I’ve seen, the other guy was perhaps unhappy, but it worked out fine because we were both professionals about the situation.”