SAINTS Haslett stung by criticisms from owner and G.M.

The former Steelers' defensive coordinator hopes he has the same job next season.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Jim Haslett sits in his office, looking quite calm for a man who doesn't know how long he'll be coaching the New Orleans Saints.
He spent the week the way he usually does -- looking at film, going to countless meetings, standing on the practice field and studying piles of charts, graphs and notes on Sunday's opponent, the Carolina Panthers.
"Not a lot has changed for me since I became a head coach," Haslett says. "I still work the same way, still try to prepare for everything and anything. Still want to win."
But one thing has changed for the man who was the NFL Coach of the Year in 2000: Many of those who loved him then have turned against him.
New Orleans has not been to the playoffs since that season. As the Saints stumbled to a 4-8 start in 2004, disgruntled fans booed, the general manager issued warnings, and an unhappy owner said he'd seen better high school teams.
"I lost all the emotion about two months ago, to be honest with you," Haslett says. "I said two months ago that I was just going to enjoy being around these guys and coach the players the way they should be."
In-house blasts
He acknowledges that a couple of things hit him hard: Owner Tom Benson's blasting this year's team as the worst he'd seen since buying the Saints, and general manager Mickey Loomis' early season warning to win or else.
"What hurt was the criticism we received within the building," Haslett said. "To get criticized early in the season by the general manager, I think that affected me some and I think it affected our football players. And the comments the owner made -- which he has a right to make -- but I think that affected us some."
The adversity had at least one positive effect in that it ultimately brought the players and coaches closer together, Haslett said. New Orleans put together a three-game winning streak -- the second-longest in the NFC -- to put them in playoff contention going into the regular-season finale against Carolina.
Haslett scoffs at speculation that he lost the players during the season.
"That's a media thing," he said. "These guys always worked hard, practiced hard, played hard. Not the way we needed to, but they never gave up or stopped working."
The Saints' defense still ranks last, or close to it, in every category, but over the last three weeks it hasn't looked as bad as the numbers indicate.
Aaron Brooks has thrown the football 518 times this season as New Orleans has fought to come from behind in most games -- a mistake, Haslett said. Running back Deuce McAllister, who gained just 22 yards in the Saints' last meeting with Carolina, has run for 83, 89 and 128 yards in the three victories since.
Still likes to coach
Haslett refuses to speculate if he's saved his job. He hopes so.
"These jobs are hard to get," he said, joking. "But people don't realize it's more than the coach getting fired in these things. It's the assistants, the trainers, the scouts, all kinds of people. It affects 200, 300 people probably when you count the families. I don't worry about myself. I worry about them."
Other than working out a lot more, Haslett said he hasn't done anything to deal with the stress or the criticism.
He still likes coaching, for the most part.
"I like being around the coaches and players, like the Xs and Os part of it," Haslett said.
"I don't like dealing with the media, never have and probably never will. And I don't like all the political bull that goes with the job."