Ditka Can't Find the Solution

L.A. Times Archives

Nov. 1, 1999 12 AM PT

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During an embarrassing 21-16 loss to Cleveland, New Orleans Coach Mike Ditka took over the play-calling for the Saints, unhappy with game plans that he felt strayed from his desire to pound the ball with running back Ricky Williams, the Heisman Trophy winner he gave up eight draft picks to get.

The scheme was quickly apparent. Williams--who had his second 100-yard day as a pro, rushing for 179 yards in 40 carries--carried the football for 11 of the Saints’ 17 first-quarter plays, and 22 of 47 in the first half. He also fumbled the ball away twice to keep the Browns in the game.

“It’s embarrassing, it’s certainly wonderful for them because it’s exciting for them to get their first win,” Ditka said. “It’s not good for us. It’s our sixth loss, but if I look back and I look at the way our guys played, I can’t say anything. What am I going to say? They played their hearts out.”

This season just isn’t turning out the way Ditka had imagined.

“This is about my lowest point,” Ditka said. “I can’t let it get me any lower. I’m carrying a weight right now of this football team and this organization. I’m carrying the weight of people’s aspirations and ambitions and right now we’re not doing a very good job of carrying it.”

Sunday’s loss was the Saints’ sixth consecutive, and as his team slips, so does Ditka. During a conference call last week with reporters, Ditka said: “Listen, you’re nobody until you’ve been fired. But if you’ve been fired twice, you’re really somebody. If that happens, I’ll live through it.”

If the Saints are smart, they’ll make Ditka a real somebody real soon.

Of note: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ first-ever win, in 1977, was a 33-14 rout of the Saints.

Just how bad have the Saints been in their history? With their loss to the Browns, the Saints’ overall record fell to 190-294-5. Based on a 16-game season, that means the Saints need to average 10 wins a year for the next 26 years to reach .500.

YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH

Ditka isn’t the only coach losing it these days. Philadelphia Coach Andy Reid wasn’t in great shape after the Eagles lost to the New York Giants in overtime, 23-17, thanks in part to two late turnovers.

“The situation that happened today should never happen,” Reid said, his voice shaky and eyes watering after his team blew a fourth-quarter lead for the second straight week.

It was a devastating loss for the Eagles, who had to stomach a 16-15 loss to the Giants at the Meadowlands Oct. 3.

Reid’s frustration showed when he lectured a local beat reporter and refused to answer his question in the postgame news conference, accusing the writer of failing to “report the truth” about the team.

FICKLE FINGER OF FATE

The Redskins used Brian Hansen as their punter for the second straight week after Matt Turk, who already had a broken finger, experienced back spasms bending over at his locker before the game.

Incredible as it may seem, the Redskins have somehow managed to turn the story of Turk’s broken finger into a distracting saga that has lasted nearly two weeks and has Coach Norv Turner and his players scratching their heads in disbelief, wishing it would go away.

“It’s gone on too long,” receiver Irving Fryar said.

At issue is when and where Turk broke his left middle finger. Turk says it happened either during warmups or during the game itself when Washington played at Arizona two weeks ago.

The Redskins apparently claim to suspect otherwise, with a team source telling The Washington Post last week that Turk may have actually broken his finger playing basketball the night after the Arizona game. The story said Turk could be fined if the allegation was true.

Director of player personnel Vinny Cerrato said an investigation is indeed underway.

Because of Cerrato’s intervention, the Turk-basketball saga hung over the week like an unwanted silly farce, especially considering that the team tacitly encourages the sport by having a basketball court in the basement of Redskin Park.

“Amazing, that’s a pretty good word for it,” Turner said.

WALTER PAYTON UPDATE

Walter Payton was awaiting a liver transplant Sunday at Chicago and his condition has not changed, said a close friend who wanted to dispel reports about the NFL great’s health.

At least one radio station in New York and one in Philadelphia announced that he had died.

The league’s career rushing leader said in February he has primary sclerosing cholangitis, a rare liver disease that can be treated only with a transplant.

“There’s no news,” Mark Alberts, one of Payton’s business partners, said. “This is ridiculous. If there’s any news, we would contact the media.”

Rumors that Payton’s health has deteriorated have been rampant in recent days, fueled by son Jarrett’s sudden departure from the University of Miami. Coach Butch Davis said Thursday the younger Payton, a freshman running back and kick returner, had gone home, and he didn’t know when Payton would return.

Jarrett Payton missed Miami’s game Saturday against West Virginia.

“I know it’s serious,” said Don Soldinger, Miami’s running backs coach. “But I don’t know how serious. I think Jarrett’s place is there, not here.”

The CBS SportsLine Web site, citing two unidentified sources close to Payton, said the 45-year-old former Chicago Bears star experienced “serious complications” that could prevent him from getting a transplant.

But Bears’ spokesman Bryan Harlan said the team spoke with Payton’s family and was assured he is fine.

MARRIAGE IS NO CURSE

Lip readers: When Baltimore Raven Coach Brian Billick sees things from the sideline that upset him, he swears--a lot. And he hears about it from his mother, his wife and his 10-year-old daughter.

“We win a game, and what do I hear from my mother, a chewing out about swearing. I get home and get lectured by my wife, then my daughter gives me a bad time.”

The remedy? Billick plans to fine himself $100 every time he uses bad language on the sidelines. The United Way will get the money.

HALL OF FAME, HERE HE COMES

Former 49er quarterback Joe Montana heads up the list of 27 former NFL players and coaches that will appear on the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s ballot for the first time.

The Class of 2000 will be determined at the Selection Committee’s annual meeting in Atlanta on Jan. 29, the day before Super Bowl XXXIV.

The list of first-time eligibles:

* Quarterbacks Montana and Jay Schroeder.

* Wide receivers Eric Martin, Sterling Sharpe and Clarence Verdin.

* Running backs Barry Foster and Johnny Johnson.

* Tight ends Mark Bavaro, Ferrell Edmunds, Ethan Horton and Steve Jordan.

* Offensive linemen Mark Bortz, Max Montoya, Mike Kenn and Luis Sharpe.

* Defensive linemen Tim Krumrie, Charles Mann, Leonard Marshall and Steve McMichael.

* Linebackers Vaughan Johnson and Karl Mecklenburg.

* Defensive backs Carl Lee, Ronnie Lott and Dennis Smith.

* Kicker David Treadwell.

* Punter Jim Arnold.