Packers, Saints, Texans, Vikings fire coaches after season finales

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Green Bay fired coach Mike Sherman on Monday, a day after the Packers finished their worst season in 15 years.

"At the end of the day I felt like we needed to go in a different direction," Packers general manager Ted Thompson said at a news conference.

The Packers closed their season with a win over Seattle on Sunday night as Brett Favre threw his first touchdown pass in five games, but finished with a 4-12 record.

Sherman's first five years brought success but not another title in Green Bay. His record was 53-27 in the regular season, which was good enough to tie Steelers coach Bill Cowher for fifth among NFL coaches in their first 80 games. Sherman finished 57-39 in six seasons.

Saints fire Haslett

SAN ANTONIO -- The Saints fired coach Jim Haslett on Monday, the day after ending a 3-13 season overshadowed by the hurricane that devastated New Orleans and forced the team to abandon the city.

Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said Haslett was relieved of his duties Monday morning.

Haslett, the 2000 NFL Coach of the Year in his first season after leading the Saints to the only playoff victory in team history, had one year left on his contract. He was 45-51 in six seasons with New Orleans and had the second-most victories in team history behind Jim Mora's 93.

New Orleans hasn't had a winning season since 2002, and this year was marred before it even began. The Saints were forced from their city when Hurricane Katrina blasted the Gulf Coast in August, moving their training camp to San Antonio, then playing four home games in Baton Rouge, La., three in San Antonio and one in New Jersey.

New Orleans opened the season with an emotional win at Carolina, but finished by losing 11 of 12, including Sunday's season-ending 27-13 defeat at Tampa Bay.

Texans fire Capers

HOUSTON -- Dom Capers was fired as coach of the Houston Texans on Monday, one day after the team finished with the league's worst record.

The Texans, who hired former NFL coach Dan Reeves as a consultant last month, will keep general manager Charley Casserly.

Houston's season ended Sunday with a 20-17 overtime loss in San Francisco that left the Texans with a 2-14 record.

Vikings fire Tice

MINNEAPOLIS -- Mike Tice hoped a 7-2 finish was going to be enough to save his job with the Minnesota Vikings.

It turns out that the 2-5 start, his ticket-scalping scandal and the infamous Love Boat fiasco ultimately doomed him.

Owner Zygi Wilf fired Tice on Sunday after Minnesota's 34-10 victory over Chicago capped a disappointing 9-7 season.

"I was prepared for it all week," Tice said. "I didn't feel the vibes were good."

Immediately after Tice spoke to the media about the Vikings' victory, owners Zygi and Mark Wilf pulled the coach aside and delivered the news. A news release was distributed to the media in the locker room.

-- From wire reports