Saints Barely Make Effort

By SAM FARMER

Dec. 31, 2001 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

NEW ORLEANS — One day after their playoff hopes vanished into the ether, the New Orleans Saints followed suit.

The Saints, once considered Super Bowl contenders, flat gave up against Washington, skulking off the Superdome turf 40-10 losers to the Redskins.

“We’re playing dumb football,” said Coach Jim Haslett, whose 7-8 Saints committed four turnovers and have gone from plus-14 to zero in turnover differential in the last three weeks.

Four Washington scoring drives were 18 yards or shorter, and the Redskins feasted on three interceptions and a fumble recovery to overcome an early 10-point deficit.

“When they get the short field and they can pound us all day, our defense breaks down,” said Haslett, whose team fell out of the playoff picture Saturday when Tampa Bay beat Baltimore.

Brett Conway kicked four field goals and Ki-Jana Carter scored on two runs for the Redskins, whose playoff aspirations ended last weekend.

This was the first time the Saints and Redskins have played since New Orleans traded its six 1999 draft picks, plus a first-and third-rounder in 2000, to Washington to select Ricky Williams.

The deal allowed the Redskins to land cornerback Champ Bailey, linebacker LaVar Arrington and tackle Jon Jansen.

It looks as if the Redskins made out like bandits. Bailey and Arrington are all-pro-caliber players.

After battling ankle and hand injuries his first two seasons, Williams finally found his groove this season (he had 1,138 yards before Sunday, third among NFC rushers), yet his impact against Washington was negligible--17 carries for 74 yards, with a fourth-quarter fumble that led to a Washington field goal.

Stephen Davis rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown. Carter had 51 yards.

Tony Banks was nine for 15 for the Redskins with one interception. He ran for a touchdown.

Saint quarterback Aaron Brooks had three passes intercepted, then stormed out of the locker room when reporters approached him.

“We lost,” he huffed. “Ain’t nothing needs to be said. We lost, straight up. Write your own words.”