Coach: Jim Mora, New Orleans Saints
Date: October 25, 1987
Reason: Because “coulda, woulda, shoulda” ain’t good enough!
Meltdown: Mora the Elder is the Babe Ruth of meltdowns — the king of Career Value — and we knew we were in the presence of greatness from his second year in New Orleans. In 1987, the Saints lost a close game to the 49ers, falling to 3-3. Mora had this to say after the game: “The Saints ain’t good enough. We’re close, and close don’t mean s***. I’m tired of coming close. I’m pissed off right now. You bet your ass I am. I’m sick of coulda, woulda, shoulda, coming close, if only.”
Result: We’re picking this one over his later “diddly-poo” speech in New Orleans because of the positive effects. The Saints ran off a nine-game winning streak, finishing with a 12-3 record, and the first winning season in the franchise’s 20-year history. They lost to Jerry Burns’ Vikings in the wild card round of the playoffs, ensuring great quotage either way.