In a somewhat strange and perplexing move, the New Orleans Saints have fired Rick Mueller, the team's vice president of player personnel, according to a league source.
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Mueller, who was with the Saints for the past eight seasons, was given a lot of credit for helping the Saints get to the NFC Championship Game in 2006, which is why this move is surprising.
Mueller oversaw the Saints' college and pro scouting departments the past five seasons. When the Saints went 10-6 in '06, they did so with one player who was on the roster before Mueller arrived in New Orleans.
Mueller and the Saints took heat for the drafting of Reggie Bush with the second pick in 2006, but he also found guard Jahri Evans (fourth) and receiver Marques Colston (seventh) in that draft. Both are Pro Bowl-caliber players.
The Buffalo Bills considered Mueller for their football-decision making position this spring, but the Bills stayed in-house.
Saints general manager Mickey Loomis will now have the team's director of college scouting (Rick Reiprish) and the director of pro scouting (Ryan Pace) reporting directly to him.
Mueller, the brother of former Seahawks, Saints and Dolphins personnel man Randy Mueller, normally wouldn't be out of work long. But with most positions for the 2008 season filled, this firing couldn't come at a worse time.
ROLLLERS 
