Haslett and Olson sign on with Rams

Former Saints coach Jim Haslett was hired as the St. Louis Rams' defensive coordinator yesterday.

The Rams also hired Greg Olson as offensive coordinator. He spent the last two seasons with Detroit, first as quarterbacks coach, then as co-offensive coordinator.

Both will work under Scott Linehan, hired last week as head coach.

''I was lucky to be able to get these guys," Linehan said on a conference call. ''They're exactly what I was looking for."

For years, Haslett was a sometimes bitter rival of the Rams when the Saints and Rams were in the NFC West. The Saints' playoff win over the Rams in 2000 ended St. Louis's quest for a second straight Super Bowl title. It was the only playoff win in Saints history, and Haslett was the NFL coach of the year.

Haslett was fired after six seasons as coach after going 45-51 with only the one playoff appearance. The Saints were displaced by Hurricane Katrina last season and went 3-13.

Haslett now takes on the task of rebuilding the NFL's 30th-ranked defense. Linehan said it wouldn't bother him if Haslett used his spot with the Rams to get back into head coaching.

''He gets another head coaching job, that's a good thing," Linehan said. ''That means we've done well. My job is to hire a good staff under Jim so that we can promote from within."

Capers joins Miami

Dom Capers joined the Miami Dolphins, giving Nick Saban two new assistants with head coaching experience.

Capers, hired as special assistant to Saban, coached the Houston Texans for their first four seasons before being fired the day after they finished the 2005 season 2-14. He also coached the Carolina Panthers in their first four seasons, from 1995-98.

Sunday, Saban hired as offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, who coached the Buffalo Bills to a 14-18 record the last two seasons.

Capers, 55, spoke with Saban earlier this month about joining the Dolphins and accepted the offer after failing to land another head coaching job.

Musgrave to tutor Vick

Michael Vick has a new position coach, after the Falcons hired Bill Musgrave to tutor their quarterbacks. Musgrave, 38, spent 2005 as quarterbacks coach of the Washington Redskins, who reorganized their offensive staff last Thursday with the hiring of former Kansas City coordinator Al Saunders . . . Bill Kollar was hired as Bills defensive line coach, marking Dick Jauron's first move since taking over as coach. Kollar, a 17-year NFL assistant, spent the last five seasons as defensive line coach with the Rams. He replaces Tim Krumrie, one of five Bills assistants fired earlier this month . . . Former Bills tight end Jay Riemersma, 32, who hasn't played since tearing his right Achilles' tendon in a game more than a year ago, is retiring, his agent said . . . Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress filled out his coaching staff, hiring linebackers coach Fred Pagac and secondary coach Joe Woods . . . The Steelers signed linebacker Arnold Harrison from their practice squad to replace Andre Frazier, who will miss the Super Bowl with a broken right ankle.