Saints owner Tom Benson called his firing of general manager Randy Mueller a communication problem. The problem goes into how many people a football person has to bring into the information loop.

During his post-firing press conference, Benson described himself as a hands-on owner. He said he is an owner who communicates with everyone. But one of the problems that cost Mueller his job was that he didn't keep two people on the business side of the team -- director of administrations Arnold Fielkow and chief financial officer Dennis Lauscha in the decision making process.

On NFL teams, there is usually a sharp separation between the football operations and the business side. From February to May, things move quickly in a personnel office.

Deals go quickly, so successful general managers don't run democracies. They take input from coaches and scouts. They keep the owner informed. They call agents and players and they keep the owner informed.

That's the way it worked in New Orleans. Some offseasons are trickier than others, and that certainly was the case with the Saints. They traded away left tackle Willie Roaf and halfback Ricky Williams. They held a $5 million a year offer to defensive end Joe Johnson before deciding it was time to use the money elsewhere.

The balancing act is tough because along with free agency, the general manager has to also juggle what the college draft can offer. Mueller's strength is making moves on the fly. Two years ago, the Saints churned a roster by bringing in 31 new players on a team that jumped from 3-13 to 10-6.

To top it all off, the team of Mueller and coach Jim Haslett produce a first in New Orleans -- a playoff victory. Mueller was named front office executive of the year. Haslett won Coach of the Year honors.

The timing of the on-the-field success literally saved pro football in Louisiana. It helped secure a government-sponsored stadium package that should prevent the team from moving. Following Mueller's firing, some of the government officials who pushed the bill were critical of the move because it affects the stability of the franchise.

For a little more than $6 million in signing bonus, Mueller moved quickly to sign nine free agents, including five potential starters. He signed cornerbacks Dale Carter and Ken Irvin, tight end David Sloan, wide receivers Jerome Pathon and Jake Reed, defensive tackle Grady Jackson, offensive tackles Victor Riley and Spencer Folau and linebacker Bryan Cox.

Those acquisitions were for a little more than the team was willing to give defensive end Joe Johnson. As far as communication, Mueller and Haslett told Benson that their draft would be successful if they select two of three players -- defensive end Charles Grant, wide receiver Donte' Stallworth and center LeCharles Bentley. As it turned out, the Saints got all three players and received one of the best grades in the draft.

After the 1999 season, Benson, who fired Mike Ditka, released a statement that said, "I will take whatever steps necessary at the end of the regular season to make the New Orleans Saints a winning franchise." Nowhere in that statement was the word communication or interoffice interchange mentioned.

As a franchise, the Saints roster was evolving around a talented young coach, Haslett. Instantly, they were competitive against their top division opponents -- the Rams and 49ers. Whether these offseason moves work out, the Saints believe they are a winner with a faster starting line.

They have a great young quarterback, Aaron Brooks, who will throwing to a fast trio of wide receivers -- Joe Horn, Pathon and Stallworth. Halfback Deuce McAllister, last year's first-round pick, is expected to add explosiveness and big plays from the backfield. They are faster at cornerback because of the signing of Carter. And, if Ricky Williams succeeds with a 1,500-yard season in Miami, the Saints could have back-to-back years with two No. 1 picks.

There is no smoking gun in the Mueller firing. It comes down to style over substance. Mueller was entering the final year of his contract and probably stood to receive a $1 million annual increase over his $650,000 salary. Benson apparently preferred more of a communicator when he made the Mueller hire to try to become a winning franchise.

The zany part of this story is to explain communication. Mueller kept his office and the public relations people informed by the use of a hand-held computer device when he was out of the office. Taking some of the office skills acquired working for a Paul Allen owned Seahawks, he used e-mails to keep people informed, and claims he verbally kept Benson abreast of any impending moves. So where was the lack of communication?

What happens next is that Benson could give the director of operations job to Mueller's friend, Mickey Loomis, to run what will be a transitional year. For one thing, it's not out of the question for Benson to offer a contract extension to Haslett but fire him if he doesn't accept it.

Of course, that would create more turmoil. In a little more than two years, the team's roster was shaped for Haslett's style of coaching. The people in the marketing department are apparently feeling the pressure from a dramatic decline in season-ticket sales, which are around the 27,000.

How much of that is the economy and how much of that is the fans' belief in the team is unknown.

Benson made it clear by firing Mueller that he wanted a certain management style. How that conflicts from his previous statement that he will take whatever steps necessary to make the Saints a winning franchise will be determined during the regular season.

John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.