And, as Saints coach Sean Payton indicated during his end-of-the-season news conference, it won't be for at least a week -- if it is at all.

While disgruntled fans clamored for the head of defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs, Payton said his staff will take a week off before starting on their season-ending personnel evaluations, including the coaches.

As a result, Payton said he had nothing to report and that he would let the media know. Yet, he didn't rule out not making any changes to a staff that has already lost offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Doug Marrone -- who left in mid-December to take the head-coaching job at Syracuse.

"We'll see," Payton said when asked specifically about any tweaking of the current staff. "We'll look closely at the makeup of our staff as we head into 2009, and the responsibilities will be clearer."

Payton did take several minutes to defend Gibbs, who has been roasted on radio talk shows and Internet message boards since the Saints finished 7-9 in 2007. The criticism continued when the Saints started 3-4 this season and hardly subsided even when they won five of their last nine games with an improved defensive effort.

Payton acknowledged the need to improve the pass rush and do a better job against the long pass, but he deflected more talk about his defense by pointing out problems with short-yardage plays on offense -- even though the team led the NFL in points and total yards -- and kick coverage.

When he was asked whether the defensive problems were the result of the players or the scheme, Payton said they have to decide if they're doing the right thing and if they're doing it with the right players. He said those are things they talk about every offseason and will do again in the coming months.

Payton also said he thinks he has a sound staff and that the Saints were "well-coached," then bristled when asked if he will bring back Gibbs for a fourth season after the Saints ranked 23rd in total yards allowed and 26th in points allowed.

To be fair, Payton said, the Saints had to play a large part of the season without starting cornerbacks Mike McKenzie and Tracy Porter, as well as defensive end Charles Grant.

Prized rookie defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis also missed four games with a knee injury and free safety Kevin Kaesviharn was lost late in the season. All told, eight of Gibbs' starters missed at least one full game. On top of that, several backups were also injured at various times.

Considering the challenges they faced, it's easy to see why Payton doesn't want to make any hasty decisions -- be it with his staff or personnel.

"This is an important part of the year because this is where a mistake made can set you back, or the right decision can set you forward," Payton said, "so we take it very seriously."