So says The Times-Picayune’s Larry Holder.

Rob Ryan’s job is “safe” and he will remain the New Orleans Saints’ defensive coordinator for the 2015 season, according to a source familiar with the situation.

However, the source added, there are looming changes to the defensive coaching staff as well as personnel on that side of the ball. Within the past few days the Saints already have parted ways with three assistants, longtime tight ends coach Terry Malone, receivers coach Henry Ellard and assistant secondary coach Andre Curtis.

Apparently, it was the players who lobbied to keep Ryan…

“I don’t want to play for any other defensive coordinator other than Rob Ryan,” linebacker Curtis Lofton said last week.

The Saints’ defense was 31st in the NFL in yardage allowed.

31st.

They were also 25th in pass defense, 29th in run defense, 28th in points allowed and 25th in sacks.

And Ryan is being allowed to stick around on the advice of the players who produced those numbers.

If you take this as evidence that the Saints need a complete housecleaning, to include the head coach who gave the team a Super Bowl ring, you’ll get little argument from us. And since the Saints catch a few million bucks a year in state “incentive” money, you’re paying for another year of Rob Ryan’s defense whether you hold tickets or not.