Matt Millen must have killer blackmail..

[SirFozzie]

As expected, Millen reportedly back for another season
Tuesday, January 02, 2007

ALLEN PARK -- In a move that has been expected, Detroit Lions owner William Clay Ford has officially retained president Matt Millen for another season, according to a television report this morning.

Fox 2 Detroit reported that Millen will definitely return for a seventh season to lead the Lions, who have lost 10 or more games for all six seasons Millen has been in charge. The Lions finished the 2006 season with a 3-13 record and will have the second overall pick in the April NFL draft.

Millen still has four years remaining on a five-year contract extension he was given last season.

-- Tom Kowalski

[wade moore]

The perfect setup to the Calvin Johnson pick.

I love it.

[John Galt]

Originally Posted by wade moore

The perfect setup to the Calvin Johnson pick.

I love it.

The moment the Lions won, that was all I could think about. I don't really care about the Lions either way, but the idea that Millen will pick yet another top WR early in the first round is too wonderful of a possibility to ignore.

[Schmidty]

Yeah, I woke up to this ugly news 3 hours ago, and promptly went back to bed.

[Cringer]

I love the yearly Millen watch. No other team's president gives us this kind of entertainment.

[stevew]

This has got to be a "Major League" type situation. Keep this dude around, and the team losing.....eventually there will be 5 fans left and the team can move somewhere warmer.

And god, it will make my draft weekend if they take a WR at #2 overall.

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by John Galt

The moment the Lions won, that was all I could think about. I don't really care about the Lions either way, but the idea that Millen will pick yet another top WR early in the first round is too wonderful of a possibility to ignore.

Originally Posted by Cringer

I love the yearly Millen watch. No other team's president gives us this kind of entertainment.

Exactly on both accounts.

I could seriously care less about the Lions outside of the fact that I happened to have Kevin Jones on my fantasy team this year.

Otherwise this extra entertainment is just golden.

[spleen1015]

There is no way they draft another WR. It is not going to happen.

[kingnebwsu]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

There is no way they draft another WR. It is not going to happen.

What phase is denial?

[Schmidty]

Originally Posted by Cringer

I love the yearly Millen watch. No other team's president gives us this kind of entertainment.

Yeah, it's really fucking entertaining for us Lions fan.

[Ksyrup]

Since the Raiders have the first choice, and Troy Smith won the Heisman, there's still a decent possibility that Al Davis mandates they draft the Heisman winner with the #1 overall pick, leaving Millen to pick Quinn. Choosing Smith would, of course, complement nicely the Raiders' signing of Super Bowl XLI MVP Az-Zahir Hakim.

Wait, I should be cross-posting this to the JB Raiders thread...

[MacroGuru]

*Sigh* another year of wondering what could be.....

[Honolulu_Blue]

I can't blame folks for seeing the Lions as little more than an amusing joke/side-show. They haven't done anything in the Matt Millen Era to prove they are anything but that.

I've never really been an anti-Millen Guy, but he's been a horrible GM/President. Horrible. Obviously the team's record under his reign is down right embarassing, but he's been horrible at almost every aspect of his job. He has been a horrible face for the franchise (e.g., the whole Johnny Morton is gay thing, violating the Rooney Rule when hiring Marriuci, the "devout coward" comment, etc, etc.), he horribly bungled hiring his first two head coaches (I am still willing to give Marinelli a chance), his player personnel decisions in both free agency and the draft have been abysmal.

Sure, he has had some decent draft picks (Roy Williams, Kevin Jones, Ernie Simms, Sean Rogers), but he has wasted/blown many, many, many more.

Bly has been a serviceable free agent. Kitna played reasonably well. I really like Dan Campbell. Other than that Millen's free agent hires have been horrible: Woody (a bust), Hakim/Schroeder were awful, Kenoy Kennedy has been a waste, Verba/Stokes/DeMulling/Tukcer and all of the rest of the oft-injured/ineffectual offensive linemen have been horrible. Re-signing Kalimba Edwards to big money for basically doing nothing? Another bad move.

I guess you can see this move as giving Marinelli a chance to turn things around. Firing Millen would have most likely meant bringing in a new guy who would either want to hire his own head coach or would very likely be pushing for that from Day One.

While it's certainly possible to turn a NFL team around in a year (see, eg, Jets/Saints), there is absolutely no reason to think the Lions will be capable of this next year. They are severly lacking in talent in a number of key positions and Millen has shown no ability to effectively address these needs.

Though just think how unstoppable Roy Williams, Mike Williams, Calvin Johnson, and Mike Furrey will be out there...

[Schmidty]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

Sure, he has had some decent draft picks (Roy Williams, Kevin Jones, Ernie Simms, Sean Rogers)

Thanks for not putting that overrated pile of trash, Jeff Backus on the "good" list. I can't believe that Millen signed that turd to a big contract again. Oh wait, I can believe it - It's Matt Douchebag.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Schmidty

Thanks for not putting that overrated pile of trash, Jeff Backus on the "good" list. I can't believe that Millen signed that turd to a big contract again. Oh wait, I can believe it - It's Matt Douchebag.

Backus is mediocare at best. Late in this year while playing with guys like UDFA Frank Davis, rookie Jonathan Scott, and whoever the hell that Peterman guy was, Backus was the one who was consistently getting called for false start and holding penalties. It was quite frustrating.

[rkmsuf]

nothing says retain the gm like fans at home games with bags on their heads

[Butter]

The longer Millen stays in Detroit, the longer I don't have to hear him on Fox, so I'm all for this move.

[Hammer755]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

There is no way they draft another WR. It is not going to happen.

Of the 3 first-rounders, only 1 actually starts now, so they could certainly use Johnson. I couldn't believe it when I saw it, but Mike Furrey led the team in receptions this year.

[Butter]

Tell Millen to keep his grubby paws off Troy Smith.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by Hammer755

Of the 3 first-rounders, only 1 actually starts now, so they could certainly use Johnson. I couldn't believe it when I saw it, but Mike Furrey led the team in receptions this year.

If they take a wideout with their first pick Ford Field will be burned to the ground.

[DeToxRox]

As a Lions fan I will say up front this doesn't surprise me at all. Had Millen gotten fired I would've been shocked. This is the real life Godzilla Blitz dynasty and we're all just along for the ride.

[Ksyrup]

According to an SI article assessing the non-playoff teams, the Lions are definitely not looking to draft a QB and may be looking at Adrian Peterson or OT Joe Thomas.

[DeToxRox]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

According to an SI article assessing the non-playoff teams, the Lions are definitely not looking to draft a QB and may be looking at Adrian Peterson or OT Joe Thomas.

We'll take Thomas I am still almost sure. We had 9 different OL combos in 16 games this year and we have no LT. Backus would be a decent to solid RT but not an anchor at LT.

Marinelli (if he has a lot of input) is all about the OL/DL so we'll see how much say he truly has. He is dead set on Kitna for next year and Martz (Who I see going to the Cardinals anyway) loves Orlovsky so I am not so sure theyd go QB first round anyway.

[Schmidty]

Unless the player's name is Orlando Pace, it's idiotic to take an OL with the first 3 picks or so. If they trade down a few spots, then I wouldn't mind, though.

[JediKooter]

I heard the Lions have hired Bobby Bethard as a consultant.

[DaddyTorgo]

VOTE MATT MILLEN

He's duked the vote so many times now, I'm sure he must be a WW.

[SackAttack]

Hey Lions fans...it gets better!

Detroit Lions president Matt Millen told a small group of reporters Tuesday he's received indications from ownership that he'll be back to run the franchise in 2007.

Millen said Lions owner William Clay Ford told him to keep doing his job.

ADVERTISEMENT
Detroit is an NFL-worst 24-72 since Millen took control of football operations in 2001. The Lions beat Dallas on Sunday, finishing an NFC-low 3-13, and the win cost them the top pick in the draft, which will go to Oakland.

Millen said quitting was not an option he considered despite criticism of the team's dismal performance in his tenure.

"I'll never quit," Millen said in a story posted Tuesday by The Detroit News. "I can't do that. I don't even consider that.

"It's the way I'm made."

Asked why he wouldn't quit, Millen replied: "You're given a job, regardless of what it is. You keep on working and trying to get the thing done."

Millen has four years left on his second five-year contract with the Lions. Before the final home game on Dec. 24, he said he didn't know whether Ford would retain him for the following season.

About 100 Detroit fans held a protest during the second quarter of the last home game. The fans left their seats midway through the quarter and gathered in Ford Field's atrium, where they chanted "Fire Millen" while watching the game on the scoreboard.

Better hope it's not blackmail, but just incredibly misplaced devotion by the ownership group. You'll never get rid of him otherwise!

[bulletsponge]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

VOTE MATT MILLEN

He's duked the vote so many times now, I'm sure he must be a WW.

LMFAO

i bet him and Isiah Thomas are the wolves

[oykib]

Is this getting to the point where the league should step in?

I'm talking about something lke the NBA with the Cavalier rule or MLB telling Ted Turner that he couldn't manage the Braves.

[clintl]

Originally Posted by oykib

Is this getting to the point where the league should step in?

Has the NFL stepped in yet on the mismanagement of the Cardinals? That's been going on for about a half century longer than the Millen situation.

[Chief Rum]

My brother is a Lions fan, God bless him. I feel so sorry for him right now, and the whole city of Detroit right now (the part that isn't burning...just kidding! don't kill me)

[oykib]

The Cardinals at least seem to make a good faith effort at being respectable.

At least, they've hired coaches and front office people with decent resumes.

The Lions hired a color guy with no experience and he's proved to be the joke everyone thought he might be. Six years where his best record was 6-10?!

That's ridiculous.

[cthomer5000]

Originally Posted by DeToxRoxDVHStyle

This is the real life Godzilla Blitz dynasty and we're all just along for the ride.

It really does feel that way. And damn was that golden helmets dynasty good.

[clintl]

Originally Posted by oykib

At least, they've hired coaches and front office people with decent resumes.

Steve Mariucci didn't have a good resume when the Lions hired him?

I agree that Millen is totally incompetent and should have been fired years ago. But what the Lions are going through isn't any worse than what the Cardinals have gone through over a much longer period of time, and what the Bengals went through for a decade before hiring Marvin Lewis, and what the Buccaneers went through before Tony Dungy. Or for that matter, what the Steelers went through for the 40+ years they existed prior to their first Super Bowl win. In none of those situations did the NFL step in, and I don't see what's special about the Lions' situation compared to those others that would compel the NFL to take any action with the Lions. Chronically bad teams and organizations are a fact of life in sports.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by clintl

Steve Mariucci didn't have a good resume when the Lions hired him?

I agree that Millen is totally incompetent and should have been fired years ago. But what the Lions are going through isn't any worse than what the Cardinals have gone through over a much longer period of time, and what the Bengals went through for a decade before hiring Marvin Lewis, and what the Buccaneers went through before Tony Dungy. Or for that matter, what the Steelers went through for the 40+ years they existed prior to their first Super Bowl win. In none of those situations did the NFL step in, and I don't see what's special about the Lions' situation compared to those others that would compel the NFL to take any action with the Lions. Chronically bad teams and organizations are a fact of life in sports.

Nothing.

That said, the Cardinals are really the only other team in the Lions' league when it comes to decades long ineptitude. Sure, other teams have had long stretches of poor management and poor performance on the field, but nothing really comes close to the Lions and Cardinals.

Even during the Barry Sanders Era the Lions only ever won one playoff game (their only playoff victory since 1957). The Buccaneers suffered when they entered the league but they've won a Super Bowl. The Bengals have been to the Super Bowl twice.

I think the Cardinals, over the long term, have been even more mis-managed than the Lions. Between their one playoff victory and the moving of the franchise and over all suckitude, the Cardinals are worse. They are the only fans I feel more sorry for than Lions' fans (like me).

[Thomkal]

Thanks HB, give this Cards fan a hug?

I have to admit I am completely mystified Millen still has the Detroit GM job.

Mike Furrey led them in receptions? Really? wow.

[Schmidty]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

Thanks HB, give this Cards fan a hug?

I have to admit I am completely mystified Millen still has the Detroit GM job.

Mike Furrey led them in receptions? Really? wow.

Mike Furrey's actually pretty damned good. Regardless of what team you're on, catching 98 catches isn't easy. I don't he dropped more than 4-5 passes all year, if that.

[bronconick]

Originally Posted by Hammer755

Of the 3 first-rounders, only 1 actually starts now, so they could certainly use Johnson. I couldn't believe it when I saw it, but Mike Furrey led the team in receptions this year.

Furrey was also 2nd in the NFL in receptions and 14th in yards. Of the top 15 recievers, only 6 were 1st rounders and 3 were top 15 picks. Wasting another top 5 pick on a wide reciever is sheer idiocy.

[John Galt]

Originally Posted by bronconick

Wasting another top 5 pick on a wide reciever is sheer idiocy.

Is it wrong that I am enjoying watching Lions' fans so boldly tempt fate?

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

Thanks HB, give this Cards fan a hug?

I have to admit I am completely mystified Millen still has the Detroit GM job.

Mike Furrey led them in receptions? Really? wow.

This is from all of us. . . to all of you.

[Butter]

Originally Posted by John Galt

Is it wrong that I am enjoying watching Lions' fans so boldly tempt fate?

I don't see how they can pass up Dwayne Jarrett. I mean, Rogers flamed out and Williams is inconsistent. Kitna just needs that one more offensive weapon to put them over the top to respectability.

[LloydLungs]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

Sure, other teams have had long stretches of poor management and poor performance on the field, but nothing really comes close to the Lions and Cardinals.

I don't know if two decades is long enough for consideration here, but the Saints' first 20 years of existence seriously rival or surpass any level of ineptitude seen in any sport. Even now after another two decades, we've only got one playoff win in 40 years. I say we should be in the conversation, at least for another week and a half.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by LloydLungs

I don't know if two decades is long enough for consideration here, but the Saints' first 20 years of existence seriously rival or surpass any level of ineptitude seen in any sport. Even now after another two decades, we've only got one playoff win in 40 years. I say we should be in the conversation, at least for another week and a half.

You're right. You're in. Welcome aboard, Saints! If you win next week, the only way you will be able to keep your membership to this exclusive club is by getting shelled, I mean completely blown 41-10 like, in the NFC Championship game. Losing by less than, say, 14 points may exempt you from All Time NFL Pathetic Franchise status.

[LloydLungs]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

You're right. You're in. Welcome aboard, Saints! If you win next week, the only way you will be able to keep your membership to this exclusive club is by getting shelled, I mean completely blown 41-10 like, in the NFC Championship game. Losing by less than, say, 14 points may exempt you from All Time NFL Pathetic Franchise status.

Woohoo! For the record I fully expect the Saints to come out rusty, lose to the Eagles, and return to mediocrity next year. I love 'em, but they're the Saints. Never forget that.

[bronconick]

Originally Posted by John Galt

Is it wrong that I am enjoying watching Lions' fans so boldly tempt fate?

I'm on record with my friends stating that if a quarterback or wide reciever is drafted, I'm finding a new team.

If ownership and management doesn't give a damn, I'm sure as hell not going to continue to care.