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Millen out as Lions president, GM
Done in Detroit
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Matt Millen has been fired as Lions president and GM after a tumultuous tenure. Jay Glazer gives you the on the big Detroit shake-up.More on Millen |
"I have relieved Matt Millen of his duties effective immediately," Lions owner William Clay Ford said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.
Messages seeking comment were left on Millen's cell phone by The Associated Press.
Millen was informed of the move Tuesday night during a late-night high-level meeting. Wednesday morning several people within the building confirmed that he had large packing boxes in his office and he made his way around to different employees telling them of the move.
The news comes just one day after team vice chairman Bill Ford — son of owner William Clay Ford — publicly stated he would have fired the GM if it was his decision.
"I think the fans deserve better," Ford told reporters Tuesday."
Detroit was routed in each of its first three games this season, falling behind 21-0 twice and 21-3 once en route to lopsided losses going into its bye week.
The 0-3 start dropped Millen to 31-84 overall, giving the Lions at least 10 more losses than any other NFL team over the past seven-plus seasons during one of the worst stretches in league history.
"I am very disappointed with where we are as a team after our start this season," Ford added in his statement. "Our sole focus now is preparing for our next game against Chicago."
The front office will be led by executive vice president Tom Lewand, who will report to the owner on business issues, and promoted general manager Martin Mayhew, who will report to the owner on football matters.
"These decisions are for the duration of the 2008 season," Ford's statement said. "Once the season is over, we will undergo a thorough and comprehensive evaluation of our entire football operation and put together a plan that we believe will transform this team into a winner."
The groundswell for Millen's demise has once again been strong following the Lions' horrible start. That's nothing new — events like the Millen Man March, an in-game walkout protest, and calls for Millen's firing have been going on for years.
Drivers of vehicles whizzing past the team's Allen Park facility beeped their horns and gleefully yelled out about the apparent end of the Millen era. A gaggle of reporters, videographers and still photographers roamed around the grounds, waiting for official word of Millen's departure.
In rare interviews, the elder Ford has stood by his decision to hire Millen and to stick with him despite "Fire Millen!" chants from fans as he sank the team to one of the poorest eras in NFL history.
William Clay Ford also has been the target of criticism. Since he took over the franchise, starting with the 1964 season, the Lions have won only one playoff game.
The Fords — father and son — were thrilled when they lured Millen out of the broadcast booth to run their hapless franchise.
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| This sweater was just the beginning of the bad memories of the Matt Millen era in Detroit. (Tom Pidgeon / Getty Images) |
"I'm willing to stake my reputation on Matt's success," Bill Ford said after Millen was introduced at a news conference in January 2001.
Millen was the team's first general manager since Thomas left in 1989. The Lions allowed their coaches — Wayne Fontes, Bobby Ross and Gary Moeller — to run the football operation after Thomas resigned.
"We've been pretty much stuck on dead center for quite a few years," William Clay Ford said when Millen was hired. "Matt offers us an opportunity to move ahead."
But Millen failed to bring continuity to a team in dire need of leadership. His draft-day decisions were often the subject of ridicule as he spent four top 10 picks on wide receivers in a span of five years, two of which are no longer on the roster. He also went through three head coaches (plus an interim coach) and six starting quarterbacks.
Rod Marinelli will be left with the task of salvaging something from the final 13 games of the season. But he and the players haven't inspired much confidence with an NFC-worst 10-25 record since 2006.
Ultimately, the Lions are left with Millen's mess that led to a pitiful era that compares only to Tampa Bay's 12 straight double-digit loss seasons from 1983-94.
This offseason was productive and the practices were great, Millen and Marinelli insisted, but that didn't make a difference on Sundays this season.
The Lions are winless, and 1-10 dating to last season. The latest loss at San Francisco dropped Marinelli to 3-15 on the road and dropped the Lions to 8-60 as visitors with Millen in charge.
The former Penn State standout was an NFL linebacker from 1980-91 with the Raiders, San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins. He went to the Super Bowl four times.
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| Year | Pick | Player | Position | Current team | ||
| 2001 | Offensive tackle | |||||
| 2002 | Quarterback | |||||
| 2003 | Wide receiver | |||||
| 2004 | Wide receiver | |||||
| 2004 | Running back | |||||
| 2005 | Wide receiver | |||||
| 2006 | Linebacker | |||||
| 2007 | Wide receiver | |||||
| 2008 | Offensive tackle | |||||
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Member Comments
It would not be fall without watching the Lions lose again.what's up? I have no time to watch the games these days....just found a hot place, you should try it ---M E E T RI C H. C OM a great place to meet hot women and successful men....The girls are so hot lol
shalljoef9/26/2008 9:17:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
its about time-what kind of organization lets Barry Sanders walk away? The lions have been screw-ups for a decade already, its time for a change
djdallas449/26/2008 8:52:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
e looks handsome. I just saw his profile on WEALTHY&SEXY dating site RichMatchMaking.c om. It <br />is said he has a crush on wealthy young women on that site.
Jeanssexy39/26/2008 6:00:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
1957 vs 1967.<br /><br />I agree the Saints were terrible for years even with Arhie. In Detroit, everyone old enough still is pained by losing the game in 1970 to the Saints on Tom Dempsey's NFL-record field goal as time expired.
Eagle19659/26/2008 5:51:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
It used to be funny four or so years ago when we Detroiters looked at our four major sports teams and two of them were very good Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons both in contention for championship titles, and two were VERY bad Detroit Tigers and Detroit Lions who were contending for worst team ever title (the Tigers had to win like three of their last four or something to avoid worst record ever in MLB and the Lions looked like they might go winless a few years ago.)<br /><br />Since then, the Detroit Red Wings have once again won the Stanley Cup and the Detroit Pistons have kept making it to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Detroit Tigers suddenly had built up a team that managed to make it to the World Series and was very competitive for a playoff spot last year.<br /><br />That means the only Detroit team this decade to never be competing for a championship has been the Lions. It's pathetic and inexcusable. Hell, we couldn't win a playoff game with arguably the greatest running back of all time Barry Sanders (top three for sure) because the management surrounded him with mediocre linesmen and quarterbacks. It was time for a change, Detroiters see the Wings who have almost completely shifted their lineups key players and have still been successful and wonder why the Lions haven't been.
JohnnyV1239/26/2008 3:56:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
My New Orleans Saints came into existance in 1967 and has never won the championship. Life is very stressful but I cant quit now. Too much time invested.
sssog9/25/2008 19:43:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
1957 : NFL Champions<br />1 : playoff victory since. <br />1964 : William Clay Ford, Sr buys Lions.<br />6-2 : Record after 6 games last year, finished 7-9.<br />25-24 : led GB with 5 1/2 minutes in week 2. Lost 48-25.<br /><br />Life is so less stressful ever since I stopped watching them.
Eagle19659/25/2008 12:58:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Latest rumors was that Bill Cowher was going to "run it all" with an on the table offer of 15 million a year.
Traumatizer9/25/2008 12:00:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Does anyone know who is being looked at for the GM position? They are never going to change this club until they gut the front office and coaching staff. They need a GM with heavy personnel knowledge and some actual experience instead of just being a buddy of the owner!!
footballfollower9/25/2008 11:32:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
The Lions are the first team in NFL History to record a win in their Bye week. Born and raised in Detroit, and never have been able to embrace the team. From the infamous Bend don't Break Monte Clark Defense (give up 5 yards a play but nothing big), to the wide receiver draft patterns of Millen, the Lions have been the most disappointing franchise in Detroit for 40 years.
Duke649/25/2008 10:46:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
This is a good example of how a good player can't make the transition to management. Too much "playa" in him to make sound business decisions. As a GM, Millen's decisions were terrible. Hope Detroit can become competitive again. (Although not too competitive...GO Bears!)
bb19589/25/2008 9:59:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
A Millen he shall go<br />A Millen he shall go<br />Hiho the Merry-O<br />A Millen he shall go
TDMM9/25/2008 9:55:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
A Millen he shall go<br />A Millen he shall go<br />Hi Ho the Mery-O<br />A Millen he shall go
TDMM9/25/2008 9:52:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Millen never really concentrated on QBs either. He always seemed to think he could get by with third stringers. That's what Kitna is and should be gone as well as Marinelli.
zuko9/25/2008 9:33:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
It won't do any good. Let's see...1 playoff win (1991-92 against Dallas) in 45 years since the Ford family purchased the team in 1964. Carrol Rosenbloom, the late owner of the Rams back in the 60's & 70's, once said that the Lions would be losers as long as the Ford family owned them. He was right. Next...
jimdandy10139/25/2008 9:10:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I am a life long fan of this disaster of a team. I have lived in other big cities, and only in Detroit would this moron have lasted this long. Sports radio in other big cities would have been a lot harsher of Millen and he would have fired years ago. His drafting of wide receivers every years is absurd. Joey, Charles "Mr. Blunt", and Mike "Taco Bell"Williams were huge busters. Then getting all the old guys from Tampa Bay? I now live in Charlotte, maybe its time to let the pain go.
chipperNMU19919/25/2008 9:04:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
mikejaye, getting rid of millen is simply the first step in the right direction...a big first step. we in philly were sooooo happy when braman sold the team and laurie brought in reid. nothing but happiness since (i know, no ring). millen made sooooo many bad moves. i am very happy for the lions and thier fans. the grocery stores there actually had a run on paper bags...that is scary. woo hoo go lions!!! congrats from philly!!!
philadelphiaeagles36fan9/25/2008 8:36:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
goodbyemattmillen.com<br /><br />That's how exciting this is in Detroit.
goodbyemattmillen9/25/2008 8:23:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
It would not be fall without watching the Lions lose again. It is a tradition in Michigan just like higher taxes, loss of jobs and crappy weather from October to April. Home sweet Home.
speed889/25/2008 7:48:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
If ownership could be fired that would be the answer for the Lambs.
Grayrider9/25/2008 6:58:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
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