In Detroit, the GM Gig Is Lifetime Appointment

For all I know, the Detroit Free Press' Michael Rosenberg has a Mad Libs version of this column, and just updates it the first January of every football season, filling in the names of just-fired coaches, and soon-to-be-released former first-round picks. The only name that doesn't change: general manager and president, Matt Millen.

Rosenberg asks -- and at this point it just seems rhetorical -- how Millen can keep his job?

If Ford put the names of the personnel directors from the other 31 NFL teams on a dart board, and hired the first name he hit with a dart, he would do better than Matt Millen.

That's not even a joke. It's reality. The other personnel directors are professionals, trained to run teams. Some are more competent than others, but at least this is what they do. Millen is a former player and a broadcaster who has no clue how to build a team.

Millen has done what nobody thought was possible: He has damaged the reputation of the worst owner in the NFL.

And Rosenberg's last sentence says it all. The Lions, winners of 31 games under a Millen regime that now spans seven seasons, have actually gotten worse. That's a scary thought. Almost as scary as the fact that the owner knows less about running a football team than Millen does.

And with Millen firmly entrenched, the Lions will continue to be the worst-run franchise in the league for the foreseeable future. Happy New Year, Detroit fans.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-03-2008 @ 6:51PM

Forbes said...

It's a shame. The Lions are the black sheep of sports crazy city. We got the Tigers (the front runner to take the penant) The Piston (looking to beat the Celtics again this weekend) and the Red Wings (simply the best team in the NHL) Oh let's not forget the Shock.

The lions will never be any good until they get rid of everyone, including the owner. The coach sucks, the owners sucks, and the GM...... He has no clue what so ever. You would think with all the public ridicule, they would have enough pride to step down and admit they suck at what they do. The offense sucks. The defence sucks. It's not even funny! Go Wings, Tigers Pistons, Shock. You don't want none of that, do ya?

1-03-2008 @ 6:57PM

Bobz said...

think how good this detriot team would have been with joe thomas instead of calvin johnson. dont get me wrong, johnson is a stud, but thomas is world class. could be top 3 best left tackles in the game. look at the impact he had with clevland. if he was on detriot, the lions coulda traded down for extra picks, still got thomas and kitna woulda be lying on his back every play. what good is a great receiver without people blocking for the QB?

1-05-2008 @ 6:48AM

MVDEE02 said...

FORD MAKES AUTOS AN TRUCKS IF THEY DONT RUN OR SELL DO THEY STAY IN THE MARKET NO !!!!! MR FORD TIME TO GIVE THE BOOT TO THIS NEW STYLE EDSELLE!!! MILLIAN LEARNING CURVE STARTED DOWNHILL AND GOING LOWER !!TERRIBLE DRAFTS , FRONT OFFICE , SCOUTING DEPT ., GUESTIONABLE FREE AGENT SIGNINGS.

1-03-2008 @ 10:30PM

Steve said...

Bob, you do not get it....none of it matters. Millen, Ford. Nothing else. You get NOTHING> pay all you want. Pray all you want. YOU GET NOTHING.
Go ahead. Be a fool. I have been in disgust with this team for almost fifty years. THEY DON'T GIVE A FLYING F*CK ABOUT YOU. JUST YOUR DOLLARS. IF YOU KEEP COUGHING UP THE DOUGH THEY WILL CONTINUE TO TREAT YOU LIKE THE IDIOT YOU ARE, AND HAVE PROVEN TO THEM THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO BE.
THERE IS NO HOPE. THEY LAUGH AT YOU. WITH THE MILLIONS THEY GET FOR SH*T, THEY LAUGH AT YOU.

1-03-2008 @ 10:31PM

ronald rianharet said...

What a laugh. The lions have never been anything since the days at Brigs Stadium. Yea, in downtown even before the move to Pontiac and the Silver Dome. The only solution is to pry the ownership out of the Fords period. Old Coggers play old games ! Spare us all!

1-03-2008 @ 10:53PM

CAN SOME ONE BRING BACK THE PANTHERS. THEY'D PLAY AT TIGER STADIUM.

I REMEMBER THE LIONS AT BRIGGS, WHEN IT WAS BRIGGS, AND BILLY BUTTHOLE DIDN'T OWN THE MAJORITY OF STOCK. MILT PLUM WAS A ZERO, BUT THERE WAS HOPE.

1-05-2008 @ 8:34AM

I began watching the lions at age 11, I am now 55. Sadly, I have realized this year, that in my lifetime, there will be no Superbowls. Thank you Mr. Ford.