Request for Matt Millen: Please, Shut Up

We found out just a couple of days ago that Matt Millen would join the NFL Network's Thursday Night Football broadcasts in 2009. And to that news, I, like most people, am fairly indifferent. Millen's no John Madden, but he's a decent enough football analyst, so that might work out fine.

Millen isn't -- and doesn't deserve to be -- forever banned from football circles simply because of his 31-97 record as Detroit's general manager

What he does deserve, though, is his, (pun-intended) Lions' share of the blame. So what I can't get on board with is Millen playing the role of the victim as he did in an interview with SI's Don Banks.

"I don't go backwards,'' Millen said. "I just don't think like that. There's nothing I can do about [Detroit]. All I can do is from here on out. I understand. In Detroit, they need a bad guy. I was a bad guy. I was to blame for the fall of the auto industry and the housing market. Somehow, I had something to do with [Detroit mayor] Kwame Kilpatrick [resigning], although I'm not sure what. But that's what happens when you lose in this game. You give everyone a cheap and easy story to jump on.''

I find it hard to believe that Millen would even imply that he was made a scapegoat for the situation in Detroit -- that the fans and organization came down on him simply because they needed "a bad guy."

I've been a Lions fan for my entire life. It's true that sometimes a guy gets blamed for the team's bumbling because he's an easy target (see: Harrington, Joey). A lot of times it's also deserved (see: Harrington, Joey).

Millen was, and I don't hesitate saying this, the worst GM in the history of the National Football League. He took a mediocre team that occasionally dabbled in respectability, and turned it into the 0-16 monster that took the field in 2008. He botched draft pick after draft pick. He made mind-numbing trades.

And, perhaps more obnoxiously than anything else, he floated above all the criticism for eight years before being canned. Had it not been for the utter incompetence of Lions owner William Clay Ford, Millen would have earned his walking papers long before the fall of 2008.

So without going any further, let me just say this to Millen: Shut up.

Stop joking about your time in Detroit -- and especially stop joking about all the other problems that struggling city has. Stop acting like it was some unfortunate occurrence that led to your departure there. Just let it all go.

Sorry if I can't get on board with this whole idea that Millen is getting a shot at redemption with the NFL Network. No, he's not. A shot at redemption would entail getting another front-office gig in the NFL. That is never going to happen because he was an embarrassment in his first attempt.

The absolute last thing the loyal fans of Detroit want to hear now is Millen imply that forces beyond his control led to his failures and firing.

Maybe he'll do a great job on the NFL Network, and 10 years from now, we'll be talking about Millen as one of the best color commentators in the game.

For now, unfortunately for him, the only reputation he carries is that of a horrendous general manager who showed a shocking lack of personnel knowledge.

That is no one's fault but his own.

Detroits Turbulent Draft History

Quarterback Matt Stafford is getting ready for Motown. The No. 1 overall draft pick agreed to a 6-year deal with an NFL-record $41.7 million in guaranteed money. Will the expensive investment pan out for the lowly Lions? Only time will tell. Click through to see how some of Detroit's more memorable picks have panned out through the years.

Scott Boehm, Getty Images

The Pick: QB Joey Harrington - Round 1, No. 3 | The Draft: 2002
Harrington had a record of 18 wins and 37 losses during his tenure with the Lions. He posted some of the worst yards per attempt seasons in NFL history and now serves as a backup for the Saints.

Elsa, Getty Images

The Pick: WR Johnnie Morton - Round 1, No. 21 | The Draft: 1994
Morton played eight seasons with the Lions, tallying 6,499 of his career receiving yards in Detroit. He retired from the NFL in 2005. In June 2007, Morton, bottom, lost his mixed martial arts debut in 38 seconds via knockout.

Bob Riha, Jr, Dynamite USA II / FEG / AP

The Pick: RB Barry Sanders - Round 1, No. 3 | The Draft: 1989
Sanders was one of the most explosive and memorable running backs in NFL history. The legend racked up 10 Pro Bowl selections in his career and retired suddenly in 1999.

Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

The Pick: WR Charles Rogers - Round 1, No. 2 | The Draft: 2003
One of the biggest busts in NFL history, Rogers played only 15 games with the Lions before being released in 2006. His lowlights included breaking his collarbone twice and a suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. He was jailed in March for violating probation following assault and battery charges.

Carlos Osorio, AP

The Pick: WR Mike Williams - Round 1, No. 10 | The Draft: 2005
Williams, who was traded off the team before the 2007 season, is currently looking for work after just three seasons and 539 receiving yards. The 25-year-old battled injuries and weight issues throughout his short career.

Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

The Pick: LB Reggie Brown - Round 1, No. 17 | The Draft: 1996
Brown played in only 32 games with the Lions. He suffered a spinal cord contusion while assisting on a tackle in the closing game of 1997 season. Emergency surgery saved him from using a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Brown is now mobile and serves as a manager for a motor vehicle dealership.

Bob Broadbeck, AP

The Pick: RB Billy Sims - Round 1, Pick No. 1 | The Draft: 1980
The 1978 Heisman Trophy winner had a short but successful career with Detroit, racking up 5,106 rushing yards over five seasons. His career ended midway through the 1984 season when he suffered a knee injury.

Al Messerschmidt, Getty Images

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-17-2009 @ 10:40PM

Yohncc said...

Great Article Chris. I only disagree with you when it comes to Joey Harrington. He didn't have wide receivers to throw to, hence we don't know how good he could have been. Considering a few years ago that he almost threw for 400 yards in a loos to the Jets, I would say he could at least have been repectable if he had had the right personel which obviouasly he didn't.

I'm not sure that anyone will think of Matt Millen as being knowledgable about football after his debotchery of the Lions already sorry orginization. At least they were decent right before he arrived. May Matt Millen's firing be the first step towards a hopefully a championship in a decade most likely still far away. You sucked as a GM Matt. Be a man and own up to it!!

6-17-2009 @ 10:41PM

Loss even.

6-18-2009 @ 12:22PM

Kerby said...

While Millen deserves some credit for the way things turned out in Detroit, he dosen't deserve all the blame.

Was he coaching the team, NO!!

Was he on the field running plays, NO!!

Detroit is just an mediocore team, always has been and always will be.

Detroit fans need to start putting more blame on the ownership, they are the ones with the final say in how the team is run.

6-18-2009 @ 1:31PM

rjkofnovi said...

LOL. Obviously you're not from the Detroit area Kerby!

6-20-2009 @ 3:50AM

YouFaceTheTick said...

"Millen's no John Madden, but he's a decent enough football analyst, so that might work out fine."

Millen was a BETTER analyst than Madden and better than anyone else working a booth right now or since he left the booth. I think he sucked as a GM but that doesn't mean he was a bad critic. Ebert was a crappy screenwriter too (Valley of the Dolls) yet he's a fantastic review of film (especially indie film).