Millen’s NBC Gig Riles Lions Fans

Ask Mike | by Mike O'Hara | 01.4.2009/9:47AM

Contact Mike at mikeoharasports.com

News alert!!!
Detroit hasn’t forgotten Matt Millen!!!
NBC appearance angers Lions fans!!!
So what did we expect from Millen’s first appearance on NBC as part of the studio crew for the network’s telecast of Saturday’s two wild-car playoff games?
Millen’s comments were his first for public consumption since he was fired as president of the Lions on Sept. 24. Here are some e-mails from Lions fans – and Millen-haters:

From Ed:
“ OMG, I can’t stand to listen to him today during the Colts vs. Chargers game. Anything that comes out of his mouth, all I can think is, this guy doesn’t know anything about football other than the ball is brown and not round.”
A: I’m not up on everything involving computer talk, Dan, but I think OMG means Oh My God. Right?

From James Peters:
“I couldn’t be more confused as to why, with his record of evaluating talent, hiring coaches, drafting players, his comments on the air with Mike Ditka about where his players ‘testicles were’, said by the way on a Chicago radio station the week his team was playing the Bears, his public comments about Johnnie Morton’s sexual orientation, his violating the Rooney rule, his hiring of Marty - someone who had never been head coach on any level, after the only interview he conducted in his ‘search’. His firing of Marty after a vote of confidence while the media was on Christmas vacation, the hiring of Mariucci immediately afterward and the resulting Rooney fine, the firing of Mariucci, the hiring of yet another coach with no head coaching experience, his abysmal draft record, his abysmal road record, his abysmal won loss record, his commuting from PA even during the season, and the very fact that he refused to talk to Lions fans or media but is now somehow worthy of being an NFL Playoff ‘expert’ on NBC????? Outside of the NBC studios, he has no NFL credibility. No NFL GM would draft four wide receivers - especially Mike Williams. But NBC restores this man’s credibility?”

A: You forgot to mention the black uniforms. I thought they were sharp – a step in the right direction. How about the firing of Mornhinweg and Mariucci, two losing coaches? Does that count for something? (Inverse logic, James. Don’t take it seriously.)

From Keith Fountain: “A question about our beloved owner, William Clay Ford. Why does he appear to be so defiant against the fans of the Lions? The fans of Detroit have done nothing but support this franchise losing season after losing season up until this year, where most Lions fans have had enough. Instead of cleaning house in the front office, and blowing up this entire thing and starting over, he brings back Mayhew and Lewand, two holdovers from the Millen era. I realize everyone deserves a chance to prove themselves, but does this move make much sense in your opinion? I appreciate your input on this whole debacle.

A: It wasn’t a popular move, but here’s a slightly different view. Ford fired Matt Millen and Rod Marinelli. Lewand is not a Millen holdover. He predated Millen by six years. Mayhew was hired by Millen, but I have no doubt that he’ll be his own man. And the roster will get a drastic overhaul – as it would have, anyway. The choice of coach will be interesting.

From Dave Moses: “Man, am I glad you started this site. You call ‘em as you see I’em, and I love it.”
A: “One of the things I saw was Atlanta beating Arizona – and before that, the Lions winning nine games. OK, two mulligans for me. Thanks for the nice words, and please keep reading.”

From Fred:
“What does matter is the effrontery of a network to put him before the public as an expert/pundit after he single-handedly destroyed the Detroit Lions and wasted a minimum of 200 M on draftees and FA signings in the process! That to me is comparable to spitting on the City of Detroit. How the man can show his face publicly is beyond me. He obviously has zero pride, especially when you know he doesn’t need the money. “
A: There’s nothing wrong with a man making a living, Fred. What happened to that old, always-positive Fred I knew when I was still employed full-time by The Detroit News?

From Demonbiship1:
“Millen is an idiot!!!!!! He screwed that franchise up for another ten years!!!!! Wow.”

A: Let’s talk this over in 2018 – when the Millen Curse has ended, and the Bobby Layne Curse is 61 years old.

From Dave Abdallah (Lions fan in hiding):
“I have always loved your articles, and I like your new site. I would like it if you can set up an automatic email on your site, so that this way anytime something new goes on we get emailed the article.”

A: I’ll have to talk to corporate headquarters, my producers, directors, designers and support staff to see if we can do that. That should be a long discussion – mostly in the large space between my ears. Good suggestion, seriously, and I’ll see what I can do. Thanks for reading, and for the nice words.”

From Dan Duchon:
Sure nice to read your story today! I have missed you as you are “stuck” in retirement. This was the first year of my last 51 years of being a Lion fan that I actually quit watching the fiasco and frustration of “our” Lions. I found out Sunday afternoons “Up North” are better suited to hunting with the grandkids. The fishing is good, but so many friends catch so many fish, and give them to me, I do not have any desire to sit and be patient on the water. Glad you are in good health, and hope to see more of your comments.”

A: One of these decades, I’ll make it back up there and share some smoked fish. As I recall, it goes well with cold beer.

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