How can NBC have Matt Millen on pre-game show? (1 Viewer)

[Da Guru]

How can anyone take this guy seriously anymore? I almost fell off of my chair when I saw Millens face with Costas and Bettis.

They were talking about Matt Ryan and his success. Millen "The way a young QB succeeds is to build a strong line to protect him, and have a strong running game"

Is that why MM drafted WRs 4 years in a row while Harrington and Kitna and whoever were getting killed behind the worst line in football? Throw in that the Lions had the worst rushing attack in football under Millens regime.

I can`t help..when I saw Millen it stirred up so much anger that this guy is doing a playoff pre-game while he destroyed the Lions frachise for the 8 years he was here, and for many years to come.

 

[coolnerd]

The best part is that the segment is something along the lines of "the winner's edge with Big Mac"

 

[CrossEyed]

How can anyone take this guy seriously anymore? I almost fell off of my chair when I saw Millens face with Costas and Bettis.

They were talking about Matt Ryan and his success. Millen "The way a young QB succeeds is to build a strong line to protect him, and have a strong running game"

Is that why MM drafted WRs 4 years in a row while Harrington and Kitna and whoever was getting killed behind the worst line in football? Throw in that the Lions had the worst rushing attack in football under Millens regime.

I can`t help..when I saw Millen it stirred up so much anger that this guy is doing a playoff pre-game while he destroyed the Lions frachise for the 8 years he was here, and for many years to come.

I said the same thing to my wife when I saw him on the pregame show.

 

[GregR_2]

Someone finally one upped (one downed?) CBS having hired Charlie Casserly.

 

[money.never.sleeps]

The guy was on to get grilled and get it out of the way. He took responsibility and shouldnt keep having to defend himself. Its over.

Say all you want about his GM skills he still knows something about football as a former player. Also was a commentator for awhile so I dont find it that ridiculous that he's on.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

I heard he wasn't very busy.

 

[blend]

The guy was on to get grilled and get it out of the way. He took responsibility and shouldnt keep having to defend himself. Its over. Say all you want about his GM skills he still knows something about football as a former player. Also was a commentator for awhile so I dont find it that ridiculous that he's on.

I'm glad he took responsibility, but that only goes so far. Most people feel/felt that Millen is a good guy (hence, he took responsibility), just a HORRIBLE executive.It's hard to take him seriously as an announcer knowing how BAD he was as an executive. How he can get on their and give opinions, with a straight face, that directly contradict how he ran the Lions drives me crazy.the line that DaGuru shared where he talked about the prescription for winning football teams being a Running game and Oline made me want to punch him in the throat even more. Then WHY WHY WHY did you take 4 effin WRs in the first round. The guy is a doofus and i was hoping I wouldn't have to see/hear from him again. And I'm real glad he was fired mid-season - there is ZERO chance Millen would have gotten what Mayhew did for Roy.

 

[Ned]

LOL

That's exactly what I said when I saw him come on.

 

[JZilla]

The guy was on to get grilled and get it out of the way. He took responsibility and shouldnt keep having to defend himself. Its over. Say all you want about his GM skills he still knows something about football as a former player. Also was a commentator for awhile so I dont find it that ridiculous that he's on.

By most accounts he's a cool mofo and everybody loves him.

 

[D-BO]

Patrick interviewed him before he sat at the desk. He basically accepted all responsibility for the 0-16 season, admitted he wasn't fully qualified for the position he was hired for and said he'd have fired himself....but not until AFTER this season. He also called Marinelli a "Stud".

That said, for what he was known as being one of the best analyist's you should've known we'd be seeing him sometime again, maybe not this soon but still.

 

[Anthony Borbely]

How can anyone take this guy seriously anymore? I almost fell off of my chair when I saw Millens face with Costas and Bettis.

They were talking about Matt Ryan and his success. Millen "The way a young QB succeeds is to build a strong line to protect him, and have a strong running game"

Is that why MM drafted WRs 4 years in a row while Harrington and Kitna and whoever were getting killed behind the worst line in football? Throw in that the Lions had the worst rushing attack in football under Millens regime.

I can`t help..when I saw Millen it stirred up so much anger that this guy is doing a playoff pre-game while he destroyed the Lions frachise for the 8 years he was here, and for many years to come.

Couldn't have said it better myself. The bolded part says it all.

 

[Da Guru]

I heard he wasn't very busy.

Millen has 12 million to be paid him over next three years from William Clay Ford. Nice vacation pay.That is probably why they have Mayhew as GM. Millen was one of the highest paid GMs and Mayhew may be the lowest paid GM.

 

[deep vacuum]

The guy was on to get grilled and get it out of the way. He took responsibility and shouldnt keep having to defend himself. Its over.

Say all you want about his GM skills he still knows something about football as a former player. Also was a commentator for awhile so I dont find it that ridiculous that he's on.

I'm glad he took responsibility, but that only goes so far. Most people feel/felt that Millen is a good guy (hence, he took responsibility), just a HORRIBLE executive.It's hard to take him seriously as an announcer knowing how BAD he was as an executive. How he can get on their and give opinions, with a straight face, that directly contradict how he ran the Lions drives me crazy.

the line that DaGuru shared where he talked about the prescription for winning football teams being a Running game and Oline made me want to punch him in the throat even more. Then WHY WHY WHY did you take 4 effin WRs in the first round. The guy is a doofus and i was hoping I wouldn't have to see/hear from him again.

And I'm real glad he was fired mid-season - there is ZERO chance Millen would have gotten what Mayhew did for Roy.

Does this fact alone make Mayhew a respectable choice?

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

A long time ago, in a galaxy far away, before Millen embarassed himself as a GM, he was a great color analyst. This was and hopefully will be his true calling.

 

[cowboyz]

Someone finally one upped (one downed?) CBS having hired Charlie Casserly.

he doesn't look as bad with mario williams panning out

 

[TheSpecialOne]

Pft reported on a rumor that NBC might be trying to groom Miller to take over for Madden next year

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/01/03/...-madden-rumors/

 

[Da Guru]

The guy was on to get grilled and get it out of the way. He took responsibility and shouldnt keep having to defend himself. Its over.

Say all you want about his GM skills he still knows something about football as a former player. Also was a commentator for awhile so I dont find it that ridiculous that he's on.

I'm glad he took responsibility, but that only goes so far. Most people feel/felt that Millen is a good guy (hence, he took responsibility), just a HORRIBLE executive.It's hard to take him seriously as an announcer knowing how BAD he was as an executive. How he can get on their and give opinions, with a straight face, that directly contradict how he ran the Lions drives me crazy.

the line that DaGuru shared where he talked about the prescription for winning football teams being a Running game and Oline made me want to punch him in the throat even more. Then WHY WHY WHY did you take 4 effin WRs in the first round. The guy is a doofus and i was hoping I wouldn't have to see/hear from him again.

And I'm real glad he was fired mid-season - there is ZERO chance Millen would have gotten what Mayhew did for Roy.

Does this fact alone make Mayhew a respectable choice?

No! Jerry Jones has coveted Williams for years. What Jerry wants..Jerry gets. The trade fell into the Lions lap.

The Cowboys were the only serious team and more than happy to overpay. Actually the deal almost did not happen and the Lions dam near got stuck with Williams who would have walked after the season.

 

[blend]

The guy was on to get grilled and get it out of the way. He took responsibility and shouldnt keep having to defend himself. Its over.

Say all you want about his GM skills he still knows something about football as a former player. Also was a commentator for awhile so I dont find it that ridiculous that he's on.

I'm glad he took responsibility, but that only goes so far. Most people feel/felt that Millen is a good guy (hence, he took responsibility), just a HORRIBLE executive.It's hard to take him seriously as an announcer knowing how BAD he was as an executive. How he can get on their and give opinions, with a straight face, that directly contradict how he ran the Lions drives me crazy.

the line that DaGuru shared where he talked about the prescription for winning football teams being a Running game and Oline made me want to punch him in the throat even more. Then WHY WHY WHY did you take 4 effin WRs in the first round. The guy is a doofus and i was hoping I wouldn't have to see/hear from him again.

And I'm real glad he was fired mid-season - there is ZERO chance Millen would have gotten what Mayhew did for Roy.

Does this fact alone make Mayhew a respectable choice?

It just makes him a better choice than Millen. The press release from Lions Ownership stated after firing Millen that they would go through a very exhaustive process to find the right people for the job. If at the end of that exhaustive search, they felt Mayhew was the right guy - so be it. But, to have only interviewed 1 and not even taken the NFL's offer to help was/is brutal. Hopefully, for us Lions fans, Mayhew will be the proverbial nut that the blind squirrel found.

 

[Slider]

Big deal. Should we never let him work again? You guys act like he's a criminal. He stole money but it was legal. I would sooner not buy a Ford than hate Millen.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

A long time ago, in a galaxy far away, before Millen embarassed himself as a GM, he was a great color analyst. This was and hopefully will be his true calling.

To this day I would still say Millen is the best NFL color guy I have ever heard. The Fords have made him so filthy rich that I doubt he has much incentive to to it again, but I would love to see him back in the booth.

 

[zanti8]

i could not believe either . the guy is the historically worst ever gm in the history of the american 4 major sports . winning % . really lame of the network . 2nd only to espn hiring dumbo limpbot a few years back...

 

[Da Guru]

A long time ago, in a galaxy far away, before Millen embarassed himself as a GM, he was a great color analyst. This was and hopefully will be his true calling.

To this day I would still say Millen is the best NFL color guy I have ever heard. The Fords have made him so filthy rich that I doubt he has much incentive to to it again, but I would love to see him back in the booth.

I agree, but that was before his 8 year stint with the Lions. How can you respect his football knowledge now?I loved Millen when he was a color guy. That being said when I look at him now all I think is BUFFOON!

 

[SierraKiloBravo]

I did a double take and then laughed my ### off. I don't care if the guy starts channeling Lombardi in front of the camera, he still was the architect of the only 0-16 team in NFL history. I could have done that.

On the other hand, we're all here talking about it, so maybe NBC wanted to create a buzz.

 

[hauser42]

Someone finally one upped (one downed?) CBS having hired Charlie Casserly.

he doesn't look as bad with mario williams panning out

I watch Casserly every week that he is on. It is one of the best segments when it comes to pregame programing. Casserly is still very well contected around the league and gets a lot of info that he brings to the public. After him I try to catch Claytona and then Mort. Fox really screws themselves by not using Jay Glazer more.

 

[GroveDiesel]

Patrick interviewed him before he sat at the desk. He basically accepted all responsibility for the 0-16 season, admitted he wasn't fully qualified for the position he was hired for and said he'd have fired himself....but not until AFTER this season. He also called Marinelli a "Stud".That said, for what he was known as being one of the best analyist's you should've known we'd be seeing him sometime again, maybe not this soon but still.

Who knows how sincere he was, but I was somewhat impressed that he chose not to try to put the blame on anyone else and didn't mince words. He absolutely came right out and said that it was 100% his fault.

 

[super sleeper]

Pft reported on a rumor that NBC might be trying to groom Miller to take over for Madden next year

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/01/03/...-madden-rumors/

I think the rumor was that Millen would take over the studio gig for Collinsworth, who would replace Madden.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

OP is dead on with this thread. It wasn't like Millen was a coach, didn't work out, back to the boot. This guy ran the entire Detroit Lions franchise into the ground over about 7-8 long years. I was at a casino playing poker when his face popped up on one of the TVs, I almost laughed out of the chair. What a slap in the face to the city of Detroit. Maybe next season you bring him in somewhere but not now, fresh off an 0-16 season that he put together...just shouldn't be on the pregame...Lions' fans should be up in arms with NBC.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

A long time ago, in a galaxy far away, before Millen embarassed himself as a GM, he was a great color analyst. This was and hopefully will be his true calling.

Sorry SVBDS...but I think Matt millen was a complete idiot in the booth. Yes he was part of the "A" team on whatever network he worked-Fox I think, and I hated him every minute he was in the booth. Hated Hated Hated hated Hated him...and the thought he will be back int he booth is scary to me.

 

[joffer]

he was good in the booth, he'll probably be good in the studio. no problems here.

Millen was a bad executive, he still knows the game from a player's perspective very well.

 

[JSH21]

LOL he said he shouldn't of been fired until next season. Sorry bud, how about 3 seasons ago.

 

[Getinthemix]

Someone finally one upped (one downed?) CBS having hired Charlie Casserly.

he doesn't look as bad with mario williams panning out

He was a figurehead GM at that point. He had no say in that pick. They let him go right after the draft. You don't let someone make a pick at 1.1 and then let him walk immediately after.

 

[Addai's Adidas]

Millen and Olberman? Really?

 

[Anthony Borbely]

They were talking about Matt Ryan and his success. Millen "The way a young QB succeeds is to build a strong line to protect him, and have a strong running game"

How can anyone take anything Millen says seriously? He says the above, yet he did not draft an offensive lineman on the first day in several years. He made a fool of himself saying that after never doing it.

 

[Moonlight]

Patrick interviewed him before he sat at the desk. He basically accepted all responsibility for the 0-16 season, admitted he wasn't fully qualified for the position he was hired for and said he'd have fired himself....but not until AFTER this season. He also called Marinelli a "Stud".

That said, for what he was known as being one of the best analyist's you should've known we'd be seeing him sometime again, maybe not this soon but still.

Millen took responsibility in word several times during his course as Lions GM. However, he never during those times said he wasn't qualified. In 2004 He promoted Mathew the current GM to assistant GM to give him another pair of eyes and to assist him with personnel matters.Claiming he should have been fired after the season is his lame way to avoid responsibility for the 0-16 record. Millen is the like the person who says they have a drinking problem but doesn't change or take steps to do something about it. Millen repeatedly vowed that he would never quit as Lions GM.

 

[Duke1948]

these threads always bring as smile to me...just because you play some silly game called fantasy football you all think you can do it better.....get over yourselves.

millen didn't do a very good job but for you guys to sit here and say he should have done this, he should have done that is ridiculous. when you make a mistake on your fantasy draft you try to explain it away....so funny. at least he took the blame.

 

[Two Deep]

The guy manned up and took full responsibility no excuses. Thought he showed alot of class.

 

[money.never.sleeps]

these threads always bring as smile to me...just because you play some silly game called fantasy football you all think you can do it better.....get over yourselves. millen didn't do a very good job but for you guys to sit here and say he should have done this, he should have done that is ridiculous. when you make a mistake on your fantasy draft you try to explain it away....so funny. at least he took the blame.

 

[Moonlight]

The guy manned up and took full responsibility no excuses. Thought he showed alot of class.

Sorry he's done this before. Some talk the talk.I am bitter about the last 8 years and 0-16.

 

[chris1969]

Patrick interviewed him before he sat at the desk. He basically accepted all responsibility for the 0-16 season, admitted he wasn't fully qualified for the position he was hired for and said he'd have fired himself....but not until AFTER this season. He also called Marinelli a "Stud".That said, for what he was known as being one of the best analyist's you should've known we'd be seeing him sometime again, maybe not this soon but still.

Hey wait a minute?!? If he would have fired himself maybe the Lions should immediately re-hire him! He might be due!

 

[Bojang0301]

Do I feel like I should kick him when he is down? No. I'm pretty sure he is probably embarrassed by his tenure with the Lions. The fact is though that one little line Da Guru pointed out is why he shouldn't be broadcasting anymore either. He sat in a position where he actually COULD do those things and refused to. I don't know how any serious football fan can't sit there and look at him and think he is a schmuck who doesn't know his ### from the hole in the ground. Especially when it seems evident to me that the words that his coming out of his mouth are either blatent lies, are being whispered in his ear/read off a prompter, or that he is just saying the PC things. I know other people can get over it but I can't stand watching someone like this.

 

[Da Guru]

these threads always bring as smile to me...just because you play some silly game called fantasy football you all think you can do it better.....get over yourselves.

millen didn't do a very good job but for you guys to sit here and say he should have done this, he should have done that is ridiculous. when you make a mistake on your fantasy draft you try to explain it away....so funny. at least he took the blame.

Millen did not do a very good job? That is an understatement.Millen had the worst 8 year tenure as GM in NFL HISTORY!! Millen built an 0-16 team for the first time in NFL history.

Did not do a very good job??

The Lions as of right now have 12 players on their roster that other teams would even want..and I am not talking starters. Starters..maybe 2 or 3.

The main problem is that William Clay Ford is the only GM in ANY sport that would have retained a GM like Millen. No other GM in the NFL would have been given 8 years..and 8 years with raises. Millen was the third highest paid GM in the NFL..if you can believe it. Do you know why?? Because WCF loved eating dinner and talking to Millen.

Am I bitter?? Dam right I am.

 

[Bojang0301]

The guy manned up and took full responsibility no excuses. Thought he showed alot of class.

Showing a lot of class would have been stepping down a long time ago or not accepting his extension. I'm no Lions fan but even with him accepting responsibility it took 8 damn years to get to this point. Not only did he drive the bus into the wall he backed up and then rammed the wall again to make sure the thing wouldn't run right without being completely rebuilt.

these threads always bring as smile to me...just because you play some silly game called fantasy football you all think you can do it better.....get over yourselves. millen didn't do a very good job but for you guys to sit here and say he should have done this, he should have done that is ridiculous. when you make a mistake on your fantasy draft you try to explain it away....so funny. at least he took the blame.

No it isn't. Granted I don't think the majority of people could deal with all the in's and out's of being a GM but I know for a fact that anyone who puts as much time into it as I or a great deal of people who lurk around here wouldn't sit in an office with Lewand talking about how Micheal Bennett was a great pick up for the Falcons. This is why Garrett declined his interview with Detroit. It's the biggest disaster the league has ever seen and it boils down to two people: Ford and Millen. It isn't getting better when the people under Millen (Mayhew and Lewand) are getting promoted and everyone with common sense in their brain knows this. Sorry for beating the dead horse.

 

[Da Guru]

The guy manned up and took full responsibility no excuses. Thought he showed alot of class.

Showing a lot of class would have been stepping down a long time ago or not accepting his extension. I'm no Lions fan but even with him accepting responsibility it took 8 damn years to get to this point. Not only did he drive the bus into the wall he backed up and then rammed the wall again to make sure the thing wouldn't run right without being completely rebuilt.

these threads always bring as smile to me...just because you play some silly game called fantasy football you all think you can do it better.....get over yourselves. millen didn't do a very good job but for you guys to sit here and say he should have done this, he should have done that is ridiculous. when you make a mistake on your fantasy draft you try to explain it away....so funny. at least he took the blame.

No it isn't. Granted I don't think the majority of people could deal with all the in's and out's of being a GM but I know for a fact that anyone who puts as much time into it as I or a great deal of people who lurk around here wouldn't sit in an office with Lewand talking about how Micheal Bennett was a great pick up for the Falcons. This is why Garrett declined his interview with Detroit. It's the biggest disaster the league has ever seen and it boils down to two people: Ford and Millen. It isn't getting better when the people under Millen (Mayhew and Lewand) are getting promoted and everyone with common sense in their brain knows this. Sorry for beating the dead horse.

Beat that horse brother!! You have no idea the hatred of the Lions in the Metro-Detroit area because of WCF.

 

[TC]

** PERSONAL FOUL **

Late hit by the FBG board.

Certainly, Millen did his best as the Lion's GM. He gave it great effort. It's just that he was very lousy at that job.

 

[money.never.sleeps]

To say that Millen is the sole reason for the lions being this horrible isnt right IMO. The players and coaches also have to be held accountable. Blaming Millen only goes so far.

To think that Millen worked any less harder than anyone else is ridiculous. (esp. those claiming that fantasy football or High school JV/Varsity is qualified to give anymore insight than a previous NFL pro is crazy also)

What Im just trying to say is more than Millen is responsible. The whole organization top to bottom is at fault. I dont hate millen but at the same time im not a fan.

I just think its sad that any team has bottomed this badly in the league and I hope it changes soon.

 

[Bri]

he was good in the booth, he'll probably be good in the studio. no problems here.Millen was a bad executive, he still knows the game from a player's perspective very well.

what he said

 

[Bri]

To say that Millen is the sole reason for the lions being this horrible isnt right IMO. The players and coaches also have to be held accountable. Blaming Millen only goes so far.

To think that Millen worked any less harder than anyone else is ridiculous. (esp. those claiming that fantasy football or High school JV/Varsity is qualified to give anymore insight than a previous NFL pro is crazy also)

What Im just trying to say is more than Millen is responsible. The whole organization top to bottom is at fault. I dont hate millen but at the same time im not a fan.

I just think its sad that any team has bottomed this badly in the league and I hope it changes soon.

I once heard Ernie Accorsi ask "What if the scouting+personnel dept fed the GM bad info?" and thought that was one of the best simple Qs ever.For some reason precious few fans ever consider that but alot starts and ends there with these (generally) lowly paid scrubs feeding "the suits" info.

I've said it before, I'll say it again. The Lions need to hire BP, Shanny, Jimmy Johnson, Marv Levy (doesn't really matter too much) etc to come in for a month and evaluate EVERYTHING and then go with whatever they say. Give em' a million for a month's work. If there were a way to, I'd bet a ton of money that their recommendation would be for massive changes. One month's consultation work, cmon Ford's listen up.(as if)

How long have they been rotating GMs and coaches for? How's that worked out?

Time to get your hands dirty Fords-or pay someone else to, staying the same will get the same results.

 

[money.never.sleeps]

To say that Millen is the sole reason for the lions being this horrible isnt right IMO. The players and coaches also have to be held accountable. Blaming Millen only goes so far.

To think that Millen worked any less harder than anyone else is ridiculous. (esp. those claiming that fantasy football or High school JV/Varsity is qualified to give anymore insight than a previous NFL pro is crazy also)

What Im just trying to say is more than Millen is responsible. The whole organization top to bottom is at fault. I dont hate millen but at the same time im not a fan.

I just think its sad that any team has bottomed this badly in the league and I hope it changes soon.

I once heard Ernie Accorsi ask "What if the scouting+personnel dept fed the GM bad info?" and thought that was one of the best simple Qs ever.For some reason precious few fans ever consider that but alot starts and ends there with these (generally) lowly paid scrubs feeding "the suits" info.

I've said it before, I'll say it again. The Lions need to hire BP, Shanny, Jimmy Johnson, Marv Levy (doesn't really matter too much) etc to come in for a month and evaluate EVERYTHING and then go with whatever they say. Give em' a million for a month's work. If there were a way to, I'd bet a ton of money that their recommendation would be for massive changes. One month's consultation work, cmon Ford's listen up.(as if)

How long have they been rotating GMs and coaches for? How's that worked out?

Time to get your hands dirty Fords-or pay someone else to, staying the same will get the same results.

Totally agree. Your scouts and low level people are so important. Im not a Lions fan by any means but didnt like seeing them go 0-16 and hope they take a look at there model and get it right.

 

[Da Guru]

To say that Millen is the sole reason for the lions being this horrible isnt right IMO. The players and coaches also have to be held accountable. Blaming Millen only goes so far.

To think that Millen worked any less harder than anyone else is ridiculous. (esp. those claiming that fantasy football or High school JV/Varsity is qualified to give anymore insight than a previous NFL pro is crazy also)

What Im just trying to say is more than Millen is responsible. The whole organization top to bottom is at fault. I dont hate millen but at the same time im not a fan.

I just think its sad that any team has bottomed this badly in the league and I hope it changes soon.

I once heard Ernie Accorsi ask "What if the scouting+personnel dept fed the GM bad info?" and thought that was one of the best simple Qs ever.For some reason precious few fans ever consider that but alot starts and ends there with these (generally) lowly paid scrubs feeding "the suits" info.

I've said it before, I'll say it again. The Lions need to hire BP, Shanny, Jimmy Johnson, Marv Levy (doesn't really matter too much) etc to come in for a month and evaluate EVERYTHING and then go with whatever they say. Give em' a million for a month's work. If there were a way to, I'd bet a ton of money that their recommendation would be for massive changes. One month's consultation work, cmon Ford's listen up.(as if)

How long have they been rotating GMs and coaches for? How's that worked out?

Time to get your hands dirty Fords-or pay someone else to, staying the same will get the same results.

Totally agree. Your scouts and low level people are so important. Im not a Lions fan by any means but didnt like seeing them go 0-16 and hope they take a look at there model and get it right.

The Lions have had ONE playoff win in 45 years..ONE.William Clay Ford..nuff said.

 

[Bri]

Pioli and Mangini are available, right? I would not characterize either guy as tolerant of less than acceptable results, effort etc. Hiring those two might do the trick.