If you missed it, the Lions cut RB Kevin Jones and DE Kalimba (Kalimbust) Edwards yesterday. Kevin Jones was the starting RB and Kalimbust was a DE who was listed as inactive many of the last games in Detroit. But if you ask me he has been inactive his entire career other than the one play he made on Brett Favre in this picture.
I can respect Rod Marinelli for trading away top players like Shawn Rogers to Cleveland and cutting Kevin Jones. But why would he not ask for Matt Millen to resign? He should go straight into his boss' office (Matt Millen) and ask for his resignation. If he does not resign, Rod should go straight to team owner William Clay Ford.
It seems rather odd that a GM in charge of player and coach personnel who demands so much of them, has not delivered one thing in eight years as the Lions top boss. Matt Millen's record is an abysmal 31-81. Millen could have the Lions go completely undefeated 19-0 for three straight years and still have a losing record!
It seems rather odd that a person at any job could make so many bad decisions year after year and keeps his job. Especially in sports where winning is the bottom line, isn't it? Why doesn't Rod ask for Millen to walk away so the franchise can begin to heal?
How about someone tries to weigh the good moves to the bad ones. Are the outsiders from the organization the only ones who see this? Do they walk around Allen Park (training facility location for the Lions) saying to each other how brilliant Matt Millen is or WOW that move Millen made worked out great!
From drafting Charles Rogers,Mike Williams, Joey Harrington in the first round to signing Jeff Backus and Corey Redding to 7 year $49 million deals. Redding made him the highest paid DT at the time which produced a whopping 1 sack this season playing next Shawn Rogers.
From the 2002 and 2003 draft, the Lions have two players remaining. The Lions do not have a starter on the roster, other than Roy Williams, from the 2004 and 2005 drafts. Most people know you build winning teams through the draft, not through free agency. Millen has been in charge of the Lions drafting for 8 years now.
Another surprise with Millen is that the Lions owner WCF brought him in because he is a "football guy" and that is what the Lions needed. But don't most football people know that you win games in the trenches? The Lions have failed to address the offensive and defensive lines for many years now. The Lions have not drafted an offensive lineman in the 1st or 2nd round since 2001 when they drafted center Dominic Raiola and tackle Jeff Backus. Both still start for Detroit. How many WRs, QBs, and RBs to they have to draft, give a truck load of money to, and then cut having a huge dead cap number year after year before something is done or someone other than the coaches gets fired.
As former Lions coach Daryl Rogers once said after another loss in an 8 game losing streak "What the hell does a guy have to do to get fired around here ?"
Lions fans tried what was dubbed the "walk out" protesting Millen. Nice to see the game was SOLD OUT!! How about a protest that would make a difference. Don't walk in the door in the first place! Stop buying tickets, watch them on TV for free. Then when the games start getting blacked out and it starts hitting WCF where it hurts, his bottom line, he may actually do something about this living Lions fan nightmare called the Matt Millen experiment!
In sports what do they always say? Hey don't take it personally it is just business. Maybe that doesn't apply to Matt Millen just coming from him onto players. Sometimes I wonder if Matt Millen is even for the Lions because he seems to make many things happen against them. Maybe Millen is all part of Bill Belicheck's master plan!
Pass this on to as many people as possible. Help out a Lions fan in need of more than one playoff win since 1957! Besides why wouldn't you? What have the Lions ever done to your team?
Growing up a 49ers fan in the 50's and following them clear up until the 80's as they stumbled their way through season after season, I (as Hilary's old man says) can feel your pain!
It has not only the Lions fans, but all the fans of the NFL wondering what Ford must use as criteria for the management of his football team. Then again, rather than Bill Belichick, Millen is associated with the Godfather and they have some compromising pictures of WCF... Now that makes sense!
I'm afraid you're right, the Lions woes will continue until the owner sees fit to replace the team's managers and this time allow a bona fide winner to make the replacement selections...
Matt Millen makes Vincent Kennedy McMahon (the character) look like a good authority figure. Matt Millen couldn't lead a group of lemmings. Matt Millen is so dumb, he thought 2 + 2 = fire Mariucci!
Come on Lions fans doesn't all this news about your team just get you all excited for next year? Can you feel the hype coming about how great this team will be? Maybe someone will predict 11 wins maybe even 12 and they will just be awesome!! I was just kidding the Lions stink, they will always stink and no matter who they hire as coach, gm or they draft, trade for or pick up in free agency they will stink as long as Ford owns this team. Wake up Detoit boycott the games till Ford sells the team to someone who cares about putting a winning team on the field as the Lions are the laughing stock of the NFL. You have the power!! It is time to tell the emperor (Ford) that he has no clothes on because everyone else across the country already knows this except the loyal fans in Detroit. Time to wake up people!!
I have been a Lions fan since I could remember. The best coach I could remember the Lions having was Wayne Fontes.
I hope there comes a day when Mr. Ford decides to sell this football team, maybe then we can get an owner that wants to win.
Think Roger Goodell would step in and force a sale of the team due to a 50 year track record of incompetency.
Myself as a Lion's fan I am done blaming players /coaches /Management after 50 years of losing the blame falls on 1 person and 1 person only. Ford needs to sell or move the team, he should not be involved in professional sports
Last edited by ShamedLionFan on March 14th at 8:32 AM.
shamedlionfan - right on you said it all. You are right 51 years and still nothing, I mean nothing even close. People talk about teams going through rough spots but the with Lions every year is a rough patch it just never ends. There is no light at the end of the tunnel and I think if you look up incompetent (I could think of quite a few other words as well) in the dictionary you would see a picture of Ford the Detroit Lions owner there!!
Hey ShamedLionFan, I feel your pain. I've endured many losing seasons down here in New Orleans. But the blame also goes to the fans because they're still supporting the team with sellout crowds. Stop going to the games and see how quick things will turn around. Nothing hurts an owner more than empty seats.
Please relocate this franchise to Los Angeles. We can sit patiently a few years without football until we get an expansion franchise. Some might argue we haven't had NFL football here in Detroit for years anyway.
You know everyone thinks they should fire Millen but the truth is that the Lions would still suck without Millen calling the shots. You cant tell me you didnt think Harrington, Rodgers, or Williams would turn out the way they did. I think they need more than just a new GM. They need a new team. They are all worthless overpaid athletes with no respect for their fans as well as their teammates. Matt Millen is no worse than the rest of the team.
I and my boyfriend are Matt Millen's crazy fans. We knew each other at big people community Plusmeet.com and both of us want to train our son to be a NFL palyer like Matt!
Im a Browns fan and i see all about where you stand when it comes to Matt Millen.First of all thank you for Rogers and if all goes well we can get Edwards .I feel a fresh start for both these guys is what was needed and for us to get Rogers will definently be a improvement even at his worse.We had to hide our faces a long time but i feel Phil Savage knows what it takes to bring out the best in every player. I hope your Lions can get the type of GM it takes to turn your team around and be a contender.My bro is a Lions fan and we both feel right now i get the edge going into the 08 season.Luck to you all .The Ridgwaydawg
bob260505
How in hell's name is Millen not hanging as an effigy up in the rafters of Ford Field in Detroit ? This team has gradually just gone downhill under his guidance as an executive. And even with Marinelli there things haven't been exactly what one had hoped for. They started off the season with confidence and then just regressed back to what they once were. Never a good sign at all !
Realize that if no regular fan bought a single ticket WCF would still make millions in profit. The reason the games are sold out and the seats are empty is b/c those are corporate seats.
WCF doesn't like football, he doesn't even like competing against the other rich owners. Jerry Jones and Bob Kraft would sell their souls to win Championships. I really think WCF is in-different to losing, doesn't care what other owners/people think of him, and will not sell the team (it would be a bad business decision).
Marinelli would be fired if he asked for Millens resignation. Marinelli would be showed the door if he went to see WCF about it. THE SITUATION IS HOPELESS. Its beyond mismanagement. The owner is just in it for the money and their won't be change until he passes away of natural causes which will be when he's 110 years old with Lion's fans luck.
Well, you better start taking a liking to Fumbles Bell, he's your only running back worth mentioning.
I do agree that Denver got the best of the deal though ... those two were gone anyway and I think Bly is a good player (not the best tackler) but he will help Denver's secondary next year with an improved D-line and linbackers.
PS ... it's Charles Montgomery Burns, not Frank Burns. Exxxcellent!
I agree with you Robert, but it comes down to this...Detroit if a football city and the fans love football. Unless fans really do quit going nothing is going to change. How Millen keeps his
job is beyond me. I live by Saginaw and everyone knew Charles Rodgers was a dope freak and yet the
Lions drafted him anyways. Marinelli I feel is a good coach, but he can only deal with what Millen gives him. I really don't know what the answer is,
I've given up to the point that I have a bet that
Miami will win more games then the Lions this year.
I'll bet college draft football players just cringe when the Lions are set to draft....crossing their fingers that the Lions won't draft them. Cutting Kevin Jones was another mistake, he'll go somewhere and start having great seasons....former Lions always do!
Kevin Jones is not gonna do anything. He's injury prone and a tailback. We have not had a tailback since sanders that was any good. Jones is slow, he runs like a 4.7 40 and tries to juke and break things outside when the hole is between tackles and the size of a truck. Seen it many times. Lot of excellent backs like Matt Forte' 6'2" 222 runs a 4.46. NFL network says he's a great north/south runner with excellent vision and the ability to make the crucial cut cause he has great hips. Good riddance to Jones, headcase edwards and lazy fat pig rogers.
jadealin, good GMs don't draft players just because the fans want the player. Look how many people said the Texans #### up by taking Mario Williams over Reggie Bush. Mario barely missed the Pro Bowl this year and Reggie still hasn't learned that he can't outrun a linebacker to the sideline instead of running between the tackles.
Also, you're incorrect when you say "you can't tell me you didn't think" blah blah blah. Actually, most intelligent fans said he was a $crewup when he drafted WR 3 consecutive years in the top 10. Furthermore, taking Mike Williams turned out exactly like I thought it would when you take a WR who wasn't allowed to be anywhere near either his college team or anyone else because of his own stupidity.
Real nice, Millen.
How anyone can even pretend Millen isn't the worst GM in the history of sports and doesn't make a mockery of the game is beyond me.
The rest of the league knows what a joke this guy is but C. Montgomery Ford hasn't figured it out yet.
Hey maybe Ford and FOX have a deal cooking? It is a comedy right and probably would fit well in the Sunday night FOX line up between the Simpsons and Family Guy. What do you think?
What a joke, After growing up in the detroit area and watching my poor father watch year after year (he is now dead) all he ever wanted to see is the Lions make it to the Super Bowl. I just will never understand how a team as wealthy as the Lions could not at LEAST produce a playoff team!!!!
Go Dolphins!!!!!
There have been many great coaches that have past thru Detroit. The problem always has been and always will be Mr. Ford. Just think Bobby Lane was the last winning QB.For any of you that may remember that name
The only thing more bizarre than Millen hanging on to his job for so long is how Elgin Baylor has continued in his job as GM of the Los Angeles Clippers.
And, it all gets around to a new post: what is the worst professional sports franchise? Matt Millen and the Lions can certainly get that championship.
Millen operates the team like a clueless hapless fan.
Bobby Lane - that's it...the curse of Bobby Lane..he said after he was traded to Pittsburgh that the Lions would not win for 50 years and that is exactly what has happened here. Go figure....and maybe just maybe Ford was just making sure this curse came to fruition. Makes for a great story.
Man I can't believe Matt M is still in town, hes got to be the worst Gm of all time. If hes not please name some one worse. The lions have been the biggest joke in football since the fords purchased the team, but than again look at the ford motor since junior took over its just as bad. It must run in the family.
Millen "SHOULD" have been cut years ago.The mans the biggest azzz whole in ALL Sports.You could drive an 18 wheeler through him.Now that's a BIG azzz whole.
fleet- what about Isiah Thomas? He has blown out 2 organizations now! Millen is just destroying one, but the longer he sticks around the longer it will take to recover
IM A LIONS FAN, BUT AMERICANS DO NOT KNOW HOW TO PROTEST. Same #### happened in the Bosnian Football(soccer) national team, and the organization was terrible, they stole money and made wrong decisions. So we the fans decided every game we would throw explosions and fire fireworks on the stadium; that way they would end up paying 150,000 euros every game!!!! SO A YEAR LATER EVERYTHING IS CHANGED, THE OLD ORGANIZATION IS GONE!! NOW EVERYTHING IS GOING THE RIGHT WAY! So lions fans listen to me, ill be the leader and go trash the dam stadium until MILLEN REALIZES HIS FINES AND THAT HE MUST RESIGN! PLAY IT ROUGH AND TOUGH!
It's very difficult for any football club to win without a good Quarterback. The present one is really not good enoufg to get them over the top and into the playoffs. At best he is just a 6 or 7 game winner. Where Matt millen went wrong he never really secured or went after a better quarterback. if a Quarterback can't make it with another team then he will not make it with the lions. Millen hires coaches to do the job and they are not producing. Go for a good quarterback and things will brighten up for the Lions.
I agree Mike. I do believe Marinelli is a total class guy and I also believe that he would like Millen to be fired, cause our coach knows how to teach,coach and build a team, but knows Millen is in the way. Millen will only be fired if that decision comes from the top.
Normally I stay away from the NFL in the offseason (super bowl end to draft day 1).Even I have to feel bad for Detroit with Millen. As a Tampa Bay fan ( life long and just a few years older then the Franchise) I remember Detroit killing Us twice a year. What Millen has done to this Franchise is disgusting. Picking almosty the worst quaterback ever to be drafted (Harrington), picking Wideouts for at least 3 years in a row...what the top in the last few years didn't pan out like Your Scouts told You they wouldn't? and here is the kicker Anyone decent the GM gets rid off...Detroit fans don't even bother with the games granted it hurts the players whom are trying to win for thier fans and bring a winning season to Detroit, but Owners hate loseing Money and if Mr Ford is to blind to see that Millen is killing this team perhaps he should do what the Red Sox did ...put a Roto player in as the GM
We need the NFL to step in. WCF should be stripped of his franchise.
Millen was rumored to come to Detroit years before he actually did. Why didn't another franchise scoop him up while he was in the booth? And why did WCF give him 5 yrs / $25 million to try to learn a new job?
There is objective data which proves he is the worst in the entire world at what he does, but WCF still chose to give him a multi-year, multi-million $$$ extension when his contract was coming up? I'll do his job for $100k.
If I ever see WCF face to face, I might share a knuckle sandwich with him.
I wonder if the Tigers will loan Dave Dombrowski to the Lions for a while or the Pistons will loan Joe Dumars. You want to look at two GM's that have turned their respective franchises into contenders, you have to look no further than next door and a little ways down the road.
Axilla - you can add Ken Holland to that mix as well as the man is brilliant and one of the main reasons the Wings have won 3 cups and have been to the post season for the past 17 years. I am thinking it was a record last year at 16. Go Wings!!
I am not a Lions fan, but feel sorry for those that are.I have many friends that are lions fans and are pretty much immune to bad moves the organization makes. But the one thing that is a constant is that the Lions never totally rebuild. They try to plug in holes with old veterans that can never do the job.Harrington set the team back years, but at least they tried to find a franchise quartback. Now I think they are scared to just start from scratch. If the Lions can put a decent season together,how long can it last? Kitna is up in age and players dont want to come to Detroit as free agents. They should get as many draft picks as possible and at least give fans hope for the future.
The Lions say rebuild, but it is building a team. They never had anything, especially under Millen to rebuild.
List of needs going into year 8 of Matt Villin-
QB, RB, DT, DE, 2 LBs, and 3 offensive lineman.
I am pretty sure there will be one of the available at pick 15 in this years draft. However since they have 5 safeties and a ton of WRs still they will take one more of those!
This is coming from a Cleveland Browns fan. I grew up being a Lions fan during the Billy Sims, Eric Hipple days and moved to Cleveland as a kid. I am now a die hard Browns fan. What I mean by "Die Hard" is I got to experience the excitement of the Kardiac Kids and the Kosar days and never saw us win the the trophy.
Cleveland is alot like Detroit. We both live in Cities that have had the glory days passed by and the futures look hazy at best. We want our sports teams to represent who we are. We want hard working over achievers to show the rest what we stand for.
Wanting a new owner is very understandable. We had Modell who moved our team and we did not get one back for 4 years ( 11 years if you count rebuilding ####). The difference between Modell and Ford is Modell tried too hard to win and thought he would have a better chance moving the team. History will prove that he won the Super Bowl.
My point is be wary of ousting an owner who may just take the money and run. I only say this if you are a Die Hard Lions fan and willing to possibly go through what I have.
It might be worth it. We fought hard to get a team back and I am actually looking forward with great hopes to next year. It was a lot of waiting.
Flint Michigan -
-bob260505@ya hoo.com-
Three time defending (division 2) four square champion
1993 United States Hacky-Sack Champion (runner up in 92 and 94) - finishing move "the Stall"
MVP of 1986 Whiffleball World Series - WWS was played in the side yard and had longer home runs.
2006 1st place league Champion fantasy baseball, 2003 and 2004 second place in fantasy football, 2003 second place in fantasy baseball and hockey, The last person out in Dodgeball in a record 17 of 22 games played in 1992 and led the gym class with over 175 kills in 92 - 93 (averaged 8.18 kills per game)
bob260505@yah oo.com
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If you missed it, the Lions cut RB Kevin Jones and DE Kalimba (Kalimbust) Edwards yesterday. Kevin Jones was the starting RB and Kalimbust was a DE who was listed as inactive many of the last games in Detroit. But if you ask me he has been inactive his entire career other than the one play he made on Brett Favre in this picture.
From the 2002 and 2003 draft, the Lions have two players remaining. The Lions do not have a starter on the roster, other than Roy Williams, from the 2004 and 2005 drafts. Most people know you build winning teams through the draft, not through free agency. Millen has been in charge of the Lions drafting for 8 years now.
drafted an offensive lineman in the 1st or 2nd round since 2001 when they drafted center Dominic Raiola and tackle Jeff Backus. Both still start for Detroit. How many WRs, QBs, and RBs to they have to draft, give a truck load of money to, and then cut having a huge dead cap number year after year before something is done or someone other than the coaches gets fired.
