Thursday, September 25, 2008

Top Ten Matt Millen Disasters

Being Chicago sports fans, we've definitely gone through our fair share of ineptitude at the highest levels of our professional teams.

As a matter of fact, we're currently stuck with a general manager for the Bears that is absolutely clueless when it comes to drafting players.

However, our neighbors in Detroit have had it the worst.

You've heard the news, the Detroit Lions have finally rid themselves of the plague that is Matt Millen.

Below you'll find his Top Ten F-Up's throughout his years with the Lions.

10.
2006 -
Millen hires Rod Marinelli to be his 3rd Head Coach

Eventually Marinelli may end up higher on this list but since he's still the incumbent, we'll let him slide for a moment.

We will point out that he's amassed a sparkling 10-25 record since taking over in 2006 and shows no signs of slowing down.

The way this Lions ball club has looked in 2008, Marinelli could easily shoot for 35 career losses.

It's important to have goals ya know.



9.
2003: The Lions signed Mariucci to a five-year, $25-million contract


This hiring seemed like the perfect fit.

The hometown kid heading to the big ball club later on in life.

In the end, however, it turned out to be like trying to fit a Mac truck into the gap of Michael Strahan's teeth.



8.

2003 - The Lions lose a record 24th straight road game

Not exactly a move made by Millen, but an event directly related to the bad moves he made throughout his tenure.

Think of the worst NFL teams in history and even they found a way to win a road game at least once a season.

Fans were disappointed when they won their 25th road game because they didn't get a free taco after the game.



7.

2001 - Millen hires Marty Mornhinweg as head coach

Millen thought so highly of Mornhinweg that he decided to fire then current head coach Gary Moeller.

Who had just signed a three-year contract only two months before.

Mornhinweg was just a glimpse of things to come in the Millen era, going 5-27 during his two year stint as head coach.

He'll mostly be remembered for his bone headed decision to kick off in overtime against the Bears, despite WINNING THE COIN TOSS.

The Bears quickly marched down the field, kicked the game winning field goal, and sent him a lovely bouquet of flowers for such an early Christmas gift.



6.

2006: Millen hires Mike Martz to become the Lions offensive coordinator.

Martz went from being the mastermind of the 'Greatest Show on Turf' to the 'Greatest Dud on Earth'.



5.

2008 - Millen trades DT Shaun Rogers to the Browns for Leigh Bodden and a 3rd round pick

"Mark my words: If Shaun Rogers is healthy, he'll be the NFL defensive player of the year.'' - Matt Millen

So let me get this straight.

You traded a player you thought would be the Defensive Player of the Year for absolutely nothing?

This has to become one of those 'Real Men of Genius' commercials.

Someone get a hold of those guys. This is solid gold.



4.

2003 - NFL fines Millen $200,000 for failing to interview a minority candidate before he hired Steve Mariucci.


Matt Millen. The definition of class.



3.

2003 - Millen selects Michigan State WR Charles Rogers with the 2nd overall pick

Rogers career numbers: 440 yds, 4 TD

Not bad for a second overall pick who:

a. Broke his collarbone more times than he broke tackles.
b. Was suspended in 2005 for violating the NFL substance abuse policy.
c. Reportedly failed a drug test each year he was at Michigan State.

He truly could be apart of the "Biggest Draft Busts of All Time" argument and Matt Millen will forever be attached to his name.



2.
2002 - Millen selects Oregon QB Joey Harrington with the 3rd overall pick in the draft


“A kid this good may only come along once every three or four years.” - Matt Millen

How can I write anything funnier than that quote?

He must have been smoking some of that wacky tobacky with Charles Rogers in the draft room.




1.
2005 - Millen selects USC WR Mike Willams 10th overall pick in the draft
After failing miserably with the Charles Rogers experiment, Millen decided to go WR for the third time in the first round at the 2005 draft and selected Williams.

Williams sat out a year with fellow screwup Maurice Clarett while trying to fight the NFL's age requirement rule.

The result: 449 yds, 2 TD and a whole lotta fat.

He was lazy, slow and just really didn't care about football. Williams will always go down as one of the most disappointing players ever selected in the NFL Draft.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Photo of Mike Williams is actually Roy Williams, the Lions first round pick in the 2004 draft.

Anonymous said...

That's a pic of Roy Williams, not Mike Williams. Roy has been the lone semi-bright spot of Millen's tenure.

Matthew Olsen said...

You're absolutely right.


I just changed it.

Thanks for the heads up.

Unknown said...

Anything could fit through Michael Strahan's gap, so I don't see your analogy. haha

Anonymous said...

Well you should have wrote that the 3 guys who got drafted right after Williams have been to the pro bowl. (Ware, Merriman, Jamaal Brown). Sorry to throw Salt on the wound, if it makes you feel better, Merriman was our draft pick (Giants).

Anonymous said...

Reason number five on your list is incorrect. Bodden had six interceptions last season and is thought of as an above average cornerback. Rogers is out of shape and hasn't done anything for the Browns yet. Cleveland are the ones regretting that trade, not Detroit. Plus, third round picks now can turn into immediate starters.

Anonymous said...

You suck detroit!!!

Scott Phillips said...

I would have to ask where the Dre Bly for Tatum Bell trade would come in this. To trade Bly, a pro bowl corner, for Bell, now without a job, is just a terrible, terrible move.

With Rogers the Lions were handcuffed much in the same way Randy Moss did to the Raiders. It was obvious both franchises were moving good players for less than equal value, but it needed to be done and save face and move on.