I'm sure there are some people out there who are wondering why the Lions are still winless this season. After all, didn't they fire Matt Millen after Week 3? Shouldn't having gotten rid of him have accounted for at least one win in the last 10 games? Well, it turns out that while Millen was fired as GM after Week 3, he may have never actually given up his authority with the team. According to the Windsor Star:
Two different National Football League sources - one of them close to the Fords - insist that the Millen firing earlier this season was just a ploy to appease angry fans of the 0-13 Lions and that Millen is still calling the shots and on the club’s payroll as a consultant.
One NFL scout acknowledged that this rumour is making the rounds through the league and that while he couldn’t absolutely confirm it, it wouldn’t be shocking news to many in the football world. "It wouldn’t surprise me at all," he said.
One NFL scout acknowledged that this rumour is making the rounds through the league and that while he couldn’t absolutely confirm it, it wouldn’t be shocking news to many in the football world. "It wouldn’t surprise me at all," he said.
Now, there's certainly reason to believe this. William Ford Sr. has always been, for whatever reason, a long time time Millen supporter. He stood by Millen despite massive draft failures on Millen's part and year after year of terrible play on the field. It seemd that the only thing that got Ford Sr. to fire Millen as GM was that his son finally openly advocated for Millen to be fired.
Is it that crazy that Millen's still running things at the request of Ford Sr.? Ford Sr. always been a ridiculously stubborn guy. Also, the Lions did get rid of Roy Williams part way through the season, and while they picked up some decent draft picks in the process, the trade seemed to pretty much clinch an 0-16 season for the team. That's something that reeks of a Millen move. Not to mention bringing in Duante Culpepper and starting him after two days of practice.
Anyway, with the way this team has only gotten worse during this season, and seems poised to go 0-16, I'm certainly willing to believe that Millen still has a hand in this mess. In fact, it would pretty much be poetic justice if he did still have a big hand in it.
Is Millen still calling the shots for the Lions? [Windsor Star]
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