Millen speaks! Yawn
So Matt Millen spoke. Big deal.
He said what he had to say to put his Lions debacle behind him and return to TV, as an NBC analyst over the weekend, but he offered nothing that anyone in Detroit wanted to hear.
He admitted he wasn't fully qualified eight years ago to become the Lions' president, which is beyond stating the obvious. He said he took full responsibility, but for Lions fans, those are the emptiest words imaginable. Personally, I would've liked to see a deeper, more-sincere apology, not that it means spit.
Which goes back to my original statement. Although I think Millen could have offered more insight into his role in turning a mediocre NFL franchise into a complete disaster, nothing he said was going to placate anyone. And the truth is, on a national scale, Millen gradually will go back to being a fine NFL analyst, his credibility stained but not destroyed.
The indictment, as always, returns to William Clay Ford, the most easily duped owner in the history of the NFL. And here's another sad but telling truth: Ford's most-expensive, high-profile hires - Millen and Steve Mariucci - are working in TV now, enriched by their Lions experience, but probably not enlightened by it.
Mariucci has settled in on the NFL Network. Millen will end up full-time at NBC or somewhere else. Both talked a good game with the Lions and got paid a lot of dough.
Hot air, ultimately. Hot air.
The Madness Continues
William Clay Ford never ceases to amaze. I don't know if he's out of touch, or if he just doesn't care, but his refusal to completely rebuild his 0-15 Lions is shocking. Then again, it really isn't. No decision he makes should surprise anyone anymore.
Ford said he's bringing back vice-president Tom Lewand and interim GM Martin Mayhew, in lieu of a total house-cleaning. Of course, any reasonable person would recognize the Lions need a purging. That's not even an indictment of Lewand (who doesn't deal directly with personnel issues) and Mayhew. It's common sense -- no one who has worked in the front office of this team has earned the right to rebuild it.
By some indications, Mayhew actually might be a capable GM. But by keeping key people, Ford is greatly reducing his chances of landing a top personnel guy or a top head coach, and that's ridiculous.
Maybe Ford feels burned by his radical move eight years ago to hire Matt Millen. Maybe the $15-plus million he still owes Millen is a drain. Whatever. Fans are crushed by Ford's latest inaction, and now there will be tons of pressure on Mayhew and Lewand, and there should be.
Mayhew's swindling of the Cowboys -- getting multiple draft picks for receiver Roy Williams, who has done nothing in Dallas -- was a good sign. It's a major leap to say it was enough to warrant the full-time job.
Then again, if you're depressed by all this, look at it this way: If Ford went in a bold different direction, you really think he would have gotten it right?
I think, um, gulp, cough-cough, the Lions will win
Call me an idiot. Go ahead, do it. It'll make you feel good.
But I think the Lions are beating the Saints Sunday in Ford Field. This particular game isn't about talent, because if it were, with Drew Brees throwing against that battered Lions secondary, I'd take New Orleans by three touchdowns.
This game is about temperament, about a New Orleans team that is freshly eliminated from playoff contention, and a Lions team that has tons to play for, to avoid 0-15, which could lead to an historic 0-16. Late in an NFL season is when you see goofy scores, strange-looking upsets. It's usually because one team is out of the playoffs, or is already in the playoffs and is resting starters. The Saints thought they'd be a playoff team and they aren't, and although the embarrassment of being the Lions' first victim should be motivation, I don't think they're primed to scrap.
The Lions, for all their horrific flaws, are still scrapping. And if Brees, who's trying to break Dan Marino's single-season passing record, gets greedy, the Lions might get lucky and actually pick a couple passes off. (Hey, it could happen, theoretically!) Brees will throw interceptions -- 16 so far this season.
So I say the Lions win it 27-23.
(This blog will self-destruct at 4:08 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008, if necessary).
Lions must move decisively on a new leader
If the Lions truly plan to move in a bold new direction after this disastrous season -- uh, Mr. Ford, you do plan to, don't you? -- they better jump quickly. Competition for former Steelers coach Bill Cowher will be hot, with the Browns reportedly angling for him. And you can bet there will be several teams looking at Patriots front-office whiz Scott Pioli.
As important as it is to find a replacement for Rod Marinelli, don't forget this: The Lions will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever get it right until they put a sharp football mind in the GM's chair, someone who can evaluate talent on the pro AND college levels. I have no idea if interim GM Martin Mayhew has the ability to do the job, but because he was part of Matt Millen's front office, I can't give him the benefit of the doubt.
So yes, the Lions need to go strong after Pioli -- who's only 43 and has assisted Bill Belichick for nine years with New England -- or perhaps Steelers front-office guy Kevin Colbert, before someone else targets either one. The Chiefs, who just pushed out long-time GM Carl Peterson, are poised to pursue Pioli. If Ford Sr. isn't aggressive on it, Bill Ford Jr. must be.
Someone with the Lions needs to develop a plan NOW. Believe it or not, the Lions job still can be attractive for a hotshot who sees the potential here -- from the Lions' fine facilities, to the decent salary, to the high draft picks.
Mr. Ford? Bill Jr.? Someone? Anyone? Get moving now!
Sheesh, let's put Dom-gate to rest
We've already wasted too much time and energy debating the issue of Dominic Raiola-versus-Lions fans, so yes, please, let's put it to rest. Um, after one last opinion from me, of course.
There's no need to take sides in this case, although that's what everyone seems to want to do. Some suggest Raiola was right to stand up for himself and fire back at heckling fans. Others say fans were right to be frustrated to the point of verbal assault.
It's really this simple, folks: Both sides were wrong.
Fans see an emotional player in Raiola, know they can get a reaction, so they attack. A verbal spat like that passes as sport or entertainment at a time when the Lions are delivering very little of either. But it's wrong for fans to target a player and splatter him with personal insults (if that's what they did) and possibly make other fans around them uncomfortable.
And it's wrong for Raiola to react as he did. A player can show he still has passion and still cares without delivering a profane response. It doesn't mean Raoila is a bad guy -- actually, he's not at all. He's been here for eight years, and like most long-time Lions, he's fed up. It's not his fault Matt Millen was so incompetent, the Lions' roster is desolate.
Everyone, just calm down. Only three more weeks of this ugliness, and then we can get back to the pressing issue of discussing my No. 1 candidate to replace Rod Marinelli. (Note: His name rhymes with Flowher).
Tigers, go get Kerry Wood!
The Tigers went cheap on their new shortstop, Adam Everett. They went cheap on their new catcher, Gerald Laird. Fine. I understand it, after last year's ridiculous payroll. This team needed defense desperately, and although the newcomers' offensive numbers are puny, their defense is solid.
But here's the next big step: The Tigers CANNOT go cheap fixing their bullpen. That's why GM Dave Dombrowski should go to owner Mike Ilitch and ask for a little financial leeway to land Cubs closer Kerry Wood. Seattle closer J.J. Putz, a local guy who went to Michigan, is a solid choice too, but he'd require a trade, which would mean more losses to the Tigers' ever-dwindling supply of prospects.
Wood would take a bigger financial investment, and prior arm troubles make him a bit risky. But here's what Wood does -- he strikes guys out. He had 84 strikeouts and only 18 walks in 66 innings for the Cubs.
A gamble? Sure. But Wood is only 31, and with closers, who are notoriously up and down, almost anyone is a risk. If the Tigers do nothing else substantial this off-season, they should pull the trigger on this one.
McGuffie saga a cautionary tale
Freshman running back Sam McGuffie didn't show up at Michigan's awards banquet the other night and might not be showing up as a Wolverine anytime soon. It's no secret he's considering transfer options in his native Texas, and if he departed, it would be yet another example of hype colliding with reality in college sports.
McGuffie was a highlight-reel sensation in high school, and he showed flashes of his dynamic ability with the Wolverines, especially when he rushed for 131 yards at Notre Dame. But his slight frame (5-11, 185) is an issue for an everyday back in the Big Ten, and he suffered two concussions, including one when he got clobbered returning a kickoff against Ohio State.
His speed and shiftiness should fit in Rich Rodriguez's spread offense, but I've always felt McGuffie wasn't fully committed to being here. He was homesick and had family issues, and wasn't exactly enamored with the cold weather. If he left, it'd be a loss for the Wolverines but it wouldn't be devastating, and it certainly would provide another lesson.
McGuffie wavered on his commitment to Michigan even back on signing day, and it gets dicey when a program tries to appease a player. McGuffie was originally a Lloyd Carr recruit, but clearly, Rodriguez wanted him too. He put McGuffie in the starting lineup from the opening game, tabbing him over veterans such as Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown.
The lesson? Don't always chase the Next Big Thing at the risk of displacing more solid pieces. Minor rebounded to have a decent season and should be one of the Big Ten's best backs next year. Minor isn't the sensation McGuffie was, but he has the speed to play in Rodriguez's offense. More important, and something no one should overlook -- Minor showed he's willing to stick it out, a quality that always should matter.
Sure, Michigan State has a chance (sort of)
Not many people give the Spartans much of a shot against No. 1 North Carolina Wednesday night at Ford Field. Fair enough. Tom Izzo's guys looked weak in that 18-point loss to Maryland and the Tar Heels merely are considered, potentially, one of the great college basketball teams in recent history.
But for two reasons, the Spartans have a chance (again, sort of). No. 1 is the health of North Carolina star Tyler Hansbrough, who's only been playing in college for, what, 10 years? I'm sure Izzo wishes the 6-9 star had turned pro by now. Hansbrough has been battling shin and ankle injuries and coach Roy Williams indicated he might not play Wednesday night. I bet Hansbrough plays, but if he sits, MSU's chances rise. Of course, if MSU's Goran Suton sits with a knee injury, as expected, the odds drop.
The other reason for a possible upset is that MSU at least has a guard, Kalin Lucas, who could stick with Carolina's Ty Lawson, a 5-11 star loaded with quickness and creativity.
MSU should end up being better than it has shown, as Delvon Roe gets healthier and stronger. In the meantime, if you're asking for a score, I'm giving you this: North Carolina 82, MSU 74.
By the way, I'm not telling anybody how to spend their money in these tough times, but if you've got a free night and a few bucks, head down to Ford Field for the game. Plenty of tickets are available, for as little as $9, and a crowd of perhaps 20,000 is expected. The Final Four will be here in April, and if you can't get tickets for that one, you might as well catch the Final Four setup while you have a chance.
If you're an MSU fan, go and see how your team measures up with the best.
If you're not an MSU fan, go see a great North Carolina team.
If you're not a fan of either, how about this: Go see some really good athletic competition at Ford Field for a change!
Be Thankful for Tradition
There's no reason to be thankful for the Lions' 0-11 record, obviously. We can rant all we want and demand Millen be fired (oops, he already was -- hard to tell) and scream for change, and with the Lions, massive change is needed, of course.
In many areas, in many ways, lots of change is happening around here. The Big 3 is humbly asking for spare change, and many people unfortunately have had to change their lifestyles because of the economy.
That's why, more than ever, our great traditions cannot change. Some things must remain as touchstones, as links to the past, as connections for generations.
The Lions always should host the Thanksgiving Day game. Always. Don't let the national media motormouths tell you otherwise. Should the Lions be punished for their ineptitude? Yes. Of course. And they are, in loss of revenue and ticket sales and reputation (what's left of it). We don't need the rest of NFL America swooping in and implementing more punishment. Please. It's our tradition, first instituted when no one else wanted it, so leave it alone.
Other traditions around here that should never be altered:
-- The Michigan-Ohio State game always should be played on the final day of the Big Ten season. There should be light snow. It should be cold. There should be, ahem, an occasional Michigan victory.
-- The Michigan State-Penn State always should be played on the final day of the Big Ten season, also with light snow and cold. And yes, the Spartans should win in Happy Valley eventually.
-- If anyone ever tries to do something different and touch anything on Michigan's football helmets, their little hands should be broken.
-- The Red Wings also should never, ever alter the look of their classic red uniforms, by far the best in hockey. I'd also argue it's among the most instantly recognizable in sports.
-- The Tigers should never, ever touch the look of their home uniforms, the classic white, one of the best in baseball. As for that grayish road uniform with the orange? Ugh. Feel free to change it.
-- Opening Day for the Tigers always should be a quasi-holiday in Detroit, no matter how bad the bullpen is.
-- The Pistons always should remember and respect their Bad Boys roots, and never stray too far from it with anything involving teal.
I'm sure you have more traditions that should remain untouched. Send 'em to me at bob.wojnowski@detnews.com and I'll sift through the best.
Happy Thanksgiving. Go heavy on the stuffing. And remember, cold turkey sandwiches with Miracle Whip on Friday!
On this issue, give Rodriguez a break
Rich Rodriguez is getting a lot of grief over his "get a life" comment directed at some fans who deliver especially nasty, um, commentary at players and coaches. And I'm sorry, this clearly is a case of piling on.
Rodriguez doesn't get a break for Michigan's 3-8 season, but he should get a break for that comment. It's being blown WAY out of proportion, as if he went on a diatribe toward fans. It was a flippant quip at the end of a low-key answer to a question about what he's learned this season. I was there when he said it, and it didn't jump out as a whine or a fiery jab or anything other than a quick rejoinder from a weary coach.
That said, let me add this about Rodriguez: He does need to develop thicker skin. He hasn't lashed out much at media or fans this season, but he seems surprised by all the angst, and it surprises me that he's surprised.
Yes, he's only been here 10, 11 months, whatever. But this season has been historically bad, and if Rodriguez wanted the big money and big acclaim leaping from West Virginia to one of the storied programs in college football, he gets the attendant annoyances, too.
Sure, sometimes we all need to get a life. And I do think it's ridiculous when fans go bonkers on college athletes, who shouldn't get the same scrutiny as professional athletes. But precisely because of that, college coaches get MORE scrutiny. Rodriguez has gotten plenty, and no matter what happens in Columbus -- I'm picking the Buckeyes 35-13 -- he'll be under intense pressure to show major progress next season.
That's the way it works, for better or worse. But on the "get a life" issue, Rodriguez got burned for no real reason, other than this: He's vulnerable because of his record at Michigan, and that won't change until he fixes the record.
