The Nail in the Coffin

For the first time in over a decade, the Lions are back in the playoffs. Is it time for Lions fans to bury the hatchet, forgive Matt Millen, and admit he had a hand in this as well?

I’ve rooted for the Lions since 1989. I admit I was a bit spoiled by 1999. That would the 6th time in 9 years the Lions would be in the postseason, though it would be another heartbreaking loss, the 5th straight 1st round knockout. The only game we’d won was a 38-6 drubbing of the Dallas Cowboys. That’s right, the year before they won back-to-back Super Bowls. But 1999 would be the last. In 2001, William Clay Ford, Jr. hired Matt Millen as team president. Over the next decade, the Lions would reach a season high of 7 wins. And a low of 0-16. These were dark times to be a Lions fan. There was bad coaching. Personnel signing and drafting that seemed to not match what each coach wanted to do. (West Coast coaches, power running/play action vertical passing personnel, Man defensive schemes, Cover 2 players, etc.) Millen created the train wreck that was the 0-16 season.

However, he did make a few good moves in the process. One of his first hires was Martin Mayhew as Assistant General Manager. He also moved Tom Lewand into the position of cap specialist. these two would replace him as General Manager, and President, respectively. His first two draft picks were Jeff Backus and Dominic Raiola, who have been the only constants throughout the entire mess. Other players he drafted that are still starting are T Gosder Cherilus, DE Cliff Avril, RB Kevin Smith, and of course, Calvin Johnson. He even drafted Roy Williams, whom Mayhew shipped to Dallas for the pick that would be Brandon Pettigrew.

So I think it’s time for Lions fans to be bury the hatchet with Matt Millen and continue forward. Yes, he nearly destroyed the franchise. But without him, none of this might have been possible. How strange is that?


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