Potshots: Matt Millen

Debut of a new part of this blog - potshots. Basically I rip someone who is currently in sports. The first victim? Matt Millen.

I'm going to start off by showing you a team Millen could have realistically fielded as he was Lions GM from 2000 through 2008 (Note: "realistically" defined as "actual pick was a bust and guy they could have taken was gone within the next 10 picks and would have fit a position of need"):

QB: Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco
RB: LenDale White, Ray Rice
TE: Chris Cooley, Brent Celek
WR: Steve Smith (utah), Andre Johnson, Marques Colston
T: Bryant McKinnie, Ryan Harris


DT: Frank Okam
OLB: Shawne Merriman, LaMarr Woodley
MLB: Scott Fujita
CB: Nate Clements
S: Ken Hamlin, Bob Sanders

Granted most of these are totally off in a fantasy world (hell, the Lions had a lot of team needs, so this was pretty easy), but there were two f*ck ups that caught my eye: Millen drafting Mike Williams (WR - USC) over Big Ben and taking Drew Stanton (QB - MSU) in the second round, a few picks before the HOMETOWN LaMarr Woodley.

The reason Mike Williams was taken, beyond that Millen is simply a pure moron, is that he was the best player available (even though he hadn't played football in a year) and Joey Harrington was still around (and for some reason Millen had faith). This idiotic move cost the Lions 10 years, minimum.

The next year Millen drafts a QB in the second round, even though Stanton is NOT a franchise QB. I don't get this, at all. He never won anything at MSU, and his combine numbers weren't eye popping. Woodley dominated for four years at Michigan, grew up in the area, and was pretty much a "can't miss" talent for a second round price. I think Pittsburgh owes Detroit some sort of annuity for this.

Since those two decisions took place, the Steelers have won 2 Super Bowls and the Lions went 0-16 last year. Matt Millen, please take a bow.

So why is he everywhere these days? He set the Lions back 20 years with his 9 year GM stint. He doesn't deserve to constantly be on TV. Just check out his current gigs:

Announcing on NFL network
Announcing ABC college football
Announcing ESPN college football
Broadcast booth on ESPN Monday Night Football
Broadcast booth on NBC Sunday Night Football

Unreal. Go away Millen. I'm not even a Lions fan.