Detroit Lions Weblog

Hallejuhah, Bill Ford, Jr., Hallelujah!

Finally some legitimate traction towards the eventual dismissal of failed Lions chief executive, Matt Millen.   Bill Ford, Jr.’s bold comments yesterday are likely the initial force necessary to begin the eventual ouster of Matt Millen:

“I think Lions fans deserve better and if it were in my authority, which it’s not, I’d make some significant changes”  Ford, Jr. was also asked if he believed that Millen should leave the team and he replied, “Yes, I do.”

Hallelujah, Bill Ford, Jr. finally had the cajones to put Matt Millen in an untenable position, which can only lead to his resignation or termination.   As stubborn as Ford, Sr. is about retaining Millen, Ford, Jr. effectively put Millen in an unwinnable situation by asking for his head publicly.

As stupid as Millen is, he has to see, in spite of his statements to the contrary, that he will never win in this organization and that he must leave. Millen has essentially deflected all criticism because he had the weight of the Ford’s support behind him.  Apparently, given Ford, Jr.’s recent comments, that has all changed.

The other side to this equation, one that is equally intriguing, is the apparent internal standoff between the Ford’s.  They have agreed to disagree about the retention of Millen for a couple of seasons now.  Ford, Jr. is essentially forcing his father’s hand a bit by speaking out publicly.  However, if Ford, Sr. has any resolve left, this strategy may actually backfire.

What if, as crazy as it sounds, Ford, Sr. actually voices public support for Millen, then what? The bottom line is, the Lions can’t, as much as I think he deserves it, leave Millen twisting in the wind for very long.  They need to act swiftly, and decisively.

This doesn’t make the Lions a better football team or organization.   It does, however, give the Lions the opportunity to begin to move forward.  Their improbably, infamous string of failures goes against the league’s design.

I am sure that there are many in the league office who are quietly glad that the franchise, who is owned by one of the NFL’s biggest advertisers, is making steps towards regaining some footing in league circles.

Make no mistake, this is a BAD football team.  Or to quote Hondo “This team is as good as a tall glass of decomposing bile is delicious” (Yum!)

There will likely be an organizational clean sweep which will send the rats scurrying from the cupboards.  My one remaining hope is, that the Ford’s continue to wise up and ask for help from a board of consultants, comprised of ex-NFL executives, coaches, and players before they hand the keys to another incompetent, like Millen.