bubba9497 Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 CZAR: Millen may have cooked Christmas goose John Czarnecki / FOX Sports http://www.foxsports.com/content/view?contentId=1958846 From the beginning, there were a lot of NFL people who didn't think Matt Millen had the qualities to be a club president and general manager. Most of them were jealous of his $4 million salary and working for the Detroit Lions, owned by William Clay Ford, one of the nicest and richest owners in the league. The Fords are very good people. Anyway, Millen is in trouble again. He called Chiefs receiver Johnnie Morton "a faggot" last Sunday. Everyone is saying he should either be fined or fired. But what people don't know is that Morton said a lot more than "kiss my butt" to Millen. Millen was so enraged by what Morton said that he wanted to go after him and kick his butt. And that's the linebacker in Millen talking. But he's a suit now. A club executive. He can't act like a player anymore. I've known Matt since he was a player with the Raiders. He was my Deep Throat. Well, he wasn't good enough to get Al Davis impeached, but he was good at painting a behind-the-scenes picture of a pretty wild bunch in the 1980s. "I know I shouldn't have done what I did," Millen said of the Morton incident. "I really am sorry if I offended anyone's sensibilities. Johnnie just got the best of me." Morton said at the start of the season that his whole goal in life was to get Millen fired. Well, he touched a nerve Sunday and got the explosion he wanted. But Millen did want to keep Morton two years ago. He simply couldn't live with his $5 million salary. So, he had to release him before a $1 million bonus kicked in. Morton wouldn't consider renegotiating. Millen has only nine victories as a GM in almost three full seasons, and a lot of others would be walking the plank right now. But Ford does like Millen and understands him. The wild card is Bill Ford, Jr., the son. What Millen did doesn't fly so well in the corporate world. There has been a dark cloud over this franchise for years. The team has had to place 14 players on injured reserve this season. The hiring of Steve Mariucci, I thought could save Millen. But he might have cooked his Christmas goose with this incident. NINE CLUBS CHECK OUT RAY: For those who don't follow the Canadian Football League, the starting quarterback of the Grey Cup champion Edmonton Eskimos, Ricky Ray, may have an NFL future. Ray, who played at Sacramento State, isn't Warren Moon (another Eskimo), but he displayed a very good arm in today's unofficial workout in Denver. Ray, who is 6-2, 207 pounds, had two 40-yard runs of 4.85 seconds and 4.9. He definitely could be an option for an NFL team, especially those not considering drafting a quarterback. Once the regular season ends, Ray becomes eligible to be signed on Dec. 29. Some of the teams in attendance don't seem to need a starting quarterback like the Jets, Falcons, Texans and Seahawks. Ray, 25, passed for 301 yards and two touchdowns in the championship game, beating Montreal 34-22. He also ran for a touchdown. "Pretty interesting kid," said one NFL scout. "He showed good touch and threw well on the run." DOUBLE STANDARD?: The Patriots have won 10 straight, but the big story in New England this week is why did coach Bill Belichick bench star defensive lineman Richard Seymour last Sunday for the first quarter for missing two practices last week, but didn't bench his special team star, Larry Izzo, for also missing two practices? Richard Seymour missed the first quarter of Sunday's game, and then got after Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich. Rick Stewart/Getty Images To clarify matters, Izzo's missed days were over a two-week period. Seymour missed both Thursday and Friday's practices last week. Both players were absent for family reasons: Seymour's grandfather died and Izzo's father passed. Izzo apparently also received special treatment like a police escort to the airport. Belichick refused to explain his reasons to reporters yesterday, but that is how he always handles such situations. It was a coaching decision. If a starter misses two practices, he doesn't start. And Belichick doesn't necessarily view it as punishment, either. Seymour is confused because Belichick did give him permission to take care of family matters and fully believes he was ready to play. It may be nothing, but it has stirred talk of a double standard inside the locker room. The players, though, have forgotten that Izzo isn't a starter and the days he missed weren't in the same week. WEEKEND AFTERTHOUGHTS: Tim Hasselbeck has crashed back to earth, but what did fans expect? He was on the street, unemployed, before given a chance with the Redskins. Miami coach Dave Wannstedt looks like a coach walking the plank, especially after his defense was torched by the Eagles. Who thought Donovan McNabb could throw deep? I know there are better full-time backs, but Philadelphia's Brian Westbrook deserves to go the Pro Bowl. He averaged 9.5 yards a possession and scored twice against the Dolphins. Money well spent? Darrell Russell received a prorated $1.5 million salary and has two tackles for the Redskins in a backup role. The Bills played a real solid game in Tennessee, but not enough to save coach Gregg Williams. Saints coach Jim Haslett wants this job, but now the Bills aren't interested. If Brett Favre's right thumb can get healthy, look out for the Packers in the playoffs. Iowa's Kirk Ferentz is being sought by both the Giants and the Bills. How weird is it going to be for Rich McKay to be sitting in the Atlanta owners luxury suite when the Falcons play the Bucs on Saturday? McKay has been associated with the Bucs much of his adult life. If the Vikings miss the playoffs, will coach Mike Tice be in trouble? Look for Rams WR Ike Bruce to be back in the lineup this weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinsblitz Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 Millen should be fired for being a terrible President/GM, not for what he said to Morton. Fined yes, but fired no. As far as Hasselbeck and Russell go, I can't really disagree with this guy. He does have a point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonsofwashington Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 I will add that Russell's stats are not a good measure of his value. He does not play every down and who's to say that his prescence on the field doesn't open up an opportunity for someone else to make a play. Russell is a big MOFO who takes up a lot of room on that line. Hasselbeck may have been walking the streets, but this makes him sound like a bum. The guy has QB in his blood and is married to a HOTTIE. I guess that means nothing but at least you know he doesnt have holes in his underwear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbooma Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 Originally posted by skinsblitz Millen should be fired for being a terrible President/GM, not for what he said to Morton. Fined yes, but fired no. As far as Hasselbeck and Russell go, I can't really disagree with this guy. He does have a point. Skins If a CEO of a major company said that to an employee, what should happen to that CEO?? This is the same thing, he is the President of the NFL football team. He should have been fired on the spot no questions asked. Someone that high and in organization can not and should never say anthing to harm anyone. You tell me if your boss said that to you, do you think he would be there much longer, or his VP etc....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonsofwashington Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 He is a wolf in sheeps clothing. That is the only way I can think about it. I like Millen though, but that was not the smartest thing to do. He was too trigger happy with that remark. YES! Foul mouth cabs drivers really sour my buttermilk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinsblitz Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 I can't say I totally disagree with you jbooma. The point I was trying to make is that the guy made a mistake and apologized for it. He said it in the heat of the moment and was just responding to foul remarks made by Morton. I myself have said things in the heat of the moment that I've regretted as soon as they came out of my big mouth. So I'm not judging him on that. I will judge him on being a complete bonehead in the front office. This guy has done a terrible job and should be fired based on that. I still don't know why a guy with no front office experience was even hired to begin with. I guess playing linebacker and sitting in a booth calling games makes you a top canidate to run an NFL team. Go figure? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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