Shutdown Corner - NFL

Quick: Over the last seven years, what human being on the planet was in the least danger of ever having to work during an NFL Playoff Saturday?

Answer: Matt Millen.

But 2009 is a new year, and Millen has already landed a new job. He's with NBC's Football Night in America, a show that's doing its best to help with America's unemployment problem.

Of the seven-member studio team, Cris Collinsworth is in the booth in Arizona, and Tiki Barber's out there doing sideline work. I guess Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann don't work Saturdays, and Peter King is busy petitioning the league to allow Brett Favre to play all-time quarterback in every 2009 playoff game.

That left Bob Costas and Jerome Bettis to handle studio duty, and since those five minutes or so couldn't have possibly been filled by two guys, we've got Matt Millen today. Maybe Jerome Bettis ought to take that as a hint.

Oddly enough, outside of Collinsworth, Millen is probably the best analyst of the bunch. Before he was hired to run the Detroit Lions franchise, Millen actually called a pretty good game. He worked with CBS, Westwood One radio, and was the number two guy at FOX behind John Madden. He was good enough, in fact, that he was able to convince someone to give him complete control over a franchise, and at the time, no one really thought it was a bad idea.

And then he went 31-97 as a head coach, and no one was quite sure how he ever won 31.

You've gotta remember, though, Millen was a pretty great football player, and he does know what's happening on a football field. The best thing he's got going for him is that the job of professional football commentator doesn't come with a comments section. If it did, I doubt he could do the job.

He is qualified to do this. Now, I honestly believe that you could take any random homeless guy, and they'd manage a better record than 31-97 as an NFL GM, however .. that doesn't mean that guy knows more about football than Millen.

I absolutely wouldn't mind seeing him get back in the booth sooner than later. Matt Millen can break down for me what's going on between the trenches. As long as he doesn't talk about personnel decisions a team should make, he'd be golden.

digg delicious
more

73 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. M B
    1. Posted by M B Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:12 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Is someone at NBC trying to bring Millen back from the football dead???
  2. kurt k
    2. Posted by kurt k Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:52 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Lions gain/NBC's loss!
    GO LIONS!!!
  3. Scott
    3. Posted by Scott Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:25 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    "And then he went 31-97 as a head coach, and no one was quite sure how he ever won 31." You may want to brush up on your fact checking MJD...
  4. Anton
    4. Posted by Anton Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:48 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I was surprise to see him, given how he screwed up the Lions. For once he is seen PAST the regular season.
  5. A Yahoo! User
    5. Posted by A Yahoo! User Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:31 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    It sounds like Matt Millen is saying he's responsible for the 0 - 16 season, but if the Lions would have kept him they wouldn't have gone 0 - 16, shut up! Millen! you fat idiot Lions have heard enough of your garbage
  6. mike d
    6. Posted by mike d Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:49 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    he did nothing for lions,my article on sportales.com win-lions-win
  7. jc2004bc
    7. Posted by jc2004bc Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:30 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I always thought that Millen was a top-notch analyst, but I'm very, very surprised to see him back on TV this soon. I figured that it would be a couple of seasons before he resurfaced.
    Unfortunately, his record as a GM will always overshadow what can once again be a good addition to the booth.
    Of course, he is also in a kitchen with way too many cooks, which can't help matters.
  8. A Yahoo! User
    8. Posted by A Yahoo! User Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:31 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    My evaluation of NBC Football Night in America
    Bob I wish I was as big as my ego Costas
    Matt I have proved how little I know about running a football team Millen
    Tiki I'll be the first to throw my team mates under the bus Barber
    Dan I wish I was half as funning as I think I am Patrick
    Keith I secretly want to date Sarah Palin Olbermann
    Cris the Dan Dierdorf Broadcaster of the Year Award winner Collinsworth
  9. Robert J
    9. Posted by Robert J Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:39 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    NBC how could ever consider having Mat on your great show. It will be hard for me to watch your net work after this. Please reconsider what you have done..............
  10. steveb
    10. Posted by steveb Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:55 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I dont understand why you need 17 people in the booth plus woman on the sideline.I cant watch Terry Bradshaw and those goofy bastards so I sure in the hell cant watch Millens group.They all think their so damn funny.And I've never seen a sideline reporter add anything intelligent to the game.At least we dont have to listen to Tony Kornholehiser .
  11. M B
    11. Posted by M B Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:12 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    corn hole!!!
  12. keesha06@yahoo.com
    12. Posted by keesha06@yahoo.com Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:48 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    to steve,excellent.
  13. RedWingFan
    13. Posted by RedWingFan Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Matt Millen could screw up a wet dream involving Miss America . . .
  14. Willie Mc
    14. Posted by Willie Mc Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:02 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Matt Millen is a winner, on the football field that is! he won 4 superbowls w/3 teams! 3 pretty awesum
    teams! one of them the Redskins beat coach Wayne Fontes & our Lions n the NFC championship
    game! the mistake was thinkin that it could equal success running a football team!! he never even
    coached! it was mostly William Clay Fords fault! he hired & stuck w/Millen!!
  15. DewPower
    15. Posted by DewPower Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:50 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    To MJD: Matt Millen wasn't the 'head coach' for the Lion (he was GM)
    To: Matt Millen: By saying that the owner firing you early in the season created instability in the coaches and players, you are implying that the Lions would have won a game if you hadn't been fired! If you had some influence or ability to contribute to the process you should have used that influence or ability at some point in your tenure in Detroit. Your first two years were the worst 'back-to-back' years IN THE HISTORY OF THE LIONS and your last year (partial on the payroll, but fully responsible for the players on the roster) was the worst IN THE HISTORY OF THE NFL. You don't have the credentials to add commentary to any NFL game.
    To Detroit Lions fans: It was good seeing you (all 5 of you) have something to rally around all last season and all of September ("Fire Millen"), but now what?
    To the Oakland Rader fans: No, your franchise is still the worst ever, regardless of the 0-16 Lions. At least the Lions could fire Millen and therefore have hope for the future, you have Al Davis to guarantee your fate, and you can't fire the owner.
    To NBC: Costas, Patrick, and a couple of former high profile players/coaches should be able to get the job done in studio. Collinsworh and Bettis are enough. Your show is better without Millen AND Olbermann.
  16. bigdaddy92163
    16. Posted by bigdaddy92163 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:06 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    matt millen might be the worst gm in any sport but he is noy as stupid as
    someone getting paid for this report that does not know he was not a frigging
    coach my god let me know yahoo next nime you are hiring
  17. Jym
    17. Posted by Jym Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:45 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    SCREW MILLEN! BOYCOTT NBC for this BONEHEAD move!
  18. Mike B
    18. Posted by Mike B Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I'm sorry, but seeing Matt Millen doing analysis was just too bizarre. He's lost all credibility as having a clue.
    Just because he was a decent player and played on championship teams, doesn't make him football smart.
    There are tons of other analysts out there. why pick someone who exudes being a loser.
  19. Mike B
    19. Posted by Mike B Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    oh, and by the way, will someone flush the toilet. A costas turd is floating in the bowl.
  20. Andrew
    20. Posted by Andrew Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:58 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Blame Millen, fine.....wasn't ready for that type of job and wasn't able to evaluate talent. You gotta hold William Clay Ford responsible though. If you were terrible at your job and your boss came to you and instead of firing you offered you another 5 year deal after you were the worst at your job, would you walk away from it if you are being offered 20 mil? Was he terrible? Yes. But what owner always someone to run their business into the ground then rewards them with more years and money?
  21. Andrew
    21. Posted by Andrew Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:58 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Blame Millen, fine.....wasn't ready for that type of job and wasn't able to evaluate talent. You gotta hold William Clay Ford responsible though. If you were terrible at your job and your boss came to you and instead of firing you offered you another 5 year deal after you were the worst at your job, would you walk away from it if you are being offered 20 mil? Was he terrible? Yes. But what owner always someone to run their business into the ground then rewards them with more years and money?
  22. David B
    22. Posted by David B Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:38 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I don't see any brown bag on Millen's head.... Matt Millen showed his guts in national TV on NFL playoffs. give me a break.... I wish somebody tell Millen that he is loser on NBC..
  23. Rex
    23. Posted by Rex Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:37 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    what a joke. talk about failing upwards. i'm not a lions fan but the folks in detroit have every right to feel sick seeing this guy with a new kush gig after running thier franchise into the ground after being given every chance in the world to succeed. talk about the good ole boy network...nbc! this ranks righ up thier with the auburn hire!
  24. Mario C
    24. Posted by Mario C Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:13 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I couldn't believe my eyes ...Millen ...not this soon ...not ever. Millen's presence only discredits this show !!!
  25. Ernie Ballz
    25. Posted by Ernie Ballz Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:56 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    This guy is several words that I cannot say without getting my post blocked. How is it I can work my tail off to barely earn a living and this guy screws up on an epic level and he is handed over tons more money he does not deserve.
    MJD, great article.
    Millen, please go hide somewhere and leave us all alone.
    Signed,
    One of the few remaining Lions fans

Shutdown Corner

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

MJD

Shutdown Corner is an NFL blog edited by Matthew J. Darnell. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Teams

Customize to follow news and rumors on your favorite teams. [ Sign in ]

Related Photo Gallery

Y! Sports Blogs

Shutdown Corner Recent Readers