Millen out FINALLY

[DavidB911]

hes gone.

The Matt Millen era is over in Detroit.

The embattled Lions team president and chief executive officer is leaving the position, his wife Patty told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.

"We're fine," Patty Millen said. "In the world's view, this may look like failure. It's been a hard road, football-wise, but we've gotten a lot of eternal blessings. We'll move forward. I told him, 'You're out of football prison now' and we have a greater purpose."

FOXSports.com first reported Wednesday that Millen had been removed from his position. It was unclear whether he had been fired or had resigned, according to the report.

The 0-3 start dropped Millen to 31-84 overall, giving the Lions at least 10 more losses than any other NFL team over the past seven-plus seasons.

Players who were given the rest of the week off starting Wednesday seemed to be out of the loop.

"I only know what I heard on the news," offensive tackle George Foster said Wednesday afternoon before getting in his car. "Nobody has told me anything about Matt."

Millen's exit comes more than seven years after the former linebacker and TV analyst took over one of the NFL's most mediocre franchises and made it the worst. Millen's teams won a league-low 31 games since he took over in 2001.

William Clay Ford arrived at the team headquarters in a blue Mustang around noon.

The tipping point might have been public comments made by the owner's son on Monday.

Lions vice chairman Bill Ford said Millen should leave the team, and the Ford Motor Co. executive chairman said if he had the authority, he would make moves.

"I think the fans deserve better," Bill Ford told reporters. "And if it were in my authority, which it's not, I'd make some significant changes."

It appeared his father finally agreed that Millen had to go.

Drivers of vehicles whizzing past the Allen Park facility beeped their horns and gleefully yelled out about the apparent end of the Millen era. A gaggle of reporters, videographers and still photographers roamed around the grounds, waiting for official word of Millen's departure.

In rare interviews, the elder Ford has stood by his decision to hire Millen and to stick with him despite "Fire Mil-len!" chants from fans as he sank the team to one of the poorest eras in NFL history.

William Clay Ford also has been the target of criticism. Since he took over the franchise, starting with the 1964 season, the Lions have won only one playoff game.

The owner said in 2003 he hadn't considered firing Millen.

"I want him. I don't need any more reason than that," he said.

ESPN NFL senior analyst Chris Mortensen and The Associated Press contributed to this report

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3606294

[Jim Richards]

The Lions need to sweep all the front office out, not just Millen. Of course, as a Packers fan, I hope they don't and that they keep sucking ass.

[azasadny]

Yawn...

[Sonic dB]

Its Celebration Day in Det. This is like the Lions winning the Super Bowl.

[Hawktel]

I hope the Detroit fans don't get unruly. Isn't the Detroit Mayor in Jail?

God knows it would be horrible and they trashed the place.

(yes it is hard to type when your laughing as hard as I am)