NBC's Matt Millen press release filled with overwrought praise
Matt Millen used to be a fine NFL analyst. Heck, it was his player insights during his stints as an NFL broadcaster on Fox and CBS and Westwood One radio that helped Millen get hired by the Detroit Lions to become the team's president and director of football operations.
How'd that go for everyone? It might be a while before a pro sports franchise promotes anyone from the broadcast booth who hasn't already proven himself as a head coach or general manager.
Now Millen is back on TV, fresh from being fired by the Lions for building an 0-16 team. In this economy, in this world, how many of us get to fail so totally and be unemployed for only a week? That's what happened to Millen.
He's working for NBC now, back on the air suddenly on Saturday, and today my e-mail inbox included this breathlesss release from NBC: (all caps is not an accident) FOUR-TIME SUPER BOWL CHAMPION MATT MILLEN JOINS NBC SPORTS’ SUPER BOWL XLIII COVERAGE.
And the next line: "He is one of the very best football broadcasters of his generation." –- Ebersol
Ebersol would be Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Universal Sports & Olympics and, boy, that was not faint praise he used.
Think Millen will have the audacity to criticize any player-personnel decisions of teams that, you know, won games this season? One can only hope.
-- Diane Pucin
Photo: In 2002, Matt Millen, right, made a point to then-NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Millen's Lions lost that day too -- to the Bears. Credit: Associated Press
I was utterly shocked to see Matt Millen's face on NBC on Saturday ... no disrespect, but it looked TOTALLY ABSURD, like from the "Twilight Zone" series ... his time with the Lions was a total disgrace to the franchise, and league in general, and to front his face like he really knows something about football is a joke. Hey, get real NBC, you look foolish with this move.
Posted by: Gary Magnarini | January 05, 2009 at 08:24 PM
The only way to interpret Mr. Millen broadcasting the Super Bowl the very same season that the team he GM'd to the ONLY 0-16 in NFL history; CLASSLESS. There can be no greater example of Mr. Millen’s blank slate.
A person with any amount of dignity would obviously wait until next year when some of Detroit’s pain is gone before broadcasting. However, Millen’s lack of intelligence and integrity will shine bright for all to see during the Super Bowl. People in Detroit will justifiably hate him forever and now ALL of us will learn why, while we listen to his dull, addled ramblings.
For anyone thinking his analysis has any value: Please tell me why in 8 years as a GM, the team became progressively worse? It would have been better to take investing advice from Charles Ponzi.
Posted by: Jack | January 06, 2009 at 03:44 PM