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Millen calls Morton a Faggot
Johnnie Morton, former playmaker, leader and wide receiver for the Detroit Lions, didn't make many plays against his former team on Sunday.
He didn't need to make more than a few.
The Kansas City Chiefs, his current team, rolled over his old team easy. Easier than easy really, and Morton is part of an AFC West title winner.
Think he misses Detroit?
"Well, that's where I grew up, started my career, so I still feel a part of it," he said. "But I love being part of this, a championship team."
He's a long way from the Lions, which brings us to CEO Matt Millen, the guy who sent him packing from Detroit.
Morton's departure from the Lions as a free agent, when he clearly wanted to stay, is the most dramatic example of Millen's ineptitude. It's a scar that won't fade away.
The day Morton left, Millen signed Bill Schroeder, he of the alligator arms, lack of courage and dropped touchdown passes.
Good move, that one.
Millen, one year into it, should have been fired the next day, and yet he remains two years and many losses later. As the Chiefs romped up and down the field like other teams have romped this season, it became clear again that the Lions' biggest problem is a lack of talent.
They don't have a Trent Green, a Priest Holmes or even a Johnnie Morton.
They have Millen, who has been in charge of the talent for three years, nine wins, 37 losses, including a NFL record-tying 23 consecutive road losses.
Do the math William Clay Ford. Then do the right thing. Addition by subtraction. Show Millen the door.
We could list 45 reasons, which would equal the number of points Kansas City netted in knocking the Lions about Arrowhead. The sad thing is it's about the number of spots in which the Lions could use new players on the 53-player active roster.
Ask Morton what the Chiefs have as compared to Detroit, and he starts with the following words.
"Well, one thing I've noticed here, it all starts at the top," he said.
He didn't mean top, as in owner. He meant Millen.
It's going to be re-tool time once again after the season, for the umpteenth consecutive year in Detroit, and Millen has had his chance.
"Well, we're a ways away from a playoff team," Mariucci said after Sunday's blowout. "We've got some improving to do, and it's not going to come in development in the next six practices. It's going to come with acquiring a few more free agents, drafting well again and getting back healthy the guys we missed."
Now, don't go starting rumors. Nobody has indicated Millen will be shown the door. Ford has given him votes of confidence two previous times this season. The Lions are much more likely to point at excuses like injuries, youth and dropped passes for their many shortcomings this season.
Plus, we have to pass some credit to Millen for Dre Bly, perhaps, and Dan Wilkinson, both quality free agent pick-ups this year. The most recent draft, too, had some merit.
But the key thing missing in this franchise remains enough NFL quality players, and that falls on the shoulders of Millen, who has learned on the job -- slowly.
Do we need to bring up the records again? It's 2-14, 3-13, 4-10 with two games to go in the third year.
Millen, though improved since he let Morton go, should be next to go.
Coach Steve Mariucci, who weighed in this year for the first time, can then be put in charge of personnel. Or, at least he could pick somebody he wants to work personnel.
He's the proven commodity in the mix. He has coached good teams in San Francisco, battled through rebuilding and emerged a winner again. Given the time and the roster, he is a winner.
Millen came in with a resume of former standout player, and television color guy. He didn't appear qualified to run a team. He proved it. Even his improvement can be measured at only a one-win-per-year pace.
"It's just a bad situation over there, and I really don't know what to make of it," Morton said.
The Lions have two more games before another off-season, another draft, another round of free agency, another round of mini-camps, training camps and then next year.
If Millen sticks around, it's hard to believe things are going to get much better. Well, the Lions might win five games.
My Commentary: Millen fell right into the bear trap Johnnie Morton layed last month when he said his goal this year was to get Matt Millen fired. It was quite obvious that Morton personally blames Millen for not being resigned in Detroit. Hasn't Millen learned his lesson from the devout coward comment on the Mike Dicka show? Why on earth would he go over to Morton after the game and congratulate him knowing that Morton was after his throat. It was not surprising in the least bit Morton told Millen to kiss his ass. But, a President and CEO of an NFL team should know better than to call Morton a fa*got in front of everyone. It is quite obvious that Millen has no clue how to control his trap. All he does is continue to make a mockery of the Lions with his brainless comments. Although Morton has done squat in two years with KC, he definitely got some revenge on Millen and this could be the beginning of the end of the Millen era. But, in all do honestly, I would be shocked if Millen gets the axe given the Ford's do not see all the mistakes he has made the past three years.
RECAP:
The Kansas City Chiefs had
the ideal punching bag for a division title celebration.
Priest Holmes rushed for three touchdowns and Trent Green passed
for three scores as the Chiefs clinched the AFC West title with
a 45-17 rout of the Detroit Lions, who matched an NFC record
with their 23rd straight road loss.
The Chiefs (12-2) rebounded from last week's embarrassing 45-27
loss at Denver to claim their first divisional crown since 1997.
They also remained tied with New England for the NFL's best
record.
"Needless to say, we're excited but this is the first phase of a
championship and we had a number of goals," Chiefs coach Dick
Vermeil said. "A week ago or so we reached goal one which was
to make the playoffs. The number two goal was to win our
division, which we did. Now the next level of competition will
be a lot tougher."
"It's a team accomplishment," Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt said. "I'm
not tired at all. I've had a lot of rest the last six years
without winning one."
Meanwhile, the Lions (4-10) continued their futility away from
home in tying the longest road skid in NFL history, set by the
Houston Oilers from 1981-84. Detroit has not won on the road
since a 10-7 victory over the New York Jets on December 17,
2000.
"It's hard, and we're one of a handful of teams that hasn't had
any luck on the road this year," Lions coach Steve Mariucci
said. "And that happens every year. It just so happens that
it's been three years in a row here. And that's hard to deal
with."
The Lions conclude their road schedule next Sunday against the
Carolina Panthers, who are in first place in the NFC South.
Holmes and Green took the suspense out of this one early. Holmes
had touchdown runs of 14 and nine yards and Green had TD passes
of 27 and 63 yards in the opening half, when the Chiefs built a
commanding 28-10 lead.
Kansas City scored on its first four possessions in the opening
half, rolling up 300 total yards against the NFL's worst defense
before intermission.
In the second half, Holmes and Green continued to have their
way. Holmes ran three yards a touchdown in the third quarter and
Green found tight end Tony Gonzalez from nine yards for a
score, pushing the lead to 45-27.
With things in hand, Holmes and Green sat out much of the fourth
quarter.
Holmes finished with 94 yards on 18 carries and his three
touchdowns gave him a league-leading 22 on the season. Marshall
Faulk holds the NFL record for a touchdowns in a season with
26, set in 2000.
Green had his second straight huge game as he completed 20-of-25
passes for 341 yards. He threw for 397 yards in last week's
loss.
"We were really concerned with winning this game," Green said.
"We wanted so much to win the division here at home. Obviously
no one here was too happy with the way things went in the second
half against Denver."
Shawn Bryson rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown and Joey
Harrington passed for a score for Detroit.
Scott's Game Commentary:
23 straight road losses in a row! Not like the Lions had one chance in a million before the game began to break the streak. The Defense turned in one of the most pathetic performances i've ever seen! The Chiefs scored a touchdown on every possession except when they missed a field goal after they got back the ball with 16 seconds left before the half. The Chiefs first punt did not come till the 4th quarter when they had their 2nd string offense in the game. Although the Chiefs have one of the best offenses in football, there is no excuses to give up 521 yards and 28 first downs. As was the case last week with Tomlinson, the Defense had no answers for Priset Holmes who had a big day with three touchdowns. The Offense had some productive drives, but had some big drops that cost them dearly. The biggest drop was from none other than Bill Schroeder who had a touchdown pass slip away. The drive resulted in a field goal. Shawn Bryson had a big day rushing for 105 yards, but the Chiefs were firmly in control of the game when he got his big yardage. The last two games have been nothing short than embarrassing. Two more games and losses to go till the third straight miserable season is over.
Grades:
Offense: --- C-. The offense only scored 17 points but did a good job moving the ball for once. Still, there were the usual dropped passes and failare to score touchdowns in the red zone. Rookie RB Artose Pinner made his long awaited debut but did not make any big plays. Shawn Bryson had his best game ever rushing for 105 yards, but I'd be shocked if he had another game like that the rest of the year.
Defense: --- F-. The Defense could not of played any worse! They were just atrocious in the Dallas game, but this performance may have trumped that! They could not even stop the Chiefs till they pulled Trent Green and Priest Holmes in the 4th quarter. KC scored four straight touchdowns to start the game. After the Defense played so well in the past few games, it just makes you wonder if they were just intimidated playing against the high powered Chief's Offense.
Special Teams: --- C-. Swinton had some decent runs, but also fumbled that led to a KC field goal. Hanson made his only field goal of the day.
Coaching: --- F. Once again, one of the Lions units was not prepared for the game. It is just embarrassing watching the Lions get scortched every game on the road.
Overall: --- F. Next week the Lions will make history when they lose their 24th straight game to the 1st place Carolina Panthers. It was three years ago this weekend when the Lions last got a road win against the New York Jets. If there is one constant with those 24 straight road losses, it is Matt Millen. Does anyone know which team has lost the most games the past three season? That would be the honolulu blue and silver! After the Lions break the road losing record next week, they'll finish off the regular season against the St. Louis Rams. If the Rams have anything to play for, the game will be another blowout. Like the Lions are going to stop the high powered Rams Offense. Two more games till this season is over and the hope of some big changes in the offseason.
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