NFL Executive Transactions

Millen Joins NFL’s Competition Committee

The NFL named Falcons Exec VP & CAO RAY ANDERSON Senior VP/Football Operations (Falcons). In Atlanta, Steve Wyche reports Anderson, who replaces ART SHELL, will work out of the NFL’s N.Y. office and be responsible for “stadium issues, game officials’ oversight and disciplinary actions.” Anderson will also become a non-voting member of the NFL Competition Committee. The Falcons will not replace him, and instead have “current staffers sharing his former duties,” which include managing the salary cap and negotiating contracts (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 8/8).

MILLEN: Lions President & CEO MATT MILLEN has been appointed to the NFL’s Competition Committee, filling the president/GM seat that became vacant when CHARLEY CASSERLY resigned from the Texans in May (NFL). In Detroit, Mike O’Hara writes the appointment “strengthens the Lions’ position in league matters, an area where they have been lacking.” It also “indicates Millen has no intention of leaving the Lions anytime soon” (DETROIT NEWS, 8/8). ESPN.com’s Bill Simmons was asked by a reader to compare Millen and Knicks President of Basketball Operations ISIAH THOMAS, and wrote, “Millen has been a complete disaster in every possible sense: he hires the wrong coaches, drafts the wrong players, signs the wrong free agents, screws up the cap, builds around the wrong guys, turns on his own players, doesn't have any semblance of a master plan. ... You could make the case that he doesn't have a single strength as a sports executive. At least Isiah had some decent drafts and targeted players with talent” (ESPN.com, 8/7).