Internet Rumors Indicate Lions Working On Buyout For Millen

Ford Family Reportedly Negotiating Buyout Of Millen (r)

Rumors on the Internet indicate that the Lions “are negotiating a buyout with [President & CEO Matt] Millen and they hope to have an announcement” today or tomorrow, according to Terry Foster of the DETROIT NEWS. The Lions lost to the Dolphins 27-10 on Thursday, and the rumors claim the Fords “were angry over another embarrassing Thanksgiving loss.” Last year, the team fired coach Steve Mariucci after losing to the Falcons 27-7 on Thanksgiving. Foster: “I believe there is something to [the rumors]. I do believe the Fords spoke over Thanksgiving dinner and had a state of the Lions talk” (DETROIT NEWS, 11/26).

SING US A SONG...: In Detroit, Mike O’Hara reported that the Lions’ front office “will exercise greater control of future game-day operations” after an “unauthorized attempt to belittle” Dolphins QB Joey Harrington, a former Lion, during pregame introductions of Dolphins-Lions Thursday. Harrington was announced to the crowd despite the fact the Dolphins “chose to have its defense introduced,” and Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” was played during the introductions, a “dig at Harrington, who plays the piano.” A member of the Dolphins’ PR department complained to the Lions about the gestures. Lions Exec VP & COO Tom Lewand: “It was not in line with the standards we try to instill in our organization and those of the Ford family. The error has been corrected. We have made some changes in how much latitude we will give to the game-day production staff.” O’Hara noted Millen “has been criticized for the incident,” but he is not involved with game-day operations. Lions PA announcer Terry Braverman “operates from a script that is set well in advance.” Bryan Bender is the Lions’ Dir of Broadcasting & Production (DETROIT NEWS, 11/25). On Friday, O’Hara wrote under the header “Lions’ Pregame Move Was Low-Class, Idiotic” (DETROIT NEWS, 11/24). Also in Detroit, Jerry Green wrote, “From an organization owned and presided over by decent gentlemen, the video and personal introduction indicated shocking ingratitude” (DETROIT NEWS, 11/26). SI’s Peter King added, "What a bullying, crass and bush-league stunt. Stupid, classless, and very, very small” (SI.com, 11/27).

LATE NIGHT FODDER: In his monologue on Friday night, NBC’s Jay Leno said, “Everybody took the day off yesterday, especially the Detroit Lions” (“The Tonight Show,” 11/24).