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Matt Millen Was Once a Good TV Analyst, but Times Have Changed

Posted: Jan 13th 2009 10:09AM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Lions, NFL Media Watch

Phil Mushnick of the New York Post wrote a column over the weekend in which he argued in favor of NBC's decision to hire Matt Millen as an NFL studio analyst. Mushnick's argument is seriously flawed.

Mushnick starts out well enough: He points out that Millen was once a good TV analyst. I agree with this. In the 1990s, Millen was one of the better color commentators in the NFL. But this is 2009, and so much has changed since then that there's just no way to take Millen seriously anymore.

Continue Reading Matt Millen Was Once a Good TV Analyst, but Times Have Changed

NFL Network's Steve Mariucci Has an Enormous Noggin

Posted: Dec 20th 2008 4:20PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: NFL Fans, NFL Video

3 COMMENTS

So the NFL has robbed us of the usual late-season slate of Saturday afternoon games, but what they've given us in return is much, much better. Okay, not really -- for starters, as it currently stands, about 250 people get NFL Network, which means that a lot of you will be shut out of tonight's Ravens-Cowboys game.

Not only that, but most people who don't blog for a living have stuff to do on Saturday night. I suspect Roger Goodell doesn't care about such things.

Not to worry, though; the fine folks who bring us the NFL Network pregame show -- Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk and Warren Sapp -- are all about making the experience a happy one. For all 250 of you (via Awful Announcing):

Wow. Warren Sapp is so fat that the fat house fun mirror makes him look skinny. Which, I think, means that Shaun Rogers and Casey Hampton would look like Rob and Fab. I'd pay to see that.

By the way, I'd love to see the CBS folks "accidentally" use the fat lens on broadcasting's moral beacon, Jim Nantz. I'm guessing he'd find it hilarious in much the same way Joe Buck loved Randy Moss' decision to pretend moon Packers' fans.

Redskins Fans Have Seen Enough of Jim Zorn; Predictably, Bill Cowher Rumors Swirl

Posted: Dec 10th 2008 11:00AM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Redskins, NFC East, NFL Fans, NFL Coaching, NFL Rumors

65 COMMENTS

Apparently Clinton Portis isn't the only person fed up with first-year head coach Jim Zorn. Redskins fans have had enough, too, it seems. So, naturally, with three games left in the season and Washington, after a 6-2 start, now staring at 7-6 and very slim playoff hopes, the discussion has turned to ... who should replace Zorn.

Makes sense.

The DC Examiner's Rick Snider writes that Zorn "may be vying for his job over the final three games," which, frankly, sounds like a huge stretch, although owner Dan Snyder has a history of impetuousness.

Continue Reading Redskins Fans Have Seen Enough of Jim Zorn; Predictably, Bill Cowher Rumors Swirl

Wait, What ... Vernon Davis Is Less Productive Under Mike Martz Than Jim Hostler?

Posted: Oct 9th 2008 6:53PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: 49ers, NFC West

0 COMMENTS

Way back in May, during the 49ers minicamp, tight end Vernon Davis got in a scrape with teammate Parys Haralson. After practice, the Press Democrat's Matt Maiocco jokingly asked Davis if he was acting out of frustration built up from the offense-less team Mike Nolan put on the field last season.

The team has it's fourth offensive coordinator in as many seasons, and this one, Mike Martz, is known for matriculating the ball down the field, primarily through the air. Good news for Davis, right? Eh, maybe not. Through five games, he has five catches for 87 yards. I'm guessing the 49ers (and Davis, judging from this) were looking for more production from the former sixth-overall pick.

Sorry, Vernon, Martz doesn't care.

Q: But is there a sense that Davis is starting to get antsy with his production?
Martz: Is this a serious question?

Q: Yeah - he has five catches in five games.
Martz: I have no idea what he has. I don't think about those things to be honest with you. I'm sure anyone with five catches - I don't care who you are - is probably not satisfied. It's not the point, though, probably, is it? We're just trying to win. His time will come

Okay, so it's not that Martz doesn't care, he's just more interested in winning. Fair enough, particularly for an outfit that hasn't had a winning season Steve Mariucci, Jeff Garcia and Terrell Owens were on the premises seven years ago. Plus, if Davis is more valuable as a run blocker then, well, that's okay, too. At least as far as Frank Gore is concerned.

Steve Mariucci Confirms That Matt Millen Was, in Fact, an Incompetent Boob

Posted: Sep 24th 2008 10:10PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Lions, NFC North, NFL Fans, NFL Coaching

5 COMMENTS

We're nearing the end of Day 1: Life After Millen, and by most accounts, it's been a joyous occasion. Now begins the arduous process of rebuilding the Lions, no easy task given what hell Matt Millen hath wrought on this franchise in just eight years.

During tonight's NFL Total Access, Rich Eisen got current NFL Network analyst and former Lions head coach Steve Mariucci on the horn to talk about what it meant to work for the worst general manager in the history of sports. (Click Millen's handsome mug for the moving pictures.)

Some highlights after the jump.

Continue Reading Steve Mariucci Confirms That Matt Millen Was, in Fact, an Incompetent Boob

Steve Mariucci Sorta Takes a Shot at Matt Millen, but Not Really

Posted: Jun 30th 2008 8:39AM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Lions, NFC North

0 COMMENTS

Yesterday, MDS pointed out that former 49ers and Lions head coach Steve Mariucci is open to returning to the NFL, but he doesn't want to move away from Northern California. That sorta limits his options, obviously, but working for Matt Millen can force you to re-evaluate what you're willing to put up with to do something you love.

Interestingly, today's Detroit Free Press, declares that "Mariucci takes shot at Matt Millen," although anybody who's heard Mariucci speak for more than 10 seconds might find it hard to believe he'd take a shot at anybody. In the original Marquette Mining Journal piece MDS cited, Mariucci was quoted as saying:

"Matt Millen has changed 58 coaches already, and he's now finally changing players," Mariucci said. "Sure I've stayed in touch with some of them and some of the coaches, and on occasion Bill Ford Jr. -- I respect the heck out of Bill, he'll take that team over some day."

As far as taking swipes at former employers go, I'd say this ranks right up there with the Johnnie Morton-Matt Millen homoerotic shouting match from 2003. Except very, very different.

The thing is, I'm sure Mariucci could write a 700-page book on his experiences with the Lions, but reporting that Millen has changed 58 coaches and is finally changing players hardly seems scandalous. Even for the guy who cries every time he sees Brett Favre. That said, it's hard to pass up on a chance to point out Millen's inadequacies.

Steve Mariucci Open to Coaching Again, Won't Move Away From Bay Area

Posted: Jun 29th 2008 5:26PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: 49ers, Lions, NFL Coaching, Detroit, San Francisco

2 COMMENTS

I think Steve Mariucci is a very good coach, one who deserves another chance at running an NFL team. He was successful with the 49ers, and although he was unsuccessful with the Lions, let's face it: Vince Lombardi couldn't win with the collection of stiffs Matt Millen has assembled in Detroit.

So I was glad to see that Mariucci hasn't shut the door on returning to coaching, even though the possibility may be remote:

"The right situation may never present itself again," Mariucci said, "because we've decided as a family not to move anymore. We are back in northern California in our home and we settled back in. I've moved my wife 18 times, and I don't want to move again, nor does she. Our home base is going to be in the Bay Area. It's that simple.

"For me to coach again, it either has to be on the West Coast or I would have to commute."

I'm not even sure what "commute" would mean for an NFL coach. Coaches hardly see their families even when they live in the same city. So if Mariucci is serious about not uprooting his family and doesn't want to be apart from them, his options are basically a return to Cal or the 49ers, or the Raiders, or Stanford. I hope one of those options presents itself.

How Chilo Rachal Personifies the 49ers' Recent Failings as a Franchise

Posted: Jun 10th 2008 11:56AM by Tom Mantzouranis (author feed)
Filed under: 49ers, NFC West, San Francisco

1 COMMENT

I don't know Chilo Rachal. He might be a very nice man. Everything I've heard about him as a football player has been positive. But through no fault of his own, he represents everything that's gone wrong with the 49ers over the last few years.

Rachal was a guard in college, and the 49ers made him their second pick despite having a more urgent need at tackle. The thinking was that Rachal would be converted there, but there's one problem -- the 49ers' various decision-makers are at odds over the switch.

Now, this is a pretty big decision for the current state of the team -- a lot of jobs are riding on this season, and as last year proved a lot of the team's success will be riding on the offensive line. You'd have thought that the position would have been a priority this offseason. You'd have also thought that with the ramifications involved in getting this ship righted, the people responsible would at least be able to agree on a course of action. But no. Communication (or mis-, as the case may be), poor planning, and a lack of competent leadership have been the team's downfall since Steve Mariucci left.

And though, yes, Jonas Jennings is penciled in as the starter on the right line (making this all seemingly moot), there's no doubt that the guy who has missed 27 games in the last three seasons will need to be replaced at some point this season, if not from Week 1. The team's interest in Barry Sims indicates that the Rachal experiment isn't going well, making the dissension even more ludicrous and leaving the 49ers yet again holding their ... you know.

Redskins and Ocho Cinco? Remember the #85 Washington Already Has

Posted: Feb 13th 2008 1:02PM by Sportz Assassin (author feed)
Filed under: Bengals, Redskins, AFC North, NFC East, Washington, DC

0 COMMENTS

Lemme get this straight: the Redskins are looking to trade some draft picks in order to get that receiver to put them over the hump? The guy happens to wear #85. What is this? 2006?

Right now, the news is that the Redskins are interested in trading for the Bengals' Chad Johnson. I'm of two minds of the deal. It is great, because he truly is a great receiver that may be the next I'm-going-show-those-doubters wide-outs like Randy Moss and Terrell Owens. Chad + chip on shoulder = a sweet deal.

Of course, he's also a whiny receiver (I know, redundant) who pouts when things aren't centered around him. That isn't a good thing when you are breaking in a head coach whose previous highest position was coaching quarterbacks. Ah, Jim Zorn is a Mike Holmgren disciple and those guys can handle that mess -- right Steve Mariucci (Owens) and Andy Reid (Owens)?

Continue Reading Redskins and Ocho Cinco? Remember the #85 Washington Already Has

Redskins Head Coaching Candidates Down to Jim Fassel, Steve Mariucci, Ron Meeks

Posted: Feb 7th 2008 12:40PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Redskins, NFL Coaching, Washington, DC

1 COMMENT

The Washington Redskins' search for a new head coach is now down to former Giants coach Jim Fassel, former 49ers and Lions coach Steve Mariucci and Colts defensive coordinator Ron Meeks, Adam Schefter of NFL Network is reporting.

The coach who some observers thought was emerging from sleeper to front-runner, Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, will remain in New York.

So who's the front-runner now? It appears to be Fassel, pictured above embracing Mariucci after Fassel's Giants lost to Mariucci's 49ers in January of 2003. Fassel had a solid run as the Giants' head coach, and it's somewhat surprising that he never got a second chance as a head coach.

Some published reports have said that Mariucci is out of the running, but the Redskins have said that's not the case. Meeks is a longtime assistant with a good track record, although Redskins owner Dan Snyder is thought to prefer someone with head-coaching experience.