The Failure of Detroit Lions G.M. Matt Millen
Detroit Lions fans licking their wounds even after departure of Matt Millen.
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At the same time, Lions supporters can take comfort in knowing that the “Curse of Bobby Layne” expired earlier this month, perhaps opening the door to future success. For those not familiar with the story, Layne quarterbacked the Lions to three NFL championships in the 1950s, only to be traded to the then-lowly Steelers in October 1958. After being informed of the trade, a perturbed Layne allegedly said: The Lions “will not win [a championship] for 50 years,” a prediction that turned out to be painfully accurate.
The curse aside, even in a best-case scenario it figures to take several years for Mayhew (or another G.M.) to rebuild the roster, minimize the amount of salary cap space dedicated to players no longer on the team, and restore the confidence of the fan base. Most challenging of all, however, might be combatting the culture of losing, which can manifest itself in subtle but important ways. After finishing the 2006 season with a 3-13 record and being awarded the second pick in the 2007 draft, wide receiver Roy Williams said: “I really don’t want to be one or two. I’d rather be picking 31st,” a strange number to choose considering that it corresponds with the team that loses the Super Bowl.
Still, one can’t underestimate the power of hope—the possibility that the Lions might, against all odds, retain the perfect man for the job. “You can’t even describe how excited people are [in Detroit],” begins Rosenberg. “Fans don’t necessarily think they [the Lions] are going to get it right this time, but they can’t do worse than Millen.”
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