ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The Lions fired president Matt Millen on Wednesday, more than seven years after the former linebacker and TV analyst took over one of the NFL’s most mediocre franchises and made it the worst.
“I have relieved Matt Millen of his duties effective immediately,” Lions owner William Clay Ford said.
Millen’s teams won a league-low 31 games since he took over in 2001 and an 0-3 start this season dropped him to 31-84 overall, giving the Lions at least 10 more losses than any other NFL team over the past seven- plus seasons. The Lions gave up a league-high 25.3 points and ranked 30th with 18.3 points a game under Millen, according to Stats.
The front office will be led by executive vice president Tom Lewand, who will report to the owner on business issues, and general manager Martin Mayhew will report to the owner on football matters.
Packers coach McCarthy “hopeful” Harris returns
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Packers cornerback Al Harris has a “serious” spleen injury that requires a cautious approach, but he hasn’t been ruled out for the rest of the season, coach Mike McCarthy said.
“I’m hopeful he’ll be back,” McCarthy said. “The time frame just hasn’t been established.”
Harris was injured during Sunday night’s loss to the Cowboys. The injury is believed to be a ruptured spleen, which sidelined then-Tampa Bay quarterback Chris Simms for the rest of the 2006 season. Harris won’t be able to do any significant physical activity for at least a week and will not play in Sunday’s game at Tampa Bay.
Taylor’s calf injury was career-threatening
ASHBURN, Va. — Sporting crutches and an Ace bandage, Redskins defensive end Jason Taylor spoke for the first time about the emergency procedure that followed Sunday’s 24-17 victory over the Cardinals. Taylor was kicked in the calf in the second quarter of the game but didn’t think it was anything serious until pain and numbness set in later that night.
At 3 a.m., he went to Virginia Hospital Center, where a mass of blood near his ankle was diagnosed as compartmental syndrome.
“I was a little scared about that and didn’t quite understand why it had to be done so suddenly,” he said. “I kept telling the doctor, ‘Let’s wait until the sun comes up and let me talk to some people,’ and they kept stressing how important it was to get it done right away.”
Doctors cut a 6-inch incision into Taylor’s calf to drain blood that, left untreated, might have led to nerve or tissue damage and even paralysis, limb loss or death. Taylor will be sidelined for Sunday’s game against the Cowboys — and possibly longer.
Footnotes.
Giants receiver Plaxico Burress was suspended for one game and two weekly paychecks totaling $235,294.12 for missing a practice and not calling to explain his absence. Burress’ agent insisted the receiver had an undisclosed family emergency Monday and will appeal the ban to the NFL Players Association.
Also, Dick Lynch, who starred at cornerback for the Giants in the late 1950s and early 1960s and was a longtime radio analyst for the team, died in New York. Lynch, who had been treated for leukemia, was 72.
• Amid clamoring for Brady Quinn to take over the reins at quarterback, the Browns announced Derek Anderson will start Sunday at Cincinnati.
• Bills receiver Roscoe Parrish will miss four to six weeks after having surgery to repair ligament damage in his right thumb.
• Once quarterback Vince Young’s sprained left knee is healthy enough to return fully, Titans coach Jeff Fisher said it will be as the backup to Kerry Collins.
• The Saints released reserve quarterback Joey Harrington and signed tight end Sean Ryan to compensate for the loss of Jeremy Shockey to a sports hernia.
• Matthew Tryson Bryant, the 3-month-old son of Buccaneers kicker Matt Bryant, “just didn’t wake up” and died, according to coach Jon Gruden.
• The Rams released cornerback Fakhir Brown, a starter the previous two seasons. The Associated Press
