Detroit Lions
Millen has also received tremendous criticism for his draft failures. Three in particular stand out: quarterback Joey Harrington, chosen third overall in the 2002 draft, was traded to the Miami Dolphins for a conditional late-round draft pick after four unremarkable seasons in Detroit; wide receiver Charles Rogers, a caution on many pre-draft reports for his fragile physique, was nonetheless chosen second overall in the 2003 draft, and played sparingly in his three injury-plagued seasons before being cut before the first game of the 2006 season; Millen’s sixth first-round draft pick, Mike Williams (10th overall - 2005 draft), caught just 8 passes in eight games with the team before being traded along with Josh McCown for a 4th round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.
Over the seven seasons of Millen’s leadership as team CEO, the Detroit Lions own the NFL’s worst winning percentage (31-81, .277), have never had a winning season, have never finshed higher than third place in the NFC North, and have not played in any post-season games. Millen received a five-year contract extension at the start of the 2005 season.
On December 9, 2005, one group of Lions fans, known as “The Lions Fanatics,” organized an “orange out” event, which encouraged Lions fans to show up at Detroit’s Ford Field clad in orange, the color of their opponent that week, the Cincinnati Bengals. That same day, Detroit sports talk radio station WDFN organized a “Millen Man March” in protest of Millen’s contract extension.
On December 24, 2006 another group of fans planned a walkout protest towards the end of the first half in the game against Chicago, to express their disgust with Millen. However, only around 100 fans participated in this protest, as the Lions fell to the Bears 26-21.
In 2007, the Lions started 6-2. However, they finished the season by going 1-7, their final record being 7-9.
