Millen era finally ends with firing by Lions

The Detroit Lions fired team president Matt Millen on Wednesday after seven-plus years on the job.

Millen, a star linebacker for the Oakland Raiders,  was named to turn around a mediocre franchise in 2001 but instead watched it turn into one of the league’s worst.

“I have relieved Matt Millen of his duties effective immediately,” Lions owner William Clay Ford said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.

Messages seeking comment were left on Millen’s cell phone but went unanswered.

Millen’s teams won a league-low 31 games since he took over, and he missed spectacularly on his draft picks, but his boss refused to get rid of him until now.

Bill Ford, son of the team owner, said Monday he would fire Millen if he had the authority.

Detroit was routed in each of its first three games this season.

“I am very disappointed with where we are as a team after our start this season,” Ford added in his statement. “Our sole focus now is preparing for our next game against Chicago.”

Drivers of vehicles whizzing past the Allen Park facility beeped their horns and gleefully yelled out shouts after the firing was announced.

The Lions (0-3) were 31-84 for Millen, giving them at least 10 more losses than any other NFL team since 2001, one of the worst stretches in league history.

The Lions’ front office will now be led by executive vice president Tom Lewand, who will report to the owner on business issues, and new general manager Martin Mayhew, who will report to the owner on football matters.

Harrington released
The New Orleans Saints released reserve quarterback Joey Harrington only five days after signing him.

The Saints signed tight end Sean Ryan to compensate for the loss of Jeremy Shockey to a sports hernia.

Harrington could be brought back to New Orleans later this season, but was let go because they are currently shorthanded at other positions.

Etc.
• The New York Giants suspended Plaxico Burress for a game for missing a practice and not calling to explain his absence. Burress’ agent,  Drew Rosenhaus, said Burress had an undisclosed family emergency and will appeal the ban to the NFL Players Association.

• 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, Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. Harris was injured in the first quarter of the Packers’ loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. The injury is believed to be a ruptured spleen.

 • Outside linebackers coach Jim Reid left the Miami Dolphins’ training facility in an ambulance after experiencing lightheadedness after practice.

• Dick Lynch, who starred at cornerback for the New York Giants during their glory years in the late 1950s and early 1960s and was a longtime radio analyst for the team, died at age 72.

• The Colts signed former Georgia quarterback David Greene. Greene has had stints in Seattle, New England and Kansas City but never has played in an NFL game.