AP Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner previews three top games this week in the NFL, including Brett Favre and the Vikings meeting Green Bay. The winless Rams take on the Lions, and the Giants visit the Eagles.
By LARRY LAGE
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Matt Millen is out as Detroit Lions president, according to published reports Wednesday.
Millen's wife told ESPN's Chris Mortensen her husband was leaving the position. The move comes two days after Bill Ford, son of team owner William Clay Ford, said he would fire him, but didn't have the authority.
Messages seeking comment were left by The Associated Press on Wednesday for Millen, other team officials and players.
Detroit was routed in each of its first three games this season, falling behind 21-0 twice and 21-3 once en route to lopsided losses. The Lions are off this week.
The 0-3 start dropped Millen to 31-84 overall, giving the Lions at least 10 more losses than any other NFL team over the past seven-plus seasons.
Players who were given the rest of the week off starting Wednesday seemed to be out of the loop.
"I only know what I heard on the news," offensive tackle George Foster said Wednesday afternoon before getting in his car. "Nobody has told me anything about Matt."
FoxSports.com was the first to report Millen's departure.
Reports: Millen out as Detroit Lions president....
By Wayne Drehs
ESPN.com
PARKERSBURG, Iowa -- Step-by-step, Jared DeVries walks deeper into the nightmare that is his former high school. Every time his white cross trainers hit the ground, he is greeted by another noise: the crackling of broken glass here and the squish of wet ceiling tiles there.
The Detroit Lions defensive end has read the articles, seen the pictures and watched the videos. His friends and family warned him about what to expect.
It was a just about four weeks ago, on the evening of May 25, when an EF5 tornado, three-quarters of a mile wide, with winds in excess of 200 mph, ripped through this community of 1,900, destroying or damaging nearly half the town. The tornado, which stayed in Parkersburg for 34 seconds before traveling another 43 miles, killed six people and leveled 21 businesses, the city hall and the heart of the community: Aplington-Parkersburg High School.
DeVries knew his high school was damaged, but not until he showed up here does it hit him. Not until he climbs over the orange "BIOHAZARD" tape, walks through the water-, brick- and glass-covered halls and stands in the doorway of what was once his gymnasium, does it sink in.
Iowa town turns to football to recover from tornado....
