*****Mariucci Fired*****

[StevenOtero]

After much deliberation, Lions fire Mariucci

Sources have told FOXSports.com that after much speculation and deliberation, the Lions have fired head coach Steve Mariucci.

The same sources said they believe defensive coordinator Dick Jauron would be the team's interim head coach, but that has not yet been confirmed.

It was widely reported on Friday that Mariucci's days in Detroit were numbered, but he managed to last the weekend.

The last straw for Lions management apparently was Detroit's embarrassing 27-7 loss to Atlanta on Thanksgiving Day. Playing before a national television audience, the Falcons took a 27-0 lead into the fourth quarter and were able to sit starting quarterback Michael Vick.

This was supposed to be the season Mariucci got the Lions back on track. Quarterback Joey Harrington was entering his fourth season in the league and the team was loaded with talent at the skill positions.

But after sharing the NFC North lead at 3-3, the Lions have dropped four of their last five games to fall out of the postseason hunt for the sixth straight season.

In his two-plus years in Detroit, Mariucci had a 15-28 record — a far cry from the 60-43 mark he had during six seasons in San Francisco. Mariucci has two more seasons left on a five-year, $25-million contract signed when he was hired in 2003.

[jksmith269]

That sux for the Lions because Mooch is a VG coach.

[Hiero]

horrible drafting and bad coaching. mooch shouldnt be an nfl coach, his playcalling and mellow attitude arent cutting it.

[InmanRoshi]

Who's held accountable for drafting 3 overrated WR's in the Top 10 three years in a row?

[dmq]

At least they have Matt Millen for the long haul! :lmao:

[dragon_mikal]

People want to know why the Lions will always be a laughing stock?

Moves like this. I can't believe Matt Millen escaped...again.

[joseephuss]

When are they going to get rid of Matt Millen? Nice guy, very good player in his day. I liked him as a broadcaster, but it was a big leap to make him a general manager. It hasn't worked out. Heck, Jerry Jones has been a better general manager. :)

[Waffle]

Who's held accountable for drafting 3 overrated WR's in the Top 10 three years in a row?

That makes twice now that Mooch has been the recipient of an undeserved firing.

Millen should fire himself, IMO. He is worse at being an NFL GM than he was as a color commentator, a feat that seems almost impossible to achieve considering how horrid he was on TV.

[Juke99]

On the Nosey regasding Millen....he brought in Mooch for $25 million...drafted 3 WR's in the first round...brought in Harrington in the first and from what I have read, Mariucci wanted to start McMahon...and was forced to play Harrington...who he inherited.

I simply don't understand how Mariucci goes and Millen stays.

[dragon_mikal]

It seems that Millen was the true coach of the team.

I can't believe Lions fans are happy about this. They want Millen to go out and hire a coach that fits his coaching style.

Fools.

[AbeBeta]

What a waste -- Remember when the Bucs were going to give up picks to get Mooch?

Mooch will work again next season. Could the same be said for Millen if he got fired?

[Yeagermeister]

Millen should have been canned first.

[joseephuss]

I guess the Texans can pick up Mooch for next year.

[Waffle]

Millen first hires a coach in way over his head (Mornhinweg) that goes 5-27. He also proceeds to draft a QB bust and a WR (Rogers) who has been suspended for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Yeah Lions fans...it's all Mooch's fault! :rolleyes:

[jcblanco22]

I could see him in Houston next season if/when Capers gets canned.

[numnuts23]

I'm just guessing here, but I bet Mooch is going to be the new Texans coach

[aikemirv]

A coach deserves to get fired when, during the game before they replace Harrington they tell the WR to step up their pace because Garcia is coming into the game "come out of your breaks quicker" - "make sharper cuts".

That was just stupid - Harrington is not the reason for that teams problems IMO but somehow the blame is falling on him all the time and Marriucci is the ring leader!

[ravidubey]

Mooch may end up in Minnesota if Tice can't keep his job.

[kartr]

When are they going to get rid of Matt Millen? Nice guy, very good player in his day. I liked him as a broadcaster, but it was a big leap to make him a general manager. It hasn't worked out. Heck, Jerry Jones has been a better general manager. :)

That's sad, but true.

[AbeBeta]

Mooch is going to Green Bay -- book it.

[kartr]

That makes twice now that Mooch has been the recipient of an undeserved firing.

Millen should fire himself, IMO. He is worse at being an NFL GM than he was as a color commentator, a feat that seems almost impossible to achieve considering how horrid he was on TV.

Name one good thing that Mooch has done in Detroit.

[lspain1]

Don't know about Millen, but Detroit has not looked like a well coached team this year whenever I've seen them. Mariucci gets the responsibility for that and I wouldn't want him were I an NFL poobah.

[ABQCOWBOY]

Name one good thing that Mooch has done in Detroit.

He's managed to keep Matt Millan out of public view. That has to be a help.

Amazing to me how Millan continues to avoid the Turk. Honestly, I just don't know how the hell he does it.

LOL

[kartr]

Millen first hires a coach in way over his head (Mornhinweg) that goes 5-27. He also proceeds to draft a QB bust and a WR (Rogers) who has been suspended for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Yeah Lions fans...it's all Mooch's fault! :rolleyes:

Mooch was supposed to be this big quarter-back guru and despite all the talent around Harrington, it never happened. Contrast what Lovie Smith has done in a year and a half and with lesser pedigreed qb's. Yeah, I know they're winning with defense, but that was his specialty, and he's lived up to it. What has Mooch lived up to? Garcia was his choice and he's been a bust too. Where's that offensive genius without TO? Where is that pro-bowl qb without TO?

[kartr]

He's managed to keep Matt Millan out of public view. That has to be a help.

Amazing to me how Millan continues to avoid the Turk. Honestly, I just don't know how the hell he does it.

LOL

Well I agree on Millan too. Detroit is the team I refer to as 'quarterback hell'. I don't think Harrington had a chance there even if he was any good. Millan hired Mooch without conducting a legitamate search for a head coach and deserves whatever he gets.

[kartr]

I could see him in Houston next season if/when Capers gets canned.

I hope that does happen. Maybe he can get Casserly fired when he fails in Houston too.

[joseephuss]

Well I agree on Millan too. Detroit is the team I refer to as 'quarterback hell'. I don't think Harrington had a chance there even if he was any good. Millan hired Mooch without conducting a legitamate search for a head coach and deserves whatever he gets.

Same as the hiring of Morninweig. Just a bad team that needs an overhaul.

[kartr]

I guess the Texans can pick up Mooch for next year.

Mooch needs to go back to college or just become a NFL coordinator.

[KingTuna]

I could see him in Houston next season if/when Capers gets canned.

I also think he will be the Texans new coach...West coast Offense with Carr..

Sounds like a fit..

[Hiero]

mooch is just way too overrated. he will NEVER be a good NFL coach. playcalling is 1000 times worse than Payton. not a good leader at all or disciplinarian.

[ABQCOWBOY]

Well I agree on Millan too. Detroit is the team I refer to as 'quarterback hell'. I don't think Harrington had a chance there even if he was any good. Millan hired Mooch without conducting a legitamate search for a head coach and deserves whatever he gets.

I kind of agree with you here Kartr. Tell ya who Harrington reminds me of a little bit. Steve Young early in his career. Everybody thougth Young sucked after the Tampa Bay debacle but it was really more the situation IMO. It would be interesting to see what might happen with a guy like Harrington if he were able to get with a good staff. He may not amount to anything but then again, he may just need the right situation. Can not stress how important a factor that plays in the over all success of a QB. Any QB.

[ddh33]

I agree that Millen is the one responsble for that mess. Unfortunately, it looked to me like those players had just tuned Mooch out. For what it's worth, I think he deserves a better spot than Detroit anyway. I think Harrington does too...

I wonder if Sean Payton will be a leading candidate for that job?

[Danny White]

It's funny that Millen wanted Mooch so much that he incurred a huge fine for the Lions because he didn't interview any minority candidates. Guess he didn't really think that one through too well, huh?

[AbeBeta]

It's funny that Millen wanted Mooch so much that he incurred a huge fine for the Lions because he didn't interview any minority candidates.

That situation showed just how much Millen didn't get it -- even if you know you are going to hire someone else, interviewing a minority candidate gives him experience in the interview process. Also, a GM might be impressed with the candidate and recommend him to other GMs (of course, other GM's don't respect Millen so they wouldn't care) or even consider him in the future -- like when you stupidly fire your coach.

[hipfake08]

When are they going to get rid of Matt Millen? Nice guy, very good player in his day. I liked him as a broadcaster, but it was a big leap to make him a general manager. It hasn't worked out. Heck, Jerry Jones has been a better general manager. :)

Who was going to fire JJ? :bang2:

[DLCassidy]

I bet Mooch does go back to college. He's sorta like Pete Carroll- a very good coach but a bit laid back for the NFL.

[wsmith_1972]

Guy like Mooch and Martz are very good offense coaches but not good Head coaches.

[kartr]

I kind of agree with you here Kartr. Tell ya who Harrington reminds me of a little bit. Steve Young early in his career. Everybody thougth Young sucked after the Tampa Bay debacle but it was really more the situation IMO. It would be interesting to see what might happen with a guy like Harrington if he were able to get with a good staff. He may not amount to anything but then again, he may just need the right situation. Can not stress how important a factor that plays in the over all success of a QB. Any QB.

Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike either of them, I just think they're both too soft for the NFL. Even though I believe that Garcia's about done, the offense just looked a lot better with him in there. On Mooch, I thought that the 9'er organization built the team for him and then handed him the keys and he still couldn't cut it, just like Wannstedt(sp), so how's he going to go to a place like Detroit and build anything. He even looks like an actor who plays a coach on tv.
Just too soft and pretty for the NFL.

[kartr]

I agree that Millen is the one responsble for that mess. Unfortunately, it looked to me like those players had just tuned Mooch out. For what it's worth, I think he deserves a better spot than Detroit anyway. I think Harrington does too...

I wonder if Sean Payton will be a leading candidate for that job?

I feel that Millen also was just handed the job without any real qualifications. It just serves the Lions organization right imho.