Lions, Millen finish '06 with all too familiar record

Even when the Detroit Lions won, they lost.

It was that kind of year -- again.

The Lions beat Dallas on Sunday, closing the season an NFC-low 3-13 and dropping them a league-worst 24-72 since 2001 when Matt Millen was hired to run the franchise.

Detroit was proud of proving it didn't quit on the miserable season by beating a playoff team in Week 17. The victory snapped a seven-game skid and a winless mark on the road in 2006.

It also cost the Lions the No. 1 pick in the draft -- an asset they could've used to perhaps trade for picks and players.

"I really don't want to be one or two," receiver Roy Williams said. "I'd rather be picking 31st."

Millen would, too, because such a low pick indicates success.

The Lions, who fired defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson and offensive line coach Larry Beightol on Tuesday, have struggled so much since Millen, a former linebacker and analyst, took over that they're had the No. 2 pick twice, No. 3 once and three other top 10 picks.

Some of the players taken with those picks haven't panned out and that begins to explain the mess the team is in six years after Millen arrived to lead a once-mediocre franchise.

Millen told a small group of reporters on Tuesday he's gotten indications from ownership that he will be around to lead the Lions in 2007. Millen said Lions owner William Clay Ford told him to keep doing his job.

Clearly, Millen wants to stick around to turn around a team he has set back with failed draft choices and free-agent signings.

Quarterback Joey Harrington and receiver Charles Rogers -- a third and second pick overall, respectively -- were discarded in 2006 and some have speculated that 2005 first-round pick Mike Williams will be the next to go.

Mike Williams expects and wants to be back.