That's our Millen!

We know Matt Millen wasn't hired for his people skills, but apparently he still has something to learn about extending common courtesies. Remember how he left Marty Mornhinweg and Steve Mariucci hanging on their job status? Was he wrong to leave Jim Haslett waiting by the phone? Or is this typical of the process, and these coaches are sore over not getting a job? You make the call. This is from John Clayton's ESPN blog:

Matt Millen didn't win friends the way he hired Rod Marinelli, the assistant head coach of the Bucs. He didn't call any of the other candidates involved in the process after making the hire. Former Saints coach Jim Haslett had been waiting by his phone Wednesday because Millen told him he would fly to Detroit on Wednesday to meet William Clay Ford. Steelers offensive line coach Russ Grimm, one of the early leaders for the job, never heard he was out of the running. Neither did interim coach Dick Jauron. Basically, Marinelli met with Ford and earned Ford's blessing to get a deal done. Millen also didn't announce the finalists to the media as he said he would.

That's our Millen! He doesn't have time to let anyone down gently. He wants to [pound the podium] win, and he wants to win now.

Here's what Clayton had to say about Millen's latest "M" boy:

Marinelli had to be in Fantasyland on Wednesday. Since coming to the NFL in 1996 after a stint as defensive line coach for USC, Marinelli has been considered one of the best pure coaches in the business. He's been masterful on the defensive line for the Bucs. He's been a prime candidate for defensive coordinator jobs but has been refused the chance to interview for those jobs because he's been under contract. Marinelli let his contract run out and won the lottery by getting a head coaching job.

Press conference in 90 minutes. If I get a chance, I see a live blog in our future...