Former Titans G.M. Floyd Reese has a resume that features accomplishments like “led the team into salary cap purgatory” and “drafted the biggest hoodlum since Lawrence Phillips” and “insisted on Vince Young while ignoring that kid who played college football in Tennessee and who currently is ripping it up in Denver.”
And he wants a chance to get back on the horse . . . and drive another franchise into the ground.
Reese is openly campaigning for the G.M. job in Detroit.
“If I had Williams Clay Ford’s number, you’d be hearing a dial tone right now,” Reese told the Detroit Free Press. “I’m in a unique situation. I’ve been in the league 32 years. I could be in Detroit tomorrow.”
And, consequently, Reese presses his face against the rear end of the powers-that-be in Motown. “One of the real uncut gems in the NFL is Detroit,” Reese said. “It has a great owner. He’s got a lot of money. He wants to win very badly, and he’s not one of those guys that’s on the sidelines. He just wants to find someone that can help him win.”
Amazingly, Reese has the nerve to criticize Matt Millen’s draft record in Detroit, in light of Reese’s own failures in late April.
“Take your pick,” Reese said regarding whether Joey Harrington, Charles Rogers, or Mike Williams are the worst of the three draft picks of the Millen era. “It’s always the same. When you draft a quarterback, there’s so much more to being a quarterback than just production. You have to be a tough guy. You have to have all the intangibles. That’s why Tom Brady, a sixth-round pick who was too weak, too skinny, can be the MVP. To be a quarterback takes so much more. Sometimes you get too caught up in height, weight, speed.
“You had issues with each one. You had issues with Joey’s toughness, leadership abilities. Mike Williams, you had problems. He played the Rose Bowl and weighed 254 pounds. In college, that’s fantastic. In the NFL, that doesn’t cut it. And with Charles, he had some issues; we all know that.”
Floyd — you drafted Vince Young instead of Jay Cutler. Hello? Toughness? Young is about as tough as a raw hamburger.
And where Rogers had “issues,” Pacman Jones had “more red flags than a Soviet military parade.”
Reese was also less than complimentary regarding whether the Lions made the right move in elevating Martin Mayhew and Tom Lewand. “I don’t know how many choices they had,” Reese said.
Well, Floyd, they could have hired you. And they didn’t. And we suspect they won’t.
That said, we’re convinced that the Lions screwed things up even in their effort to un-screw things up by firing Millen. For more, check out our latest offering for SportingNews.com.
But we suppose they could have done worse. They could have hired Floyd Reese.
_2.gif)






September 26th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
How could he drive the franchise into the ground when they’re already there?
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 5 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
September 26th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Reese has drafted talent in every overall draft. Not just from the first pick. Pacman is a great talent, just trouble off the field.
I think he’d be fine in Detroit. They just need a new approach, and Reese would give them just that.
Also, sorry Florio, but you really come off sounding like a mud slinger in this post. Ease up.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4.45 / 5 with 7 rating(s)
September 26th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Come on Florio - don’t sugar coat it. Tell us what you really think about Reese?
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 5 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
September 26th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
And remember Bud Adams fell in love with Vince Young before he told Floyd about him… ; )
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 5 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
September 26th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Reese is a clown.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2.15 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
September 26th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
PFT has had a long-standing distaste for Floyd Reese, and with good reason: after five years of poor drafting and cap mismanagement, Reese drove the Titans into the ground.
That said, he also learned something from the process, and had a major hand in the getting the team turned around. Look at the current roster….it has Reese’s fingerprints all over it.
Current starters acquired during Reese’s final two years:
DE Kyle VandenBosch (FA)
CB Cortland Finnegan (7th rd pick)
S Chris Hope (FA)
C Kevin Mawae (FA)
LB David Thornton (FA)
LT Michael Roos (2nd rd pick)
RT David Stewart (5th rd pick)
TE Bo Scaife (6th rd pick)
OG Eugene Amano (6th rd pick)
DT Tony Brown (FA)
And this doesn’t even include guys like DE Antwan Odom, DE Travis LaBoy, or OG Jacob Bell, all of whom were solid starters for the Titans before taking big-money deals with other teams.
All of these players have had a significant role in the Titans’ return to power….and all were acquired under Floyd Reese.
If the Lions are looking for someone who can bring in the right guys and get things pointed in the right direction, they could do a lot worse.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4.3 / 5 with 7 rating(s)
September 26th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
I read your whole SN article including the notes. You’ve got to be kidding about Rosenfels starting over Schaub. The Texans need to limit turnovers and Rosenfels’ career interception percentage places him somewhere between Billy Joe Hobert and Vince Evans. Great company.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 1 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
September 26th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Reese is only a good GM if he has a coach that knows how to push his players and get the most out of them. He drafts a TON of project players. The Titans started to faulter b/c Reese got them into cap hell and they had to drop all their veterans. This forced the rookies onto the field before they were ready and they got complacent b/c Reese wouldn’t give up on them. They had a job and they knew it. First thing Fisher did, once Reese was gone, was to recreate the competition at every position. Best player starts. If its a tie or at least close then it goes to the vet which forces the younger guy to work harder and get better… and also creates the misconception that Fisher is overly partial to vets (Fowler over Tulloch this year) b/c a lot times to fans it seems obvious that a younger guy should start but they don’t see everything that the coaching staff sees.
Its what he wanted to do w/ Vince too but Kerry was signed late and didn’t get a good chance to learn the playbook. Then VY was forced into the lineup at around 0-5 and the rest is history. Now they’re trying to make him force his way onto the field again. Make him get better to play. Make him earn it… that is if he’s a Titan.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
September 26th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Pacman had more Red Flags
than a Soviet Military Parade..?
LOL
Hey Mr. Mike:
I think you took that one apart pretty good.
Like they say on the
“Just For Men” Hair Color Commercials?
“Floyd Reese?!? REEEEEEEEE-JECTED!!!!!!!”
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2.6 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
September 26th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Sure Florio, drafting Young and Pacman says a lot about his judgement, but it also says a lot that, without those guys, they are the favorites to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. Not that we’d expect both sides of an argument from you.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3.4 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
September 26th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
It sounds like you want the job Mike, but I doubt you get a call. What is wrong with a guy making a play for an open job? He at least waited until Millen got fired to rip him. He put a pretty talented Titans team together. Don’t be a player hater just because you got no game.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4.5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
September 26th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Plain fact of the matter is anybody is a better GM than Millen so a direct comparison is not hurting his cause. Reese has a much higher opinion of himself than he deserves but as a fan of another NFC North team, I sincerely hope the Lions hire him. What a clown.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3.5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
September 26th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
You fault Reese way too much here. He has a good record of recognizing talent - Even Pacman Jones was on his way to being a true shutdown corner before he decided to make it rain. The VY decision came from up top, although I do know that Reese wanted Young over the other two QBs too.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
September 26th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
When has Millen drafted an Eddie George, Steve McNair, Jevon Kearse, Keith Bulluck, or Albert Haynesworth?
Sorry Florio, if you are basing your criticism on his selection of solely Vince Young, your argument doesn’t fly.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4.65 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
September 26th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Typical un-informed Florio. Floyd Reese is one of the top 5 talent evaluators in the league. The man can flat out build a roster and is a good judge of talent.
He’s got a face for radio, that’s a given, but he would be the best GM the Lions have ever had. In three years, Reese would have Lions taking home the Central division title. Book it.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2.6 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
September 26th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
i’m not sayin’ i know the deal - but i’m willing to BET that floyd had NO CHOICE in t the v.y. deal - the man who signs the checks is ALWAYS / ANYWHERE the guy who has the final say - i believe that if bud could’ve legally married vince in the U.S. he would’ve - but that’s just my wild speculation (not totally un-corroborated )…for what it’s worth…
prm…
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4.5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
September 26th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
It’s wrong for Floyd Reese, as a member of the media, to criticize someone and then openly try to get the job. There are so many things wrong with that. You don’t need to go to the Society of Professional Journalists’ website to figure that one out.
Where I do disagree with Florio is the job Reese did at Tennessee. I think overall he did a fine job.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
September 26th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
A lot of bad feelings toward Floyd Reese… jeez. I think it’s been mentioned in some of the previous comments but Reese is really not that bad of a GM. We all know that the draft is pretty much 50% scouting and 50% luck. Every GM has drafted a guy that didn’t pan out. For Pacman, he did have flags but the guy’s an obvious talent. Maybe they draft him and get him to get his act together, maybe they don’t. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out in Tennessee but now he’s cleaned up and is making Dallas look like geniuses. For Vince Young, you can’t say anything about him. For one, the guy’s a winner. He took a talentless Tennessee offense last year and made the playoffs. He definitely has some growing up to do that’s for sure. As for Cutler, only God could have predicted he’d be this good this year. He had the mechanics coming out of college but not nearly the record of Leinart and Young.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3.5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
September 26th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
To be fair, Jeff Fisher was the one who wanted to take the risk on Pacman and I’ve heard Floyd Reese wanted Jay Cutler. Fisher wanted Leinart, Adams wanted Young, and Reese wanted Cutler, but Adams said he would fire them if we didn’t get Vince Young.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4.5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
September 26th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Florio, I’m curious, did you just start paying attention to NFL Football in 2005 with your Reese comments? I mean, you seem to forget all the success and only focus in on a few questionable decisions in a few years.
In the 13 years he was GM there, the teams HE built were 106-102 and you can’t really blame him for a 2-14 campaign in his first year rebuilding an old team which brings down his record. Don’t forget they were 5-3 in the playoffs AND ALMOST WON A SUPER BOWL. Not to mention that the 13-6 and playoff appearance since were by a team largely built by Reese.
Steve McNair
Gary Walker
Eddie George
Jon Runyan
Kenny Holmes
Derrick Mason
Kevin Dyson
Samari Rolle
Benji Olson
Jevon Kearse
Keith Bulluck
Erron Kinney
Robaire Smith
Andre Dyson
Justin McCareins
Albert Haynesworth
Justin Hartwig
Carlos Hall
Jacob Bell
Michael Roos
David Stewart
Bo Scaife
Lendale White
Cortland Finnegan
There are stars, important role players on good teams, multiple players STILL starting for them now, including their MOST VALUABLE PLAYER in Haynesworth, both tackles, their best LB, their best CB.
He DRAFTED ALL OF THEM. Florio, where is your head?
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4.35 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
September 26th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Oh, and I also want to state that no way would I want Reese to get hired as the Lions GM because that eliminates any chance of us getting Roy Williams. In case you haven’t heard, the Titans have been making a run at a few good receivers, including Torry Holt and Roy Williams.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
September 26th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Florio quotes Mayhew:
“Matt and I have different viewpoints on a lot of things about football, but I’m a Millen guy,” Mayhew said. “Yesterday was a different day for me. It was a sad day. It was a good day.”
I’m a schizophrenic, and so am I.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
September 26th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
“Floyd Reese is one of the top 5 talent evaluators in the league.”
It’s a wonder he remains unemployed.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 1 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
September 26th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
I think he did a pretty good job. I don’t know what went into making all his decision, but it sound like the owner could have a pretty heavy hand. Lots of talent on the roster and I agree they got into cap hell, but a steady coach and influx of young talent kept them from falling too far. But they are not, regardless of the current record, the favorites to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. It is waaaaaaaay to early to say that. They may be at the end of the season, but to say that after 3 weeks is just ignorant. They wouldn’t even have been a playoff team last year if the Brown hadn’t lost AND the Colts rolled over for them. Stars aligned last year. They have to earn it this year.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
September 26th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Reese was horrible with the salary cap…..period
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 1.5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)