Matt Millen’s son punched him for Detroit Lions draft day blunder

Although he was known for dishing out punishment during his 12-year career as a NFL linebacker, Matt Millen was the one taking punches during his tenure as top executive for the Detroit Lions. Figuratively, and apparently, literally.

Millen reveals in the latest episode of NFL Films' Emmy-nominated series “A Football Life” that his son, Matthew, punched him when he picked wide receiver Mike Williams in the first round of the 2005 draft instead of defensive end DeMarcus Ware.

"He still punches me," Millen said while talking about Matthew. He has a good reason to: Williams never amounted to much as a pro player and Ware has gone to seven Pro Bowls and recorded 115 sacks.

"DeMarcus Ware -- it wasn't even close. You put the tape on, you see [the ability]. ... I just capitulated. It's nobody's fault but my own,” Millen said.

That wasn’t Millen’s only blunder during his time in Detroit. The Lions went 31-84 from 2001 to 2008 while he served as their CEO and president.

"It's part of what you've done, it's part of what you are," Millen said. "But it's not like I hide from it. There was no success there, but anything you say about it sounds like an excuse, and I'm not about excuses. They're reasons after the fact. What can you say? ... You're better off saying nothing. They're my mistakes. ... I didn't pick the right guys."

Millen did draft the player many consider to be the top wide receiver in the NFL today, Calvin Johnson.