The answer? Two. One to screw in the light bulb and another to draft an overrated skill position player in the first round of another NFL draft. Lions fans had clearly grown unfathomably sick of being the brunt of all NFL jokes. With lines like, “…and that’s why you’re the Lions” it must have been hard to make it through the past seven years in Detroit.

Matt Millen, a former all-American defensive tackle at Penn State who had moderate success in the NFL before becoming the color guy for MNF radio broadcasts, was hired to be the president of the Detroit Lions in 2001. The events that ensued are so intensely awful that a disclaimer should be required before any form of media lists them consecutively for fear that it could cause a spike in the number of brain aneurysms in the state of Michigan.

During his unfortunate reign as GM of the Lions, Millen plagued the team with indefensible mistakes in the war room on draft day, inept trades that showed no possible upside, and nearly no initiative to acquire talent in the off-season.

Millen’s reign of terror, however, came to an abrupt end Wednesday as the Ford family seemed to realize that the fans were ready to unify and revolt. Likely after picturing his head on a stake outside Ford Field, William Clay Ford Jr. spoke up early in the week calling for something to be done about the situation. Just days later, the decision was handed down and a press conference announced.

The dramatic effects Millen has had on the Lions organization will linger for quite some time as the Lions enter a rebuilding stage. The team needs an overhaul on the defensive side of the ball and, with an aging Jon Kitna and mediocre backfield headlining the offense, it will be quite some time before the Lions are relevant again.

But, the one immediate effect that the firing of Millen could have on Detroit football is that the organization may now see some light at the end of the tunnel. Head coach Rod Marinelli may be able to stop walking on egg shells and have the opportunity to actually coach his football team. The Fords can now put someone in charge who might want to bring talent INTO Detroit as opposed to avoiding it like a coughing stranger on the subway.

Expect more productive draft choices, a lack of bonehead trades (seriously, what did Millen think he was getting in Tatum Bell?), and possible free agent acquisitions. The Lions may actually catch on and start taking part in NFL off-seasons like a real, contending organization. If they man up and make a smart move or two, the Lions are a couple of key acquisitions away from mattering again.