Walter Football Invokes Matt Millen Over Emeka Egbuka Selection
July 16th, 2025
“Pete, you know this Walter Football character?”
Whenever Joe reads or hears this, it makes Joe sad.
There were few better, more tougher ballplayers than Matt Millen. This is a guy Joe still thinks ought to be in the Hall of Fame.
Millen was both an excellent linebacker and a winner. Won at Penn State. Won rings with the Raiders, the 49ers and the Redskins. Not too many guys won a Super Bowl with three NFL teams.
And Millen was both a smart player and an enforcer. He famously decked New England general manager Patrick Sullivan after a playoff game for Sullivan constantly running his mouth at Howie Long.
Oh, and the Patriots suit Millen blasted just happened to be the son of the owner, too. LOL
Joe loved how Millen was as old school, gritty and tough as they came.
And, as a network analyst, he looked to be the heir apparent to John Madden. You know, emotional tough guy who enthusiastically applauded good physical play.
But Millen’s golden reputation was thrown away when he took a gig as Lions general manager/president (2001-2008). The Lions were awful and way too many people have no clue about Millen the player or Millen the broadcaster as a result.
And way too many wiseacres always take potshots at him as a result. #Sad
Walter Cherepinsky is one of those people. The man who goes by the moniker of his website, WalterFootball.com, Joe normally likes Cherepinsky’s site. But sometimes with really dumb comments, Joe has to take an exception.
In his 2025 preview of the Bucs, Cherepinsky continued his diatribe that he began this spring against Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht.
Cherepinsky was so outraged Licht drafted Emeka Egbuka at No. 19, Cherepinsky has been on the warpath since, labeling Licht as “Millen” for his grade of Licht drafting Egbuka.
19. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State – MILLEN Grade
HUUUUHHHHHH!?!??! What a strange pick. The Buccaneers not only re-signed Chris Godwin; they also drafted Jalen McMillan last year. Oh, and they have Mike Evans. Why do they need another receiver? What about the horrible defense? What is happening with this bizarre draft? This is a reach, and it doesn’t fill a need at all. A team drafting too many receivers sounds like a Millen to me.
Joe thought Cherepinsky was smarter than this.
First, when Mike Evans and Chris Godwin were both out last season, the Bucs’ production from receivers was downright terrible.
Second, Evans is in a contract year. Does Cherepinsky know Evans will return or even play? That would be a helluva scoop. Joe can tell you the Bucs don’t even know.
Third, apparently, Cherepinsky is also a psychic. How does Cherepinsky know Godwin will even suit up Week 1, much less be back 100 percent after having his ankle destroyed last season?
Joe thinks Cherepinsky is much better than this. Referring to Licht as “Millen” because he drafted Egbuka is really sloppy research. Cherepinsky should be above such baseless knee-jerk reactions.
July 16th, 2025 at 10:38 am
You go Joe! You go Joe! Stay on WalterFootball’s neck!
July 16th, 2025 at 10:44 am
Great players are always great picks. Will Meka be great? Who knows? The problem with Millen’s picks of WR three years in a row is they all stunk (unless one of them was Calvin Johnson. I don’t care enough about the Lions to know that).
I agree with you about our near future status at WR. Too hard to know what 2026 will look like. Either way Jose we will find out.
Slight disagreement on Millen. I think he belongs in the HoVG and not quite the HoF (much like Howie Long).
July 16th, 2025 at 10:55 am
Well, we know what opinions are like, and there are plenty of them around this year, grading this and that, listing, ranking, rating, and predicting. Literally, it’s meaningless Bee Ess season. I don’t put stock in what any of them say, positive or negative. Don’t care. Have better things to do.
July 16th, 2025 at 11:04 am
Joe that was an excellent post.
The topic and the content were spot on!
And it was just an excellent balanced rant illustrated with specific examples and yet just making the point not trying to destroy Walter.
And the ending was perfect…”Joe thinks Cherepinsky is much better than this. Referring to Licht as “Millen” because he drafted Egbuka is really sloppy research. Cherepinsky should be above such baseless knee-jerk reactions.”
I think I feel this way about a LOT of “experts” and posters here as well. I like them all but sometimes they surprise me not in a good way.
July 16th, 2025 at 11:05 am
We can’t all be as logical and unemotional as you Joe!
July 16th, 2025 at 11:33 am
I believe Joe is the first person in Bucs land to introduce us to the possibility of Egbuka being our number one pick. Heck of a call on a heck of a player. But PSL Bob, although his logic may be unassailable his emotional investment is certainly debatable.
July 16th, 2025 at 11:42 am
Oh Well
July 16th, 2025 at 11:44 am
Joe can’t take credit for that. Did say *if* Bucs would go with receiver at No. 19, that Egbuka was a Chris Godwin clone and would be a perfect fit.
Thought surely Licht was going defense at No. 19. “Other Joe” was barking about going receiver in Round 1.
Appreciate the kind words, but can’t take credit for that one.
July 16th, 2025 at 11:52 am
Bucky Brooks had the Bucs taking Ebuka back in January/February on his first couple mocks but then he felt the peer pressure and started picking Campbell (I think… defensive players either way) in his final two mocks.
He should have stuck to his guns… at least on pick 19.
July 16th, 2025 at 12:31 pm
Who was the worst GM in the NFL – Matt Millen or Mark Dominik?
It’s a close race…
What a total ridiculous take on our #19 pick Egbuka.
Mike Evans (who I love) is no spring chicken.
Chris Godwin is still healing from a nasty ankle injury.
McMillan is a solid WR3/WR4 but not a star.
Our head coach (who is a defensive coach) has stated “you can’t win games in the NFL unless you score points”.
I absolutely love the Egbuka pick. The few haters don’t really know or don’t truly follow the Bucs.
Typical A-hole talking head statement – “oh lookie the Bucs have Evans and Godwin and McMillan – they don’t need Egbuka”
Get a life losers…
July 16th, 2025 at 1:14 pm
Millen is to Lions fan as Lovie is to Bucs fan. Ask a chicago fan, and they love Lovie. It’s all a matter of perspective. So no hate on Millen haters here. What have you done lately…. run a franchise into the ground while flaunting your rings. The best employees don’t always make the best managers
July 16th, 2025 at 1:19 pm
Your comment about production being terrible with Godwin and Evans out is right. If those two played that stretch I bet Mayfield has 5,000 yards, 50 tuddies, and we win those games.
Let’s hope for an amazing season with no injuries
July 16th, 2025 at 1:44 pm
I used to enjoy that website, but they are awful at analysis and predictions despite trying to portray themselves as one of the best.
Here is walterfootball prediction for the Bucs last year.
2024 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Analysis: The Buccaneers were extremely fortunate to win nine games last year. They lucked into numerous victories while playing in the worst division in the NFL. With the Falcons and Panthers improving, variance may move against Tampa Bay in 2024. A natural regression to the mean seems very likely.
Projection: 5-12
July 16th, 2025 at 3:01 pm
The Bucs lost all four games when Evans and Godwin were hurt. Obvious pick.
July 16th, 2025 at 3:26 pm
Especially since there are question marks about the near future of both Evans and Godwin.
July 16th, 2025 at 3:56 pm
Walter Football used to be a pretty good football site with some knowledge takes – but wow, that is beyond stupid. Licht sort of has a record, so to compare him to Millen is retarded, and there’s the fact Evans is aging with 1 year left on his deal, and Godwin is coming off a major injury and likely won’t be ready until well into the season, and even then likely won’t be 100%. The team wins because of the offense, and while one pick won’t magically fix the defense, it might save the offense if anything happens to Evans and Godwin isn’t ready to go – as we saw last year when we lost both of them, along with McMillan, and were reduced to starting preseason 6th and 7th string WRs.
July 16th, 2025 at 3:58 pm
The pick…says to me…we are not 100% with our WR future.
that’s fine…but say that instead of BPA crap
Godwin might not be progressing how they hoped…maybe Mike said he may retire. Whatever. Just don’t tell me it’s raining…LOL
July 16th, 2025 at 4:22 pm
JMac & Egbuka are the succession plan, if people can’t see that then they’re blind and think we’re just drafting for what we need year to year instead of projecting for roster scenarios in the not so distant future. Don’t need the Webb Telescope to see that
July 16th, 2025 at 5:04 pm
I’d also argue that Egbuka was not a “reach”. A reach is what teams do when they are trying to fill a desperate need at a position and REACH for a guy who should be drafted much later due to that need. Clearly that is not the case here. In fact, many pundits proclaimed Emeka the most NFL-ready day one receiver in the draft.
July 16th, 2025 at 6:05 pm
Fair chance this is Mike’s last year, and EE will be a high production receiver on a rookie contract for the next 4 years
July 16th, 2025 at 7:28 pm
Never heard of this guy. Now I know why.
July 16th, 2025 at 8:14 pm
Can’t wait to see Walter groveling to Joes like that maroon Conor Orr.
You go Joe! You go Joe!
July 16th, 2025 at 11:53 pm
Millen kept drafting WRs because he kept swinging and missing. Licht drafted EE because he has a plan. What a terrible analogy and take.
July 17th, 2025 at 1:35 am
As much as I loved Millen the player, Millen the broadcaster and his toughness. I was shocked he was chosen as Lions GM. That was a disaster waiting to happen. Smart dude but he had no business calling shots in Detroit. This Cherepinsky needs to get his head examined. Can you say Super Bowl winning GM sir? Geez!
Go Bucs!