Millen Making the Most of His Second Chance : Pro football: After being waived by Raiders in summer of ‘88, veteran linebacker lands on both feet with San Francisco 49ers.

The San Francisco 49ers had just put the finishing touches on a 10-0 start with a 31-7 walloping of Tampa Bay last Sunday, and linebacker Matt Millen was feeling pretty smug.

Football is a funny game. There are team and individual battles to be won and lost. There are clear-cut victors. But the losers always have next week, or even next year.

In the summer of 1988, for instance, Millen was not so happy. Eager to begin his 10th season with his beloved Raiders after making his first Pro Bowl appearance earlier that year, he sensed that all was not well in the Land of Silver and Black. When he didn’t get much playing time during the exhibition season, he told reporters the Raiders were going to waive him.

At least Millen wasn’t surprised when former Coach Mike Shanahan called him into his office and, according to Millen, told him, “You did something, whatever it is.”

But falling from Al Davis’ grace might have been the best thing that ever happened to Millen. He ended up a starter for the 49ers, picked up his third Super Bowl ring and has endured the pain of defeat just twice in a 26-game career with them.

So Millen could count plenty of reasons to smile last Sunday in San Francisco. But then football is a funny game, remember, a ride on an emotional roller-coaster.

A young Tampa Bay lineman (Millen only knew his number, but it was third-year guard John Bruhin) ran up to Millen shouting, “Mr. Millen! Mr. Millen! It was great to play against you today. I can tell my kids someday that I blocked you.”

“You didn’t block me,” Millen growled.

“That made me feel old, baby, old,” said Millen, who’s 32. But then he thought about it for a minute and could smile again.

“The good thing is, I can walk up to (36-year-old Ram tackle) Jackie Slater and say the same thing.”

And, Sunday in Candlestick Park, he probably will. Millen has never been one to keep anything to himself. He always shares his opinions, on the field, in the locker room, anywhere there’s an audience.

“He’s kind of an inspirational, rah-rah, lively kind of person,” 49er Coach George Seifert said, “but he studies and is no-nonsense when it comes to his profession. Plus, he’s a good football player, and for anybody to respect and listen to you, you’ve got to be a productive player on the field and he’s been that.”

Millen plays about 60% of the time, leaving the field in obvious passing situations. Still, he has made 30 tackles and even has an interception. But it wouldn’t matter if he were a third-stringer, the media would still flock to his locker.

You name the subject, and Millen’s ready. He’s always a good quote just waiting to happen. A few examples:

On the motivation of the 49ers:

“I’ve never been one to get a good feel for how a team is. In fact, I’ve always been wrong. But I look at individuals and I see Joe (Montana) feeling like he has something to prove, which amazes me. Monday after the (Tampa Bay) game, I said, ‘That interception, Joe, what the hell were you thinking about?’ I was kidding with him. He was so mad at himself, and he explained the whole thing, step by step. Why he threw the ball. Why he thought he could get it by this guy.

“I was listening to this, and I said to myself, ‘Man, he’s serious about this. So he made a mistake. Big deal.’ I mean, I guess that’s what we’re talking about. He’s so competitive, and he just wants to do so well, when he really has nothing to prove, except to himself I suppose.

“Yeah, these guys have big chips on their shoulders. Yeah.”

On what keeps him going:

“I have something to prove to myself every week. You guys keep writing that I can’t play. It’s just a challenge every week. I love lining up, and I love physically beating people up. Then, when the game’s over, and the guy looks at me, and he knows he couldn’t handle me, that makes me feel good.”

On the adjustments he’s had to make in the twilight of his career:

“To be honest, I’ve not had to do that much. With me, running has always been the prime concern. And I’m moving better now than I did five years ago, by virtue of the fact that I stay under 260 (pounds).

“I still don’t get sore after games, maybe a bump or bruise that’s specific, but other than that . . . I still maintain that I ‘ve haven’t grown up and maybe that’s helped.”

On the chances that the 49ers are looking past Sunday’s game with the Rams to next week’s Monday night game against the 10-0 New York Giants:

Who? Do we play them this year?

On how close he came to signing with the Rams last year:

“The deal was I told them I’d sign in the morning. I apologized to John Robinson last year. I had every intention of signing with them. I woke up the next morning, and I had already told the 49ers, ‘Forget it, I’m going to sign with the Rams.’ But I thought it would be stupid not to at least go up there. Then I got here, and (49er linebacker coach Bob) Zeman was here, and it just felt right.

“It was financially better up here, too, but I had no problems with John Shaw (Ram executive vice president) . In fact, I was impressed with him. Things have worked out great for me up here, but John Robinson was great to me. I just ended up here.”

On the Rams’ problems this season:

“We’re in the same position as (the media). We’re trying to figure it out, too. I tell you, I’m watching that game film, and I don’t see where it’s coming from. On the offensive side of the ball, it’s the same people doing the same things. It’s a good football team. I can’t figure it out.”

On the importance of an owner taking care of the players:

“I think it’s very important. I’ve been fortunate to play for Al (Davis), who always took care of us, and Eddie (DeBartolo Jr.) takes good care of his guys here.

“When you’re winning, it doesn’t matter how they treat you because you’re focused. When times get tough and things aren’t going that great, you start thinking about those things, though. You’re watching the film and you’re watching a guy who’s making $150,000 more than you and you’re a better player and, sure, that (tees) you off.

“I think a mistake a lot of teams make is they don’t take care of a player when they should take care of him. If it ever becomes an issue, then it’s too late. That’s one of the knocks down there (with the Rams). If you have a happy player, you have a better player. It’s kind of silly, actually. I guess you need more golden Mercedes out there.”

On his undying affinity for the Raiders:

“I called (Raider Coach) Art (Shell) after Monday’s game. They look like we used to look like in the early ‘80s. They were coming off the ball. They were playing great defense, just stuffing people. If they play like that all the time, then that’s a tough team to beat.

“My whole professional football life I had been a Raider. When you’ve been with a group that long, that’s a big part of you. I watch them, and I’m cheering for them. But what can I tell you? I’m not there, I’m here.”

On Shell’s role in the resurgence of the Raiders:

Doing a very good Al Davis imitation: “Let me tell ya about the greatness of the Raiduhs . . .

“Oh, sorry, Al. Sorry to butt in on you there. How much is due to Art? A lot of it. As soon as Mike (Shanahan) left, everybody was relieved because he wasn’t a real Raider. Whatever that means. I don’t know what that means, but it must mean something, because as soon as Art came, it was fun again. I’d call guys or they’d call me and we’d talk and they’d say, ‘We’re playing the way it used to be. It feels right.’ So, apparently that means something.”

On the evils of Southern California, (as told to Ann Killion of the San Jose Mercury News):

“The Raiders changed a lot in L.A. I don’t care how vehemently people deny it. I’m telling you point blank, guys changed when they got there. The money changed things and the attitude of Los Angeles changed things. If someone said, ‘Surf’s up,’ the stadium would be empty.

“I used to tell the guys, ‘Don’t get eaten by the monster.’ The attitude pervades that whole area. Nobody is satisfied with who they are. It’s, ‘I’m not really a waiter, I’m really a big TV executive. I just happen to be serving your food.’

“It’s one big lie.”