Willis apologizes for blasting Millen

SANTA CLARA -- One day after blasting Super Bowl-winning-linebacker-turned-analyst Matt Millen, 49ers All-Pro Bowl Patrick Willis apologized."A lot of times I don't just come off and have a lot to say about anything anybody has to say," Willis said Tuesday. "It was kind of emotional, especially coming off that game. I probably said some things I probably wouldn't ordinarily say. So apologize for those things. I have all the respect in the world for those guys who've played this game before me and played at a high level."On Monday, Millen told 95.7 The Game that in reviewing the film of the 49ers' 26-3 loss to the New York Giants he had never seen Willis and NaVorro Bowman play worse together.Willis, appearing on 95.7 a little later, heard what Millen said and did not hold back."Whoever this Matt Millen guy is, I'd like to ask him if he could do what we do every day and do what we do for 16 games a year and see if he can hold up every game," Willis said. "I doubt he would. I doubt he would be able to consistently play at a high level as Bowman and I do. I really don't care about what this guy has to say."Millen played 12 NFL seasons at inside linebacker with the Raiders, 49ers and Redskins. He made the Pro Bowl once during his career, and played on three Super Bowl-winning teams.
After watching the film, Willis said he does not believe the 49ers' defense played poorly until the end of Sunday's game."You go back and watch it, and it's not as bad as people say it was," Willis said. "It kind of got bad at the end of the last drive. But you just have to finish, no matter what."But, again, my thoughts are, you when you go out and make the same mistakes when you win, nobody says anything. It's water under the bridge and they're patting you on the back. But as soon as you lose, they find every little critical thing to criticize you over."The 49ers allowed just 61 yards rushing on 19 carries through three quarters. The Giants finished with 16 rushes for 91 yards in the fourth quarter alone before Eli Manning finished the game with two kneeldowns.Said 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, "We got to take on our blocks better. We have to play more physical in the front seven, get off blocks better and tackle better. In the fourth quarter last week, we didn't get that done."It was sup-par for all of us in that fourth quarter, in particular. We didn't play the run well."