PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- Marty Mornhinweg was composed, not bitter, and even cracked jokes Tuesday, a day after being fired as coach of the Detroit Lions.

Green says no

The Steve Mariucci rumors have already discouraged one high-profile candidate from interviewing for the head coaching job with the Lions. According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, former Vikings coach Dennis Green declined to interview for the job after Lions chief executive Matt Millen could not guarantee him that Mariucci was not a lock for the job if the former 49ers coach wants it. Mariucci was fired by the Niners earlier this month. A high-ranking NFL source told Mortensen on Tuesday that the Lions are having problems attracting minority candidates for their head coaching job, as mandated by league rules.

Mornhinweg said he was "shocked'' and "disappointed,'' to be a former coach. The Oklahoma native spoke from the front step of his porch in suburban Detroit while wearing a gray overcoat, black slacks, loafers and a Super Bowl ring from his stint with the Green Bay Packers.

But Mornhinweg refused to lash out at chief executive Matt Millen, who fired him; the fans, who wanted him fired; or the media, which criticized many of his moves and methods during the past two seasons.

Mornhinweg often talked about how the NFL was a "bottom-line business,'' and even he realized his bottom line of just five wins in 32 games was not good.

"It is a results-oriented business,'' Mornhinweg said. "I understand that. I'm the first to understand that, now. I've been at the very, very top, I've been in the middle and I've been at the bottom.''

The 40-year-old was fired Monday after a 3-13 record this season and a 5-27 record over two years -- the worst two-season stretch in the history of a franchise with only one playoff victory since winning the 1957 NFL title.

"I was shocked,'' he said of reaction when Millen fired him at the team's headquarters in suburban Allen Park.

"There was no explanation. That conversation took two seconds. ... The timing is suspect, but a lot of things aren't fair.''

Mornhinweg refused to shed any light on the perception that his relationship with Millen deteriorated a lot this season.

He was the fifth NFL coach to be fired since the end of the season, following dismissals at Cincinnati, Dallas, Jacksonville and San Francisco.

Millen said he hopes former 49ers coach Steve Mariucci will be a candidate for the job, but would not reveal any other candidates on Monday.

Mornhinweg said he would not be bothered if Mariucci, his former boss in San Francisco, succeeded him.

Mornhinweg, who was 0-16 on the road, matched Chris Palmer's two-year record of futility for a new coach since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978.

Palmer coached the Cleveland Browns in 1999 and 2000. Palmer, though, was coaching an expansion team. Mornhinweg took over a team that went 9-7 and just missed the playoffs.

Ironically, Mornhinweg was scheduled to interview in Cleveland for its head coaching job after Palmer was fired, but Millen hired him before he could fly there two years ago.

"Well, I'll let you tell that one,'' he said of the irony.

Mornhinweg said he was disappointed to be fired midway through his efforts to rebuild the Lions after the organization made a conscious decision to go with young players instead of veterans.

"Now I find myself in a position where I'm unable to finish the job, and really that is the only disappointing thing," he said.

The Lions lost their first 12 games during Mornhinweg's first year and their last eight games this past season. Only Cincinnati finished with a worse record this season.

"If I had a crystal ball two years ago, I would have done some of the same things,'' he said.

Mornhinweg was widely criticized this season for choosing to take the wind instead of the ball after the Lions won an overtime coin toss against Chicago.

The Bears got the kickoff and drove to the winning field goal, after Mornhinweg declined a holding penalty.

Mornhinweg was asked if he thought his legacy would be tied to the much-maligned decision.

"Oh, no. I'd do that again,'' he said.

Later he said with a grin: "When you're going to take the wind in overtime, you'd better have a good defense.''

When Mornhinweg was hired, he set the team's sights on a first Super Bowl trip. The Lions have had only one playoff victory since winning the 1957 NFL title.

"The bar is high,'' he said. "The goal for this organization is to win Super Bowls.''

On Tuesday, he said: "The bar is never, ever lowered.''

After Mornhinweg was fired Monday afternoon, he told his wife Lindsay to round up their two daughters and two sons to have a "family huddle.''

"My oldest daughter wanted to go back to school so she could tell her good friends face-to-face before they heard about it, so I was proud of her about that,'' Mornhinweg said. "What have we got tonight? We've got a little ice skating, gymnastics, my little one, who is about 8, is going to have his tonsils jerked out on Thursday. We're going on about our business. We've got a little basketball coming up. We've got a busy, busy week.''

Mornhinweg was the 49ers' offensive coordinator for four seasons before getting his first head coaching job. The Edmond, Okla., native was a Green Bay assistant for two seasons after being an assistant at six colleges. He played quarterback at the University of Montana and began his coaching career there in 1985.