A Case for Cowher

The door has been cracked open, ever so slightly:

“I'm open to listen to opportunities,” Cowher said in an online USATODAY.com chat.

“I'm very comfortable at CBS. I'll keep all my options open. And I'll only answer those questions at the end of the season. I'm not going to comment on any hypothetical situations until the entire season is over.”

The problem is, in addition to the Broncos, there are countless other realistic opportunities for Cowher, many of which are expressing the same interest in him as the fans in Denver.

Carolina, his home state is likely to make the change. Dallas needs a permanent head coach. The other possibilities include the Giants, the Bills, the Niners, Houston and Tennessee, among others.

It will cost a bundle to land Cowher, and we are already owing nearly $7M for 2011 in Shanahan and McDaniels money. I'd say Cowher may be a dream coach, but for the Broncos, it looks like a pipe-dream.

Remember there is also the possibility that we won’t have to pay McD’s salary (I believe that is still a possibility). That aside though it shouldn't matter how much it cost. If Bowlen wants to win, he needs to pay to get it. I am tired of our cheap ways lately (or find a diamond in the rough attitude). I am not saying Cowher is the answer, but he would def be a step in the right direction. I agree with Big Pete as well. No matter who we choose we def need a GM as well. I would actually prefer getting a GM and letting him handpick the coach as some of the people in here and in past articles have discussed. Go Broncos!!

You're right, of course. But Pat Bowlen has always honored his contracts to the letter and Joe Ellis has already stated in public that the “Spygate” affair was not a “fireable” offense.

I am in complete agreement with you and “Big_Pete” regarding the need for a strong and experienced General Manager. The “X-Man” needs to go, or stay as a contract specialist, but keep his nose out of player personnel.

hey ian henson, how can we as fans get the broncos management to seek the option of coach cowher, in denver. we need experience and someone who nows how to play in the playoffs, to shape the broncos and take advantage of the great team we have.

Cower had his day in Coaching but I think this would be a step backwards and only delay things. I dont think he is fresh and maybe he lost something being out of the scene for so long. Bad Idea

Two years ago, I was all for hiring Cowher. Thought it was odd he wasn't even on the short list and assumed that it was because Bowlen wanted to move away from Coach/GM model and Cowher had made it clear to the NY Jets he wanted the final say football decisions. Now, I don't think we should go anywhere near this guy. One, he basically mailed it in the year after the Steelers' Super Bowl win. We watch a lot of Steeler football in this house and it was clear that whole year Cowher could care less. Two, his wife passed away last year. That's a huge loss for anyone and I'm not sure he would have the same fire he had in Pittsburgh after that. He's been sitting on his butt in a studio for a number of years, the NFL is such a grind. I'm not sure anyone would want to jump into that after such a huge loss. And three, the Broncos need a GM. Someone who Bowlen trusts and let that guy hire the next coach.

I have written many times now that coaches such as Cowher and Gruden are going to want almost complete control of personnel decisions within the orgainization. Even the owner admitted Josh was unable to handle the job of personnel. Many argue it was all the management and control that lead to Shanny's downfall. Haven't we seen enough of this as Bronco Fans? It is a full time job just doing the coaching responsibilites. Gruden and Cowher are going to go to a team with all the pieces in place to make a run at the super bowl. They are going to want full control. They have too much at stake than to risk their reputations on a team in complete disarray such as the Broncos. Another reason to pass on talking heads is they have been away from the game for a while now. Unless Bill Parcels is ready for another challenge, I say move on and find some Defensive coach, with lots of experience that is looking for a head coach position. When McD took over, we needed Defense. Now we are very clearly in a complete rebuilding mode. Find someone that has the desire and hunger to be a winner and combine that with experience on the sideline, thats when you will find the NEXT Cowher. That's who we need.

This is the best way, they read our blogs. You see the voice of the fan was one of the major contributing factors to getting rid of Josh McDaniels.

Really? Why?

ian, You are out of your mind. It took Cowher 15 years to win 1 Suprbowl with Pitt. Tony Dungy set up Gruden in Tampa Bay. We don't need has beens, we need future and someone who know defense BRONCO defense. DO YOU REMEMBER ORANGE CRUSH?

i agree 10000000 percent

Cowher would an excellent choice, but I don't think there is a snow ball's chance in hell of landing him.

Kubiak is certainly a possibility, but to your point Ian, what has he really done in Houston? They have a fair amount of talent, but have not cracked the playoff code.

Ron Rivera is going to be a candidate and I think would be a good choice IF he hires a good OC (maybe Kubiak).

Nolan is an option and I still think Wies will make a very good NFL HC.

Bottom line is Ellis and Bowlen cannot afford to make another mistake.
This entire coaching staff is weak so the next guy is going to have to be someone that can attract top coaching talent. That was one of the issues with hiring a 32 year old McD. Who would want to tudor under a 32 year old?

Kuboak may not have taken houston to the playoffs while he has been there, but u gotta realize that he's been the coach of houston pretty much since its inception into the league, so that means he started with nothing and built what he has today, which is a very goos squad of guys. he brought in andre johnson, arguably the best reciever in the nfl, hes mad matt shaub look like a superstar(lead the league last year in passing yard), he signed a running back that no one was looking at in arian foster, who turned out to be very good, he also brought in one of the best TE's in the league in owen daniels, his offensive line is goos and knows how to run the zone blocking scheme to a T, he's got a front 7 with a very high potential with amobe okoye, mario williams, and bryan cushing. i mean this guy started with nothing and brought this team to where they could be playoff bound every year. they've been on the cusp of stardom for a while and i think if they were to get a little bit better and more consistant from year to year on the defensive side of the ball, they could do great things. plus kubs hass figure out how to beat the colt, something shannahan never figured out. those are all great reason to bring him in should he get fired. and all of that is on top of the histiry he has in denver and the fact that he might be reuniting with Elway.

Amen! Please, if not Cowher then another defensive mind. Hire a J.McD type offensive coordinator to compliment.

COWHER NEEDS TO GET AHOLD OF A PERSON THAT KNOW FOOTBALL LIKE JOHN SUPERBOWL ELWAY TO TALK SENCE TO PAT………

Why not Jon Gruden, I t5hink he's a great coach?

Coach Cower still has the creds but I agree we need a new GM and someone who knows how to build another Orange Crush. We should also be trying to keep Champ Baily around, even if it means moving him to safety to extend his career. Thank God we'll have Elvis back next year, then with DJ and Mays we'd have a decent core to build on.

call 303 649 9000 and let them know how you feel

John Fox is a bright idea if our new GM wants him. His ego won't be as titanic as over-pursued and possibly over-the-hill name coaches like Cowher and the schizophrenic Gruden (who over-praises in front of the camera to make up for his image as a vilifying and cantankerous task-master behind closed-doors).

But Gruden and Fox failed due to a lack of talent. So they are under-valued commodities (and Gruden is signaling that he likes Tebow).

Hopefully, Carolina beats Atlanta the final week (if the Falcons rest their thressome in anticipation for playoffs). If we get the 1st overall instead of Detroit, Carolina and Cincy, Kubes and Elway will be dying to come here to coach up Andrew Luck (who, with Tebow, could be the Denver version of Montana and Young…. making each other better in a league where QB injuries are becoming quite expected) .

If no Mallett, Locker or Luck is drafted by us, I'd hire an ex-Lefty QB like Esiason or Young as a training-camp assistant to impart their moves to Tebow in a way he can more easily model himself after. I know they are on TV, but maybe a one-year contract to work in training-camp could be allowed without breaking their broadcasting contract?

But I wouldn't mind a guy like Fox with much to prove after Jerry Richardson let Peppers go and the organization founder. He nearly beat NE in the Super Bowl and will solidify the defense.

However, I would really like to know who's an up-and-comer in Pittsburgh's or Baltimore's front-office (as shopping for the players is the real key in maximizing draft value). And they are the ones who will really know where the next head-coaching Mike Smith or Raheem Morris is waiting to be found. Leslie Frazier is mentioned, but I worry about guys who build their reps on superior talent like McDaniels, Spagnuolo or even Perry Fewell (who did, however, manage to get Buffalo turned around in late 2009).

However, Rob Ryan or some Eagles assistants like their long-time hispanic offensive-line coach– whose name I can't recall– are hard-working and charismatic assistants with promise. Particularly players-favorite Rob Ryan who has experience turning an average Cleveland defense into a bunch of aggressive, over-achievers who are unafraid of penetrating the backfield with unorthodox methods.

I'd also investigate trading Moreno and Eddie Royal to Miami, Orton to Miami or Minnesota and maybe gaining a hidden value at 3-4 DE like Kendall Langford of the Dolphins (who is another developing star like Cameron Wake and Niners DT Aubrayo Franklin were last year). In fact, I can see a blockbuster trade with Miami where they get their second-rounder back in exchange for their 1st round pick that we could use for a tougher inside runner like Mark Ingram. We may also be able to obtain under-rated TE Anthony Fasano, particularly if they think Moreno has just been snake-bit by injuries and an inconsistent O-line (that they would be able to improve behind Jake Long and Incognito). After all, Miami is looking to replace Brown and Williams, and Orton can be their Chad Pennington insurance-QB until they see how Henne does in his critical third campaign. Experience hooking up on short patterns with Brandon Marshall could also make him attractive. And that would allow Denver to bring in Mallett behind Tebow and Quinn, while trading Moreno and Royal for a more-physical 1st round runner and either Langford or Fasano.

I'd love to get Rob Ryan at head-coach to implant a more aggressive defense that allows us to penetrate the opponent's backfield as much as Oakland and everyone else does to Denver usually.

But our offense has too many offensive question-marks for that to occur (with Demaryius, Zane, J.D. and Tebow having an unclear status). So, perhaps an experienced offensive-mind like Montreal Alouettes Head-Coach Marc Trestman or someone familiar with Oregon's trendy line-splitting O-line movements could supplement a defensive head-coach like Rob Ryan or John Fox.

Jeff Fisher could be the victim of ownership favoring Vince Young. But his price tag and desired say-so in personnel probably don't make a good- fit in Denver (even though Bowlen is doubtlessly attracted to his conservative company-man credentials and across-the-board experience).

So, I'd take a risk on a maverick players-coach with some moxie and desire to upend the risk-averse conventions that hobble most coaches who would rather lose normally than risk the Monday Morning second-guessing of ignorant sports columnists.

That's Rob Ryan and I hope Bowlen doesn't pass on interviewing him like he did with brother Rex. We need someone to bring the fire back and Rob would be the most driven coach out there.