Broncos react to Allen departure

Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen answers questions from the media after the team's NFL football practice, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012, in Englewood, Colo. The Broncos are scheduled to play the New England Patriots in an AFC divisional playoff game on Saturday, Jan. 14 in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez)

Denver Broncos players, coaches, and staff react to the news that defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who played a huge part in the Broncos’ 2011 turnaround, has left to become the head coach of the Oakland Raiders.

Cornerback Champ Bailey —

“To be selfish, I want him to be here because I want that stability,” Champ Bailey said last week, when Allen was interviewing for a different head coaching opportunity. After hearing the news yesterday, Bailey simply praised his former coach.

“He knew how to get us ready,” Champ Bailey told the NFL Network. “I give him a lot of credit for the success we had this year… He’s one of the most intense coaches I’ve had.”

Linebacker Von Miller —

“They’re getting a guy that’s going to come in right away, and he’s going to get it done,” Von Miller told NFL Network. “That’s what he did for us. He came in, he laid out a plan for us, he told us, ‘This is how we’re going to do it, and this will work,’ and that’s what happened. We improved our defense an incredible amount… I think he’ll do the same thing with the Oakland Raiders.”

Linebacker Robert Ayers —

“4th Defensive Coordinator in 4yrs,” Ayers tweeted. “Congrats to Coach Allen… But ones things go sure Coach Fox and Staff will hire a good one.. Look forward to working wit whoever…”

Unfortunately coaching and player changes is a apart of the business.. I wish Coach Allen and his family the best..

— Robert Ayers Jr (@1_900_ayersjr) January 25, 2012

Defensive Line Coach Wayne Nunnely —

Denver’s defensive line coach, Wayne Nunnely, said it would be a big blow for the Broncos to lose him, but commented on how great Allen would be for the Raiders. Nunnely said, “He’s a great leader, organized. I think he does a great job in preparing gameplans as well as getting the players (ready to play). He does a great job in front of the players… He’ll do a good job. And really, he’s young and he’s energetic and that type of stuff, and has a great football mind and he’ll do a great job. A great, great job.”

VP of Public Relations Jim Saccomano —

“Congrats to Dennis Allen on being hired as head coach — it is the aspiration of everyone in coaching, and he is truly a good guy,” Saccomano tweeted. “Fox & the Broncos know that good people sometimes move on, and team will move on as well. Lots of coaching talent in the pool.”

The Dennis Allen hire shows again that never a dull moment in NFL or w/Broncos.Exciting times 24/7/365.#fb

— Jim Saccomano (@broncos_sacco) January 25, 2012

Quotes via Predominantly Orange, MaxDenver.com, Yahoo! Sports, Twitter.