Denver Broncos blog, news and rumors


FB

[hype it up!]
[Share with Yardbarker]

Published on 03/12/2008 at Wed Mar 12 22:01.
Tagged: ,.



Sundquist “Surprised,” “Disappointed” in Release

Posted Wed Mar 12th by

[Mike Shanahan and Ted Sundquist]

“I had envisioned myself being general manager of the Denver Broncos my entire working life and really thought that would happen. So for it to end this way, I’m very disappointed.”

The shocking news that came earlier tonight was just as much a surprise to the man it involved as it was to the rest of us. Ted Sundquist had no idea he was about to be fired; according to statements made to the Rocky Mountain News, he was just getting out of a day’s worth of meetings with the team’s scouts when he was called into Head Coach Mike Shanahan‘s office and fired.

Owner Pat Bowlen and upper personnel assistants Jim Goodman and Joe Ellis did not return calls to the Rocky.

“I’m proud of what I accomplished as general manager of this football team,” Sundquist said.

Ted, you should be.

What the hell is going on in Denver? Firing the GM a month before the draft? Sure, his blog trying to justify his personnel decisions was a little odd, and yeah, he was part of a brutally bad draft in 2003, but I thought he really came on strong, especially in 2006.

I never had a problem with Sundquist as the GM. Without him, would the Broncos have Champ Bailey, Dre Bly, or even Jay Cutler? This is just a shame… this has “scapegoat” written all over it, and I just have this disgusting feeling in the pit of my stomach after finding out he was fired.

  • danh

    Kyle, you’re absolutely right about scapegoat. I’m also thinking that Bowlen and Shanahan both are thinking that it is time to get a fresh mind in the GM seat because the organization hasn’t improved much in the last few years.

    The NFL’s new thing now is young and fresh..

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Jonathan Douglas

    …wow… just wow…

    I’m in the same boat as Kyle… my stomach hurt this morning when I read this news. I like Ted, and with Shanahan truly having the final say, it’s impossible to blame Sundquist 100% for any of the personnel moves they’ve made. To be honest, I always saw Ted as the guy who would do the research and relay that info and his opinions to the Boss Man for a decision. That seems even more evident with Ted making comments like:

    “The question isn’t whether Mike is getting the right advice, as much as how it is being used.” — Ted Sundquist 3/12/08

    In the end, I just can’t figure out why removing someone with that amount of experience with the organization (and Shanahan) makes sense this close to the draft…

    …maybe Ted really pushed hard to bring in Bates? Now THAT would be reason to cut him loose.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    Kizla’s article in the Post is definitely an eye opener, see Daily Links