Denver Broncos blog, news and rumors


FB

[hype it up!]
[Share with Yardbarker]

Published on 12/31/2008 at Wed Dec 31 12:54.
Tagged: ,,,.



Bowlen, Shanahan Emotional in Press Conference

Posted Wed Dec 31st by

Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen addresses the media after announcing he has fired coach Mike Shanahan. (John Leyba/Denver Post)

Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen addresses the media after announcing he has fired coach Shanahan. (John Leyba/Denver Post)

Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen and former Head Coach Mike Shanahan were both visibly and audibly moved during Wednesday’s press conference, where the two men addressed the media after the announcement that Shanahan has been fired.

“I decided to make this change for a number of reasons,” Bowlen said. “I think it was time for the organization to move on and for Mike to move on.”

“I have no regrets in making that decision,” he said. “I have a great deal of respect for Mike, obviously, and will support him as much as I can with anything he wants to do in the future.”

“This is probably as tough as it gets.”

Bowlen went on to say that he doesn’t anticipate hiring a new GM, and that current Vice President of Football Operations/Player Personnel Jim Goodman will continue to work in his same capacity. He says the search for a new Head Coach will begin today, and that he doesn’t have anyone in mind yet.

When Shanahan took the stage, he fought back tears as he thanked dozens of people for their service during his 14 years with the team.

“That’s tough,” Shanahan told reporters after thanking Bowlen with a long pause, “because he’s a great friend. He will always be my great friend. (He’s the) best owner in sports.”

Shanahan made it clear that the Broncos will always hold a special place in his heart.

“People want to be a Denver Bronco. This is the best organization in sports,” Shanahan said. “That’s what the Denver Broncos are. They want to win. They want to be champions. I think we will, in the near future. And I’ll always be part of that, and I’ll always be rooting for them. Hopefully we get it done.”

It was heart wrenching to hear Shanahan talk about the Broncos using the word “we.” He’ll bounce back and do great things for another franchise. And while Shanahan will always be rooting for the Broncos, we at BroncoTalk will always be rooting for him.

  • Ryan M.

    heart wrenching indeed. I feel like a little kid whose parents just got divorced.

  • Broncos Sweetie

    Bowlen you have no regrets now but you will….

    You need to look at your Medical crew now…… You tell me how three Doctors can miss having a quarterback that is a diabetic? Plus the trainers need to condition the players on the off season as well as during the season if they were doing that right we would not have had the injuries like we did… Also how about telling your team to work as a team and not individuals… Tell the multi million dollars babies to shut up and play football that is what they are out there to do and maybe cover the other teams player closer than 10 yards (Bailey)… So Mr. Bowlen crawl back into your luxury box at MILE HIGH and cover up in your fur coat and take a look at what you had and what you will have now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    The last two days have been very upsetting in BRONCOS COUNTRY and it was from a wrong decision. The team lost as a team not because one person didn’t do his job.

  • FamilyForce6

    B Sweetie-
    Give Bowlen the credit he is due. This wasn’t an easy decision for him, but he’s doing what he thinks is best for the organization; I have a feeling it will work out for all parties involved.
    Bowlen has ALWAYS put his checkbook second to winning- winning matters most to him, and that’s more than most NFL cities get. 1 playoff win in 10 or 11 years means it was time for a change. I wish Shanny the best, but I’m excited for what next year holds, a feeling I haven’t had in a LONG time.

  • http://mrherculesrockefeller.blogspot.com hercules rockefeller

    Sweetie sort of has a point here. If you can get through all of the nosenese and exclamation points.

    After reading Fatsis’ book and learning about how he bungled more than one players injury, it’s become apparent that Greek needs to go.

  • http://mrherculesrockefeller.blogspot.com hercules rockefeller

    I can’t believe he’s going to stick w/ the family Goodman and Brian Xanders.

    Who’s going to do the HC search? Goodman or Bowlen?

    I say if you’re going to clean house, then clean it thoroughly.

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    I’m still waiting for the transcript, but if memory serves me, I think Bowlen said that he himself will do the coaching search.

    Meet the new old face of the franchise.

  • BC

    Well Cowher is not interested in the Jets…hmmmm. You have to wonder what he is interested in or if he is waiting until 2010.

    The thought that Bowlen should have sat on it for a while and then made a move is ridiculous. By that time all the prime talent is in a new spot. If a move is going to be made, do it because it will not be any easier later.

    So many suggestions and so little time!

  • rcsodak

    I highly doubt having injuries during a season is the fault of an organization that’s been around as long as denver has. It’s called the NFL. Injuries happen. Frankly, it’s up to the players moreso than the trainers. If the players are cutting corners, they they are the ones that will be paying for it in the end, and also the team, sadly. It’s called self-discipline. But I also doubt players like Champ are in that group, so we end up with the old “injuries happen”.

  • Cb

    They should fire Cutler! He is killing us, by not being a leader. Cutler needs to grow up after all the stuff he did in San Diego. (Throwing Int’s, yelling at his teammates) Then he throws the entire defense under the bus, after the game, and took no ownership in the loss. Cutler needs to get some class if he is going to lead our Broncos. Cutler is now looking like the cry baby, not Rivers. The feud between Cutler and Rivers is B.S. Cutler is the only one who won’t let it go. Rivers and the Chargers seem to be over it already. Oh and who cares if Jay made the Pro Bowl, being the #16 ranked quarter back in the NFl. I would rather be like Rivers and be the #1 ranked QB in the NFL and be in the Playoffs. We need a leader at QB not some one who is going to cry about what another team did or said two years ago. Get over it and play some f***** football. We the Bronco fans deserve better, from the so called leader of our team. Please pick up a QB in the draft, please please please.

  • jvill

    Cb: Please pick up a QB in the draft, please please please.

    Now that’s funny.

  • Bleed Orange and bule

    broncos sweetie. Champ bailey is the best player on our defence. If you want to balme a defensive player look at the over rated dre bly who was constantly burned all year long champ was hurt . Shanny built a pro bowl offence I think he needed one more year to build the D with the 10 draft pics we have it would have been next year. CB, jay cutler is a third year palyer doing the best of all the that draft year. John Elway was not as good as Jay in his third year why the hate. If our defence could stop any team we would not be looking for a new coach that is a fact. I firmly believe this was a mistake, fireing shanny right now due to the toll it will take on the team. I am hard pressed to see another coach be sucessful in the next five year gosh I hope Im wrong.

  • jchase8410

    CB…

    That is the ridiculous thing I have ever read on this site…and there have been some doosies on here. Cutler is the ONLY reason the Broncos won 8 games. His yelling at receivers who kept dropping balls is a show of leadership. Was he supposed to say,”its okay, you’ll get the next one”? You have got to be kidding me! He threw an interception on Sunday because the play calling us horrendous and the Defense knew a bubble screen was coming. You’re going to blame him for a defensive lineman getting a hand on his pass? Come on man, use your brain. It is obvious to me that you don’t know much about the game of football, or you wouldn’t be blaming the guy who was forced into the worst possible situation for a qb to be put in. Zero run threat, zero defense which makes him HAVE to force balls, to try to make things happen for the offense. Over 600 pass attempts and only 18 (roughly) INTs With defenses knowing full well he is going to throw the ball every down. No QB should ever have to shoulder that, but he has with class! I want one instance when Cutler whined about anything. Read football for dummies and learn the game before you run your F-ing mouth!!

  • Paty

    CB
    You don’t even know what your talkin about. Well said jchase Cutler is a leader and the reason we won those eight games.
    Champ is great also he was gone most of the season Bly and Prater have to go.
    And as for Pat Bowlen he sux
    Bad decision cause there is no one else out there available thats going to fill Mike’s shoes.
    I’ve been cryin since yesterday over that loss which topped Sundays loss in SD

  • davismg

    The “ONLY!” Candidate worthy of being the head coach of The Denver Broncos is Urban Meyer. I hope they are considering him but they better have already talked to him because per his contract he can only talk new contracts until Jan 2nd.
    He is a perfect fit, if we got him we would go to lots and lots of
    SuperBowls