If you’re a coaching candidate looking for the best possible situation, the Denver Broncos Head Coaching position is, without a doubt, the best opening available right now. They’re committed to winning and have a terrific owner in Pat Bowlen.

If you’re a team without a Head Coach, Mike Shanahan has to be atop your short list of candidates. He’s as qualified, if not more so, than anybody on the market.

So let’s all match up the top team with the top coach. I’m sure the Broncos would be happy to have the top candidate, and I’m sure Shanahan would be happy to go to the top team.

Please?

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. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

The biggest Denver Broncos press conference since John Elway retired will take place at 11 a.m. MST in Dove Valley Headquarters Wednesday. Owner Pat Bowlen will discuss the firing of Head Coach/Executive VP Mike Shanahan, and the Mastermind will take the stand shortly thereafter.

We’ll be covering the event live-blog-style, so be sure to join us for instant thoughts, quotes, and commentary.

In the meantime, take a trip down Memory Lane and watch the 1995 press conference where Bowlen introduces Shanny as his new Head Coach. Video.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

New York
12/30/08

Mike Shanahan congratulates Norv Turner, following the Broncos final loss under Shanahan.

I started this column yesterday, to address things that hadn’t really been touched on too much yet (Broncos 2009 schedule, #12 overall draft pick, again, maybe mentioning free agency)- then BANG! Like a misplaced shot from a current Vice President, former Wyomingite, to the face- Mike Shanahan is gone.

All because he refused to fire Bob Slowik, that Bob Slowik, ask a Green Bay Packers fan what their last season was like under Slowick or even look-up a Cleveland Browns fan, see what they tell you about him. This isn’t something that we shouldn’t have expected, the loss of Slowick. What was it in Shanahan that had him refuse an order from Pat Bowlen?

Was Shanahan trying to be fired? Does he have his aim at another coaching position- elsewhere in the NFL? College Football? Mind you that source is the same source that had Shanahan approaching a coaching vacancy with the Michigan Wolverines last summer. Shanahan is quite the chess player though and it’ll be interesting if he brings Slowick with him to the next job.

Maybe it was Bowlen playing chess, calling on Slowick to be fired and then hollering, “Checkmate!” as Shanahan walked himself into the bayonet. Maybe Bowlen had an ulterior motive. Fans are certainly praying that he does in fact have a plan- to this writer it seems as though this may not have been as much a calculated move as two old men pissing on each other. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Mike Shanahan has been fired, and Jay Cutler is not happy. Per the Rocky Mountain News:

“I’m disappointed, I’m shocked, I’m not happy about it, I’m not pleased with it at all,” Cutler said by phone Tuesday. “We had zero inkling this was going to happen. I didn’t have a clue.” …

“I think with the offensive staff we had, we were moving ahead,” Cutler said. “I had just met with Mike to go over everything, talk about the things we wanted to do, make sure we were going the right way on offense.” …

“I hope it all works out. But I know I’m disappointed, I’m not happy, and it’s a lot to think about. I just want to continue the things were able to do this year on offense and get better all the time.”

At the least, a once clear direction for the franchise has turned cloudy. I’m still speechless…

Mike Shanahan is no longer the Head Coach of the Denver Broncos.

Owner Pat Bowlen announced that he has fired Shanahan, who also serves as Executive Vice President of Football Operations, effective immediately, after an 8-8 season and missing the playoffs for the third straight year.

Broncos owner Pat Bowlen issued the following statement: “After giving this careful consideration, I have concluded that a change in our football operations is in the best interests of the Denver Broncos. This is certainly a difficult decision, but one that I feel must be made and which will ultimately be in the best interests of all concerned.”

Bowlen added, “I appreciate the 21 years that Mike Shanahan has given to the organization as an assistant and head coach, and the two Super Bowl wins in that time. His contributions hold a special place in Broncos history.”

Bowlen and Shanahan will both address the media at 11am tomorrow.

Wow. I’m floored. I thought, for certain, Shanahan had one year left at least. Huge, huge news.

DENVER BRONCOS 2009 SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED »

Well, we can say this about 2009, it certainly won’t be any easier… Though it’s been no secret that Denver would face the NFC East and the AFC North in 2009. What people weren’t sure about was who those last two-teams would be; the Broncos drew the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots.

Here are the Broncos opponents for anyone who hasn’t had a peak just yet:

Home: Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants.

Away: Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins.

That’s a whole lot of teams that made the playoffs (7) and teams that could have made the playoffs (Patriots, Redskins)- plus the Raiders and Chiefs are only looking to get better. The Broncos go from having one of the easiest schedules in 2008 (strength of schedule wise) to having one of the most difficult in 2009 (only behind the Chargers).

So much for enjoying a much-improved 2008 season. After the 2007 season, the Denver Broncos (7-9) drafted 12th overall. After 2008, the Broncos (8-8) will do the same.

Thanks to trades made during and before the season, the Broncos have ten total draft choices, in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 5th, 5th, 6th, 6th, 7th, and 7th rounds.

The 2009 NFL Draft will take place on April 25th and 26th. AFC West rival Chiefs, Raiders, and Chargers will tentatively draft 3rd, 7th, and 16th respectively.

Due to strength of schedule tiebreakers, the Broncos are the first of five 8-8 teams to draft. No complaints here, though; if we’re out of the playoffs, might as well enjoy the best possible draft position. I’m all about the defense this April – let’s do everything possible to get a respectable, if not dominant, unit out there on the field.

Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Bob Slowik (AP Photo)

Should the Denver Broncos fire defensive coordinator Bob Slowik?

Arguments for letting Slowik go: This was the worst defensive performance the Broncos have had in years, and it took place at the most crucial time. The Broncos allowed 52 points in the final piece of an epic late season collapse, losing the AFC West lead and championship they held all season long. They allowed over 200 yards rushing, and the defense allowed the Chargers offense to score on nearly every possession.

Just last week, the Buffalo Bills, the league’s 28th-ranked offense, scored touchdowns on several consecutive drives to upset the Broncos in the second half. Earlier in the year, they also allowed putrid offenses in the Chiefs and Raiders to blow us out earlier in the year.

Check out more arguments for and against firing Slowik and take the poll »

Mike Shanahan looks on during the Broncos loss to the Panthers. (Getty Images)

UPDATE: Mike Shanahan has been fired.

I fully expect Mike Shanahan to be the Head Coach of the Denver Broncos in 2009.

Will Pat Bowlen fire him? It’s very unlikely. Bowlen has given him “Coach for Life” status.

Will Shanahan resign after missing the playoffs in three straight seasons? Probably not, but at this point, it seems the only way he would go.

But I’m officially putting Shanahan on the hot seat. And I’m making my case crystal clear: if the Broncos don’t make the playoffs in 2009, I’ll join the throng of anti-Shanahan fans and ask for his job after the season.

He promised the Broncos would make the playoffs this season, and that didn’t happen. He has plenty of excuses with his team decimated by injuries, but at the end of the day, the Broncos blew three straight opportunities to win a game and win the AFC West.

I think Shanahan is a good coach, but at some point you have to wonder if he’s lost the ear of his locker room. Is his message getting through to these players? And that’s why, for me, a lifelong Shanahan-backer, I’m ready to give him one more chance then move on if all we get is more of the same. One more chance.

And until then, he’s still our coach, and has my support.

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