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Shanahan Out In Denver

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Bookmark and Share Print This Send This December 30, 2008, 04:57 PM EST
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From Matt Bowen:

After 14 seasons in Denver, the Pony Show is over for Mike Shanahan. Forget about the 20 million dollars he has left remaining on his contract, or the fact that he has WON 2 Super Bowls. This is the modern day NFL, and as any player, coach, or executive, we all know it stands for “Not for long.”

Surprising? Probably.  But to sit here and say that you didn’t see it coming would be unfair, because we all did. Another mediocre season, another winter at home, another off-season filled with starting over with the same philosophies that John Elway played with. Maybe some of the players were too comfortable with the Shanahan way, or maybe some of them were given a free pass when it came to training camp. Or maybe, just maybe, the suits in the skyboxes at Broncos’ games had seen enough. Enough to make this change.

Alas, a day after “Black Monday,” the hammer came down next to the Rocky Mountains. There will be no more zone blocking schemes, no more running back by committee that made so many guys famous in this league.

The Denver Broncos are starting over.

In saying that, it has to make you think how long 14 years in the NFL really is. I played for 7 years, half of that time, and it felt like an eternity. And that included stops in four different cities. Think about Shanahan. 14 years in the same city, wearing the same colors, coaching the same way.

But, football will go on in Denver, just as it will in New York, Detroit, Cleveland, and most likely Kansas City. It is the life these coaches live, but you just had to think that it would go on forever in Denver. For many fans of this league, he is the only face they really associate with the Denver Broncos. That’s it. This isn’t the Washington Redskins where coaches come and go as fast as rookie free agents. Some might even say it resembled their universities, places where coaches are given time, resources, and second chances to make things work. Sooner or later, it would work out. Folks, that doesn’t happen in this league, but we also don’t see coaches who stay at one place for 14 years.

The players—the ones that have been a Bronco for a while—will struggle with the adjustment. Meeting times, practice times, even the dress code on the plane is likely to change. Everything they know—when it comes to being a Denver Broncos football player—will change. Free agents, who signed in Denver, because of the image of Shanahan, or the fact that he treated veterans of this league with the utmost respect, will hold their breath as the coaching search begins. Begging, heck, praying, for someone that will equal—or at least try to emulate—the style of Mike Shanahan.

You can sit here and tell me all you want about the late season collapse, or the fact that Denver has fallen on tough times this year, but it will be different.

I was part of the coaching change from Steve Spurrier to Joe Gibbs in Washington. You want to talk about a complete and drastic change? It was, well, brutal. Everything changed. Some players adjusted, and some didn’t. The ones who didn’t found themselves looking for jobs, and even some of the guys who bought into the new discipline were sent walking. They might have fit in with Spurrier’s staff, but not with Gibbs.

Thanks son, but you just aren’t going to fit with this team.

So, this is big news, for the assistant coaches as well—who are also looking for a new job. Houses go up for sale, lockers will soon be cleaned out, and an extra mini-camp is waiting for the players of the Denver Broncos.

Well, for the one’s that the new coach wants to keep around—if only for a while.

Comments

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Ted
Dec 30, 2008
05:06 PM

WOW!!!

no one else even has this out yet!

Scot
Dec 30, 2008
06:02 PM

Unbelievable! Can't say that it was the right move. Maybe Bowlen has a plan. I sure hope so, because my admittedly untrained eye doesn't see a better coach than Shanahan on the market right now (Bill Cowher NOT excepted).

On another note, the ranks of available head coaches just got shuffled big time. Gotta think Shanahan goes to the head of the list. I could see him doing some major damage in Dallas, and can JJ really justify holding on to Phillips if Shanahan is available?

Joey in H-town
Dec 30, 2008
06:20 PM

Wow, Nice job NFP. You guys had this over an hour before I saw it anywhere else. And, once you made the post, I looked all over the place for further details only to come up empty. Thanks.

JT
Dec 30, 2008
06:52 PM

I am shocked. Huge Broncos fan and sad to see him go. Shanahan the GM has often held back Shanahan the coach, and I wondered if he would be stripped of that role.

I am very grateful and proud for the 14 years he was the face of the Broncos, and I wish him the best (but not with another team!)

Thanks for the great article!

Now go out and hire Pioli + Spagnuolo/Ferentz!

Steve Simons
Dec 30, 2008
06:55 PM

You guys really need to put a time stamp on this stuff, if for no other reason than showing that you broke a story before anyone else.

Scot
Dec 30, 2008
06:58 PM

I have to think that Shanahan's firing resulted from a conversation with Bowlen regarding Shanny giving up the GM role. Because there was absolutely no inkling of this, and not an especially strong demand from the fan base for Shanahan to get fired.

After perusing the article concerning available coaches, I've got a feeling that Heimerdinger will be the guy. He brings in a certain level of continuity on the offensive side, while achieving the objective of dividing personnel and coaching. You heard it here first.

Julie
Dec 30, 2008
07:07 PM

I am so mad!!!! I love Mike Shanahan!!!!! Been a fan all my life. Are they forgetting Everything hes done with that team, has a couple bad years and they forget all hes done, the superbowls. What a bunch of crap. Don't even want to be a Bronco fan after this disgrace.

JT
Dec 30, 2008
07:08 PM

Scot - Our offense struggled when Heimerdinger was here, what makes you think he would be the right guy?

(I'm not saying you are wrong, but I want to see where you are coming from. Do you think it was only b/c Plummer couldn't run his offense well?)

Scot
Dec 30, 2008
07:27 PM

JT;

The Bronco's wouldn't be bringing him in as the OC, but as the Head Coach. The advantage he brings is that offensive continuity. No reason to think that he couldn't find a good OC/playcaller. Maybe even Jeremy Bates.

Heimerdinger was in and out with the Bronco's a couple times. I can't say whether the offense always struggled when he was in D. To be sure, we haven't had the same consistency in scoring early and often that we had in the SB years. Maybe its a function of talent, maybe execution, or maybe the coaches in this league started to catch up with Shanahan's tendencies. I just don't know. But I do think that this offense has enough talent that you want to bring in someone who is going to maintain a certain level of continuity. For example, are we going to completely abandon the zone blocking scheme? Because I hate to think that we have to start over from scratch with how we procure and coach our offensive line. To me, that's the advantage of someone like Heimerdinger.

Dave
Dec 30, 2008
08:34 PM

I hadn't thought of Heimerdinger before, but that would be a great choice. Look what he has done in Tennessee this year and he does bring that continuity. This would be a great choice.

raiderlifer
Dec 30, 2008
08:59 PM

"Teflon" Shanahan finally has something stick to him....that alone is a shocker. I find the timing of this decision ominous. Afterall, Bowlen must have an inkling that he can get a top GM candidate to come in. I can't see him give the total reins again to one man. Shanahan couldn't make it work so why would he allow another GM/HC guy to replace him. Maybe Parcells is going to becoming available if he opts out of Miami??? Makes for an interesting couple of weeks!

Terry in San Antonio
Dec 30, 2008
09:01 PM

Matt, way to beat pretty much ever other sports site with this news. Nicely done, sir.

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