The one-year experiment between the Broncos and defensive coach Jim Bates is over. And perhaps the only surprise was that it took nine days to make it official.
Bates released a statement through the team saying he was no longer employed. It’s beleived the two sides reached a settlement on the two years remaining on Bates’ contract.
“”I’m very thankful for the opportunity and very saddened that things did not work out,” Bates said in a statement. “I had the opportunity to stay, Mike has been very fair with me, and the final decision, for the Broncos and for me, was to step aside.”
A likely replacement to run the defense will be Bob Slowik. He was promoted to defensive coordinator last year after Bates was hired and made assistant head coach in charge of defense. Slowik also coached the secondary.
Bates’ system never took off in Denver. Players had difficulty adjusting to it from the previous season and never felt comfortable. The Broncos allowed 409 points, the fifth-most in team history.
