Denver Post sports writer Mike Klis posted his Broncos Mailbag every Tuesday during the team’s 2008 season on DenverPost.com. The next installment is slated for Feb. 3.
To drop a Broncos- or NFL-related question into the Broncos Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
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Mailbaggers:
Thanks for a great year. We will now revert to the offseason schedule of opening this mailbag once a month instead of once a week. As the great Irv Brown would say: You make this mailbag, everybody!
— Mike Klis
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Hey Mike. Broncos fan stuck in Pats country here. Do people really believe that Josh McDaniels or Jason Garrett can step up Mike Shanahan’s offensive scheming? If Pat Bowlen hires anyone but (or Raheem Morris) to shore up our defense, I’m quitting the Broncos for a year.
— Josh, Boston
Josh – You might be quitting. If it was all about picking a right leader for a team as it’s presently comprised, all logic would point to Spagnuolo. He’s the best defensive coordinator out there. But Bowlen’s financial bottom line is an issue here. He told Shanahan at their exit meeting he would honor the coach’s contract, which has three years and at least $20 million remaining.
Then there are the contracts of at least a dozen assistant coaches who won’t be retained. Add in the stadium debt, a player-friendly collective bargaining agreement and the black hole that was the Colorado Crush, and Bowlen figures to have financial issues.
If the Broncos hire anyone but Spagnuolo or Garrett, better believe economics will have been a factor. However, that doesn’t mean an inexpensive choice is necessarily the wrong choice. See Atlanta and Mike Smith, Baltimore and John Harbaugh.
Is it possible that Bowlen felt “pressured” to make this move in the sense that even the NFL isn’t immune to a bad economy? Invesco Field has not been the same as the old Mile High, and then you mix in a bad economy and an ordinary team (24-24 the past three years, 4-4 at home this year) and it could be disaster for revenue. I mean, Minnesota and Arizona struggled to sell out for playoff games!
— AJ, Denver
AJ – Just as I believe financial considerations will come into play as Bowlen selects his new coach, I think a financial strain on the Broncos did contribute to Shanahan’s dismissal. Everybody suffers emotionally during times when money is tight. Couples argue a little more. The atmosphere around the dinner table is tenser.
And, too, when money becomes a problem, not many men like to sit back and let someone else decide how the money should be spent. In tough times, men want their checkbook back.
Denver is a great place for a GM to make his mark on the NFL: great owner, great fans, the team dominates a major market, great home-field advantage and NINE picks in the upcoming NFL draft. Why don’t I hear Scott Pioli’s name mentioned when the vacant GM position is discussed? It seems that Cleveland has a lock on the guy. What am I missing?
— Jeff Petersen, Mesa, Ariz.
Jeff – There are a few reasons why Bowlen has made finding a new head coach his top priority. One, Bowlen believes the success of any NFL franchise starts with coaching. Coaches, first. The players, second. Then the people who choose the players.
There are too many players on a roster, too many backgrounds and personalities, for a team to succeed unless there is a solid coach who can meld them together.
And the second reason is, after observing the results of his 2008 draft class, Bowlen is confident his three-headed personnel-management team of Jim Goodman, Brian Xanders and Jeff Goodman are capable of finding the right players. The collection of Ryan Clady, Eddie Royal, Spencer Larsen, Peyton Hillis, Wesley Woodyard and Brett Kern are the primary reasons why the Goodmans and Xanders didn’t follow all those coaches out the door.
Mike – Some of the first articles published on suggested some intrigue involved (e.g. Shanahan forced Pat Bowlen’s hand by refusing to can Bob Slowik, and Shanahan already was planning to bolt the team for greener pastures). Others suggested that the owner-coach relationship was souring for a while. At this point, what is your take? Was this truly a surprise?
— Alan Isbell, Waikapu, Maui
Alan – You have a nice touch with words. My view is the conspiracy theorists got a bit carried away. Bowlen did not ask Shanahan to fire his defensive coordinator, Bob Slowik. He did not ask Shanahan to cede control of personnel matters.
There were hints the relationship between Shanahan and Bowlen had soured. One was that Bowlen had stopped traveling on the same plane as the team, preferring to take his own charter flights. I’ve seen it with all teams in every sport — when a coach is about to get fired, the guy doing the firing gets a little distant.
Ultimately, Bowlen wanted his company back, as is his right. I feel bad for Shanahan because it is my belief he had this team moving toward not only making the playoffs in 2009, but also legitimately contending for the Super Bowl by 2010.
But I also believe Bronco fans should be encouraged that Bowlen sent the message that 24-24 over three seasons, no matter who you are, or what the reasons, will not be tolerated.
Why didn’t Bowlen let Shanahan save face and resign instead of firing him? The result would have been the same, but with a better feeling ending.
— Scott Parsons, Grand Junction
Scott – Shanahan never would have resigned. When two people have been together as long as Bowlen and Shanahan have, one knows when the other is being less than honest. The direct approach was best. Besides, given this was the end, I don’t know how it could have played out any better. I mean, I got divorced once and I don’t remember my ex-wife breaking down at our farewell court appearance.
I give Shanahan full credit for . That he was fired, and he still was able to follow Bowlen to the same podium, spoke to how Shanahan, in the end, understood that the Denver Broncos are bigger than any one man.
Could the Broncos pursue someone like Gary Kubiak even though he is already under contract? Just how exactly would that work? Or are coaches like Kubiak off limits since they are already under a long-term contract?
— Jason, Wichita
Jason – The league has rules against one organization swiping a coach from another organization, although it’s not impossible to circumvent the rules. NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle didn’t allow Bill Parcells to break his contract with the New York Giants and leave for the Atlanta Falcons. Later, commissioner Paul Tagliabue allowed Parcells to break his contract with New England to become coach of the Jets, but at the same, the Patriots had to give the Jets a first-round draft pick for the right to hire Bill Belichick.
And Tampa Bay did pry Jon Gruden away from Al Davis, but only after giving the Raiders two first-round draft picks, two second-round draft picks and $8 million.
If there were no strings attached, Bowlen would love to bring back Kubiak as his head coach, and I think Kubiak would love to coach the Broncos. But Bowlen isn’t about to trade away all the goodwill he has with his fellow owners, not to mention his future in draft picks, in exchange for Kubiak. Especially when Bowlen believes he can get a good coach from the open market.
Hey, Mike. Does ANY contract with another NFL team negate the Broncos’ obligation to Mike Shanahan? Thanks!
— Brad C., Anchorage, Alaska
Brad – It’s more appropriate to use the word “offset” than “negate.” Bowlen essentially owes Shanahan $7 million for each of the next three years. Let’s say, Shanahan is hired by the Cleveland Browns, who give him a $4 million-a-year contract. In this situation, Bowlen would still have to pay Shanahan the difference, or $3 million a year. Better believe Bowlen’s preference is for Shanahan to be coaching in 2009.
Mike Klis has covered the Broncos for four seasons after previously covering the Colorado Rockies and Major League Baseball for 15 years. To drop a question into his Broncos Mailbag, or visit DenverPost.com’s .
