Josh McDaniels’ relatively brief coaching tenure with the Broncos included several incidents that have not painted the Broncos in a favorable light, including:
Included in the Broncos’ 5-17 record since Nov. 1, 2009 was a 59-14 shellacking by Oakland on Oct. 24.
However, McDaniels and Cutler — the team’s talented, if erratic young quarterback — engaged in a personality clash that became irreconcilable.
Bowlen and Ellis backed their coach in the dispute leading to a trade that sent Cutler and a fifth-round draft pick to the Chicago Bears in exchange for Kyle Orton, two first-round draft picks and a third-round pick.
Cutler’s Bears are now 9-3.
While the McJaygate controversy split the Broncos’ fan base — Cutler had his detractors, too — McDaniels was widely criticized for refusing to play holdover running back and fan-favorite Peyton Hillis, especially in short yardage situations.
Hillis was traded earlier this year to Cleveland, where he has already rushed for 905 yards and is tied for second in the league with 13 touchdowns.
McDaniels also received criticism on roster-cut day of Sept. 4 when they released defensive end Jarvis Green and traded away defensive back Alphonso Smith.
Green was a free agent signed to a guaranteed $3.255 million only to be released without ever playing a down for the Broncos. Smith was acquired after the Broncos traded away a first-round pick in the 2010 draft for the right to select the Wake Forest defensive back in the second round of the 2009 draft.
Smith barely played as a rookie before he was traded to Detroit for backup tight end Dan Gronkowski.
The NFL Network apologized for the incident, but McDaniels had also been visually caught berating his personnel before, including special teams coach Mike Priefer and tight end Richard Quinn.
After the 2009 season, McDaniels and defensive coordinator Mike Nolan mutually agreed to part ways in large part because of his personal differences.
Despite his flaws as a head coach, though, McDaniels did bring along Orton to a quarterback who had one, 300-yard passing game in 33 games with the Bears, but eight in 27 starts with the Broncos.
“Josh has one of the best football minds that I’ve been around,” Orton said.
