“In Elway We Trust.” If there’s any unity among Broncos fans in the aftermath of the shocking playoff loss to Indianapolis, and the team’s decision Monday to part ways with coach John Fox, it’s a steady faith in the boss.
Broncos general manager , less than 24 hours after the Colts upset the Broncos in the AFC divisional round.
A snapshot of Broncos fans reacting to the news showed a common theme: whatever way Elway steers the ship is the correct path.
“Ultimately you have to look at the top, but Elway brought in some good players,” Denver’s Danny Pifer said. “I trust Elway more — maybe that’s because of what he did as a player. But it seems like he has them in a good direction.”
News of Fox’s departure moved so fast Monday that fans still were processing what happened into the evening.
“I’d read the rumors, but that they went forward with it so quick, it was pretty shocking,” said Matt Sheber Howard, a Broncos fan and freshman at Gonzaga University in Washington.
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In a three-headed hierarchy at Dove Valley, Elway, Fox and quarterback Peyton Manning were the authority. And Elway’s decision to part ways with Fox forced Broncos fans to pick sides.
Bill Jones, a Broncos fan since before he camped out overnight for AFC championship tickets in the 1977 season, said he doesn’t like that Fox is gone.
“I don’t think it’s fair to John Fox,” said Jones, who’s remained a Broncos fan since moving to Allen, Texas, in 1987. “He’s a proven winner over the years. To tell you the truth, if I had to choose between Fox and Manning, I’d choose Fox. I think it might be time for Peyton to hang it up.”
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Sunday’s playoff loss to the Colts — one that was ugly enough that Broncos fans rained down boos — stung Denver fans to the core. But to some, it wasn’t entirely shocking.
“I wasn’t really surprised,” Grand Junction’s Vanessa Park said. “All season in big games, they failed to match the intensity of their opponents. That was a sign to me. That’s part of a coach’s responsibility.”
While orange-clad fans continue to lick their wounds, their support of Elway seems unwavered.
“Absolutely,” Sheber Howard said. “I loved him as a player. It depends a lot on who they hire next, but you have to trust Elway with what he’s doing. I trust him.”
Nick Groke: ngroke@denverpost.com or twitter.com/nickgroke
Free-agent quandary
Beyond its head coach and quarterback, Denver faces tough questions about which free agents to retain. NFL reporter Troy E. Renck analyzes:
D WRDemaryius Thomas: Poor Sunday aside, he’s a top playmaker with any quarterback, any offense.
TE Julius Thomas: Couldn’t come to agreement on earlier offers. Will his price change after an injury and the offensive shift?
DT Terrance Knighton: Run stuffer. Locker room leader. Could he follow Jack Del Rio to the Raiders if the coordinator gets that head coaching job?
LG Orlando Franklin: Made shift to inside and performed. Likely to get tackle money elsewhere.
FS Rahim Moore: Graded out well in coverage. Given costs elsewhere, he will be a challenge to bring back.
WR Wes Welker: Diminished role, advancing age, and Broncos drafted replacement in Cody Latimer.
TE Virgil Green: Team loves his blocking and toughness. Likely to return regardless of what happens with Julius Thomas.
TE Jacob Tamme: Reduced to special-teams contributor. No offensive role if he returns.
MLB Nate Irving: Solid, but not a spectacular player. Missed huge chunk of season with knee injury.
C Will Montgomery: Solidified line. Has ability to get to second level. Attractive to bring back.
DT Mitch Unrein: Team loves his versatility abd work ethic. But Marvin Austin’s emergence frequently made Unrein inactive.
S Quinton Carter: Struggled with tackling in multiple games. Injury history is long and concerning.
