Don Elway.
He’s the boss, and Monday was John Elway’s equivalent to the famous baptism scene from “The Godfather” — eliminating coach John Fox, while telling the assistants they’re free to look for other jobs.
“Cold world,” Demaryius Thomas tweeted, though it’s unclear whether the receiver bobbled and dropped his phone first.
Real world, D.T.
You and the Broncos were not prepared to win in the playoffs. You were outcoached. You got slapped around on your own turf, in your own house, without as much as a blitz or an adjustment.
The Broncos were not tough enough when it mattered most. Elway invested big time in nasty and didn’t get a return on his investment. It was Elway himself who had to chew out the team at midseason, just like in the preseason of 2013. So on Monday, Elway and Fox “parted ways.”
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So now, it’s on Elway. He has to clean up Fox’s mess.
But he must first ask: What are the Denver Broncos?
Are they one hungry coach and one healthy Peyton Manning from the Super Bowl?
Or are they starting from scratch with that much-talked-about window closed?
“I believe this change at the head coaching position will be in the best interest of our long-term goal,” Elway said in a statement, “which from Day One has been to win world championships.”
Championships, plural.
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Here’s the reality: It doesn’t matter, truly, if the next coach wins 10 or 14 games, as long as he can win in the playoffs. The next coach must have his team prepared to peak in the postseason; this year’s Broncos — way more talented than the Indianapolis Colts, with nine Pro Bowlers — were in disarray Sunday.
A coach can only do so much. The quarterback must complement his abilities with production, and so where does that leave us? On a drab and bleak Monday morning, both inside and outside of Dove Valley, we were all suddenly medical experts, breaking down the severity of Manning’s right quadriceps injury, whether it was strained (Denver Post report) or torn (ESPN report). Did Manning stink against the Colts because he just now stinks? Or did he stink because of his injury?
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If it’s the latter, there’s some hope for the future. If it’s the former, as many signs point to, one wonders if even Vince Lombardi could win a title with this roster. ESPN reported Monday that Manning’s quad injury happened in the Dec. 14 game at San Diego — truth is, Peyton didn’t look Peyton-y in some of the games prior, either. And listening to a deflated and defeated Manning on Sunday, he sounded like he realized he just played his last game.
By the way, if Manning’s quad was affecting him that much, why did he play in the regular-season finale against Oakland?
“He’s super tough,” running back C.J. Anderson said Monday. “I mean, torn quad or strain, it’s not normal. You need your legs to throw. It’s just amazing that he went through that. If he wins, he’s a hero. If he loses, everybody bashes him, but there’s nobody I’d rather play with than (No.) 18.”
Elway met with Manning on Monday morning, before everything went down. If Manning comes back, even as an arguably fallen star, he’s still the quarterback, still the guy with the Canton résumé, and he’ll surely have some say or sway in whom Elway hires.
The Gary Kubiak connection makes too much sense — Elway’s friend and former backup, getting a second chance as a head coach, trying to lead his former team to glory. Yes, Kubiak underachieved with the Houston Texans, but you know what? Pete Carroll, Bill Belichick and Mike Shanahan each struggled in their first head coaching gigs, too.
It’s worth making that phone call to Baltimore. Of course, Jon Gruden is enticing and Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is fascinating.
My guess is this. Elway saw Fox as Dan Reeves, a talented coach who couldn’t get over the hump. So now, he needs his Shanahan, before Elway’s Elway gets too old.
If it hasn’t happened already.
Benjamin Hochman: bhochman@denverpost.com or
