Broncos fire Shanahan

This doesn't diminish Shanahan's stature in Denver, anymore than Landry or Shula or Noll lost theirs.

It was just time to move on.

I predict Shanahan will coach again, although maybe not next year.

 

Just not getting the idea of "time to move on"

Broncos were playing for the AFC title three years ago.

 

Noll wasn't fired. Then again, I don't think Shula was technically fired, either. I think Shanahan has more mileage left in the tank than Noll did when he left the Steelers.

 

Belichick is praying Shanahan doesn't end up with the Jets.

 

The NFL is just different today than in the Lombardi/Landry/Shula/Noll era. 10 years in one place is an awfully long time today.

I really don't think this decision was the product of one poor game, or one poor year. As has been pointed out earlier, he's won one playoff game in 10 years and wasn't show signs that the team was on the verge of greatness any time soon. It will be interesting to see who they get to replace him. Not Cowher.

The one gig I wouldn't be shocked to see Shanahan take is in St. Louis, especially if he can be coach AND de facto GM. He knows he wouldn't win right away,but in that division it might not take forever, either.

 

My brother, dad and I had a nice discussion about Shanahan last night, being the Chiefs fanboy loosers that we are.

I said the Chiefs shouldn't hire him, they said the Chiefs should. My reasoning, as someone has pointed out, is this is a "what have you done for me lately?" world. Shanahan has proven he has not been able to win consistently without John Elway, and I question his ability to develop a QB. Sorry, but Cutler doesn't count. He's OK at best right now but still has upside. And this year, if the ESPN graphic was correct, Denver became the first team in NFL history to be in first place by themselves every week but the last and not go to the playoffs. And technically, they were still in first place (tied with San Diego) so that's something else that's strange - be in first place every week but not go to the playoffs. The Broncos melted down in December too. The AFC West was not a good division, and yet the Broncos were only 3-3 in division play. Had they just beaten the Chiefs once more or the Raiders (didn't Oakland win in Denver?) once more, they would have won the division.

I don't question the good stuff on Shanahan's resume. You don't win two Super Bowls by accident (unless you're George Seifert), and his ability to develop a running game with Joe Blow at running back is impressive.

But you can't discount what he has done lately, which is absolutely nothing.

 

Win consistently?

You mean win SUPER BOWLS consistently?

Man, get your facts.

 

You want some facts? Here are the coaches who have playoff wins since John Elway retired. Shanahan has had complete control of the team since that time. Every player who has stepped on the field has been hand-picked by Shanahan and yet his name is listed in the coaching ghetto of one-time flashes and has-beens.

Bill Belichick 14
Tony Dungy 8
Andy Reid 8
Bill Cowher 7
Jeff Fisher 5
Brian Billick 5
John Fox 5
Tom Coughlin 5
Jon Gruden 5
Mike Holmgren 4
Norv Turner 3
Dick Vermeil 3
Mike Martz 3
Lovie Smith 2
Denny Green 2
Jim Fassell 2
Herm Edwards 2
Bill Callahan 2
Joe Gibbs 1
Mike Tice 1
Jim Haslett 1
Sean Payton 1
Dan Reeves 1
Jim Mora Jr. 1
Jack Del Rio 1
Jimmy Johnson 1
Dave Wannstedt 1
Mike Shanahan 1
Steve Mariucci 1

 

Huh.

 

I'm thinkin' Wannstedt belonged at the bottom of that list.

 

Reeves said he wants to coach again. He's an old 64, but stranger things have happened.

Bill Walsh told his apostles not to stay in one place for more than 10 years. Holmgren just finished 10 with a wasted season in Seattle. Denny Green, exactly 10 in Minnesota. Billick, nine in Baltimore. Some were forced out, but their act was long stale by that point and they should have gotten the fuck out before that.