Was firing Mike Shanahan a good decison?

[colonelbeef]

Yes or no. I want this to be up for all eternity so we know who to ridicule.

[Dagmar]

Ah, there's the poll!

[colonelbeef]

sorry for all who already voted, I made a huge error and voted wrong on accident. I will not delete this one.

-mgmt

[Jens1893]

Good move? I don´t know, but I think it was the right one.

[Northman]

I thought he would be fired in the next couple of years if there was no improvment. But right now with the transistion i think it may backfire UNLESS they can get a quality guy in here. If they dont, welcome to the Denver Bengals.

[SureShot]

The only thing that can remotely save this move is the hiring of Pioli.

[footstepsfrom#27]

It was a move long overdue. You just can't go a decade in the NFL without winning it all and not get fired, no matter who you are.

[orinjkrush]

the boil needed lanced.

[Popps]

The poll should have been worded differently. It's not a "great" or "terrible" move. It's just one that needed to be made. It's a very tough decision, but it was something that was going to happen. Circumstances dictated it.

The poll should read...

Yes - It was time to make a change
No - We should have stayed the course

Those are more accurate options, imo. We won't know if this was "great" or "terrible" for years.

[HEAV]

I thought he would be fired in the next couple of years if there was no improvment. But right now with the transistion i think it may backfire UNLESS they can get a quality guy in here. If they dont, welcome to the Denver Bengals.

You're nuts.

The Bengals have bad ownership that could give a crap about winning games.

People such drama queens! "Oh what shall we do without Shanny!"

Please...

[colonelbeef]

It was a move long overdue. You just can't go a decade in the NFL without winning it all and not get fired, no matter who you are.

you serious?

[ScottXray]

The poll should have been worded differently. It's not a "great" or "terrible" move. It's just one that needed to be made. It's a very tough decision, but it was something that was going to happen. Circumstances dictated it.

The poll should read...

Yes - It was time to make a change
No - We should have stayed the course

Those are more accurate options, imo. We won't know if this was "great" or "terrible" for years.

I agree. Would have voted to keep Mike if he would have agreed to Bowlens demand that we ****can Slowik. Under the circumstances its not a terrible move...its the only one!

[Garcia Bronco]

Hmmmm...I've noticed a certain group has a high amount of low football IQ

[uplink]

would have kept him if he agreed to get rid of Slowick. Otherwise it was clear he had to go. The defense was just so bad it was embarrassing to the organization.

Thanks for resigning Slowick.

[frerottenextelway]

The poll should have been worded differently. It's not a "great" or "terrible" move. It's just one that needed to be made. It's a very tough decision, but it was something that was going to happen. Circumstances dictated it.

The poll should read...

Yes - It was time to make a change
No - We should have stayed the course

Those are more accurate options, imo. We won't know if this was "great" or "terrible" for years.

The ''feel good'' options.

[Play2win]

Which one:

Shanny with Slowits or NEITHER...

If you had to choose which would it be?!?

[TheReverend]

Gladly count me in as an option that feels "terrible" is an understatement.

[budman]

i will miss him as a coach but as a GM he was horrible

[BreesLightning]

Great move!:thumbs:

[Boogerboots]

I guess I'm in the camp that feels this will bear out to be a mistake and it will cause our upswing to be delayed a couple seasons if not more than if Shanny was kept in place.

At the very least they could have left him the option to "resign" rather than pull the rug from underneath him. If the walrus was allowed to wallow his way out the door in Seattle with some grace, shouldn't the coach that beat him in the super bowl deserved at least a better fate than this?

[colonelbeef]

Great move!:thumbs:

ugh.

[KipCorrington25]

What's been going on isn't working, this isn't Gay Cee where they are happy to win 8 games a year and as long as they beat us they are happy. This franchise likes to think it goes to Super Bowls and if that's the case then 8-8 every year with really no hope to improve won't cut it.

[Kaylore]

Ask me a year from now.

[Play2win]

Well, at least we can get a 3-4 defense in here now... ;D

[jmz313]

i voted great move only because I think long term it's better. but like kaylore said, ask me next year. I am a real, what have you done for me lately.

[Kaylore]

Which one:

Shanny with Slowits or NEITHER...

If you had to choose which would it be?!?

That's the thing. If it meant watching our team with Slowik the moron running the defense then I say yes.

[Broncoman13]

Ask me a year from now.

Ditto.

Wouldn't call it great or terrible. In wait and see mode. I do feel, given Shanny's defiance with regards to giving up some duty/responsibility that it was necessary.

[Broncoman13]

That's the thing. If it meant watching our team with Slowik the moron running the defense then I say yes.

Ditto again!

[TheReverend]

Funny enough, some jerk off is going to get handed a championship offense, with a ****load of FA money and draft picks to make the defense serviceable and then he'll be proclaimed the savior.

This is Gruden in Tampa all over again. Quick championship run off someone else's blood, sweat and tears and then maintain the franchise in bleh.

[colonelbeef]

Funny enough, some jerk off is going to get handed a championship offense, with a ****load of FA money and draft picks to make the defense serviceable and then he'll be proclaimed the savior.

This is Gruden in Tampa all over again. Quick championship run off someone else's blood, sweat and tears and then maintain the franchise in bleh.

100% agree and was the first thing I thought. Some dip**** gets a tailor made offense ready to win now, and decent draft position and cap room to improve the defense.

[Broncoman13]

Funny enough, some jerk off is going to get handed a championship offense, with a ****load of FA money and draft picks to make the defense serviceable and then he'll be proclaimed the savior.

This is Gruden in Tampa all over again. Quick championship run off someone else's blood, sweat and tears and then maintain the franchise in bleh.

Ummm, isn't that what Shanny did?

[colonelbeef]

Ummm, isn't that what Shanny did?

Finding Terrell Davis and Rod Smith, and bringing in Ed McCaffrey and Neil Smith were hardly no brainers.

[oubronco]

Ummm, isn't that what Shanny did?

sure did

[oubronco]

Finding Terrell Davis and Rod Smith, and bringing in Ed McCaffrey and Neil Smith were hardly no brainers.

well whoever comes in will bring some players in as well who knows they might turn out to be good too

[TheReverend]

Ummm, isn't that what Shanny did?

TD, Rod and McCaffrey say hi.

Not to mention how many of the rest of them did he PERSONALLY develop in his prior Denver stints?

[colonelbeef]

TD, Rod and McCaffrey say hi.

Not to mention how many of the rest of them did he PERSONALLY develop in his prior Denver stints?

Sharpe owes his career to Shanahan as well.

[Kid A]

well whoever comes in will bring some players in as well who knows they might turn out to be good too

Exactly. We have some great pieces on offense, but whoever comes in still has their work cut out for them. Maturing a young offensive core, complete overhaul of the defense--if the next HC wins a Super Bowl, Shanahan will deserve some credit but the new guy will have earned it.

[colonelbeef]

Well, gotta go run a few errands (hit the bar)

we just fired Don Shula. Think Dolphin fans started to appreciate him a little more as time went by?

[TheDave]

Barring an absolute genius hire this will set us back a couple of years at least...

This sucks...

[colonelbeef]

Ask me a year from now.

that's the point though, gotta make a judgment now. will be easy to point out next year when the Broncos go 5-11.

[colonelbeef]

http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/12/mike-shanahan-to-the-cowboys-now-thats-h.html

for the cowboy fan comments

[lostknight]

I think it might end up being the right decision - for both. Mike has shown that he is a a brilliant, perhaps the most brilliant coach in the NFL. But he sucks as a GM. No doubt about that. Bowlen tried to remove some of that authority - if nothing else just saying fire Slowik - and Shanahan balked.

My guess is that Shanahan will be doing better then we will in a year - but we will have to wait and see.

[fontaine]

I didn't want Mike to be fired but now is the right time to do it and I aplaud Pat Bowlen for making the gutsy call.

The offense is set for years and with Bowlen willing to spend the money we'll have this offense firing for years.

Dennison should be retained as the OL guy with Turner and the HC/DC plus GM can get down to finally fixing what Shanahan could never do and that's address the defense.

[The Moops]

I think it's a good decision. Shanahan had become bigger than the team. He acted like a Monarch. I mean refusing to fire Slowik? 52-21 drubbing by the Chargers for the final playoff spot. I know Shanahan picked the talent, but what kind of message that send to his defensive players when no one is responsible?

I guess that's what Bowlen felt. Someone is responsible.

Shanahan. Out!

[colonelbeef]

I think it might end up being the right decision - for both. Mike has shown that he is a a brilliant, perhaps the most brilliant coach in the NFL. But he sucks as a GM. No doubt about that. Bowlen tried to remove some of that authority - if nothing else just saying fire Slowik - and Shanahan balked.

My guess is that Shanahan will be doing better then we will in a year - but we will have to wait and see.

Saying he sucks as a GM is to completely overlook the fact that he drafted

Jay Cutler
Eddie Royal
Brandon Marshall
Chris Kuper
Ryan Harris
Ryan Clady
Peyton Hillis

in the past 3 years. Nobody has had success drafting like that. Not New England, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Tennessee. Nobody.

[barryr]

Saying he sucks as a GM is to completely overlook the fact that he drafted

Jay Cutler
Eddie Royal
Brandon Marshall
Chris Kuper
Ryan Harris
Ryan Clady
Peyton Hillis

in the past 3 years. Nobody has had success drafting like that. Not New England, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Tennessee. Nobody.

Notice no defenders on that list. The Broncos drafting of defensive players, especially DL and safeties has been quite poor to say the least and it's been that way for many years.

[colonelbeef]

Notice no defenders on that list. The Broncos drafting of defensive players, especially DL and safeties has been quite poor to say the least and it's been that way for many years.

That is not true at all. DJ is a good player, Marcus Thomas is a player, and Darrent Williams was shot to death, he was on his way to being the perfect compliment to Champ and would have saved us from needing Bly.

He focused on the offense because that is how he likes to build his teams. He just got done accomplishing that goal. He should have been given more time to fix the defense.

some of you sure do have short memories, but the defense was what propelled the Broncos to the AFCCG in 2005/06. Guess who built that team?

[Play2win]

I can palate this move, if Slowits isn't allow within the state of Colorado, and we get a real good DC replacement, and we get some size on our D. Preferably at the LB positions. We need to get big, tough and powerful along the front 7...

[gunns]

At this point I wouldn't call it a great or a terrible move. It was just time for the move.

[Natedog24]

I honestly just think we jumped the gun on firing him. We are probably coming off of 2 of the best drafts in the history of the organization in the last 3 years, we had one of the youngest teams in the NFL this year and we had a season plagued full of injuries, especially to a pretty vital position at running back. I would have liked to see Shanny and his staff just get another year or two to see if he couldn't keep up his good luck in the draft only on the defensive side of the football.

I also think we were a healthy RB away from having easily one of the best offenses in the NFL. So much of Shanahan's offense was based off of running the football and then running the playaction based on our success in running the football. When we had running back that could make a defense at least respect the running game, whether it be Pittman, Hillis or even PJ Pope for the 1st drive of that Buffalo game we were unstoppable. When we ran out of running backs and were forced to play out of the shotgun for the majority of the game running fricken bubble screens half the time we looked like $hit on offense.

I just would have liked to see at least just one more offseason draft with Shanny at the helm and one more season, hopefully with our bad luck at getting RBs hurt behind us, for Shanny to put this thing together.

[bloodsunday]

When is the right time to fire a coach of his stature? Bowlen took a big chance and made a near impossible decision.

I don't buy the idea that Shanahan was a bad coach. I do think his personnel decisions caught up with him. I also think both he and Bowlen suspected the ride was over. Shanahan had too much money (and pride) on the line to walk away, so he was fired.

[Broncojef]

He backed Slowick....after the defensive performance and scheme he backed him without hesitation. That proved to me how blind he was to how lost this team was and I'm willing to bet it's what shoved Bowlen over the edge. You made the right move Pat!!! Maybe we can stop the embarrassment and get back to playing real football again.

[Natedog24]

True, Shanny's backing of Slowick puzzles me as well. I can honestly see why people would be frustrated enough to want Shanny gone.

Still this is a HUGE gamble. We miss on our next coaching hire and Shanny goes to a division rival and leads them to success and this will go down as one of the darkest days in the history of the franchise.

[colonelbeef]

I honestly just think we jumped the gun on firing him. We are probably coming off of 2 of the best drafts in the history of the organization in the last 3 years, we had one of the youngest teams in the NFL this year and we had a season plagued full of injuries, especially to a pretty vital position at running back. I would have liked to see Shanny and his staff just get another year or two to see if he couldn't keep up his good luck in the draft only on the defensive side of the football.

I also think we were a healthy RB away from having easily one of the best offenses in the NFL. So much of Shanahan's offense was based off of running the football and then running the playaction based on our success in running the football. When we had running back that could make a defense at least respect the running game, whether it be Pittman, Hillis or even PJ Pope for the 1st drive of that Buffalo game we were unstoppable. When we ran out of running backs and were forced to play out of the shotgun for the majority of the game running fricken bubble screens half the time we looked like $hit on offense.

I just would have liked to see at least just one more offseason draft with Shanny at the helm and one more season, hopefully with our bad luck at getting RBs hurt behind us, for Shanny to put this thing together.

I agree with your synopsis.

[sirhcyennek81]

Ask me in 12 months. We dont even know who the new coach will be.

:Broncos:

[broncofan]

Terrible. Premature. Should have let him finish out his contract. 2 or 3 more years would have been enough time to see how he could apply the young core he has only just started to develop.

[colonelbeef]

Terrible. Premature. Should have let him finish out his contract. 2 or 3 more years would have been enough time to see how he could apply the young core he has only just started to develop.

I don't get how this line of thought isn't evident to everyone that has even a passing interest in the NFL.

[TheReverend]

Kupesdad voted. I'd love to hear Chris's reaction.

[NFLBRONCO]

I think it was time for a change for both parties. My biggest fear is Bowlen will hire a guy with Bronco connections I want new blood.

[Popps]

The ''feel good'' options.

:rofl:

They're just more accurate, because honestly... this isn't "great" and it's not "terrible." In all likelihood, it'll be somewhere in between for a while.

That said, I'm surprised how close the poll is given the wording. People are more on board with reality than I thought.

[TheReverend]

:rofl:

They're just more accurate, because honestly... this isn't "great" and it's not "terrible." In all likelihood, it'll be somewhere in between for a while.

That said, I'm surprised how close the poll is given the wording. People are more on board with reality than I thought.

Look at the people "on board with [your] reality".

Aren't you proud?

[BroncoBuff]

I don't like your choices ... it wasn't a "great" move, but seeing that Shanahan insisted on keeping Slowick, it was the right move. Our offense will suffer some, but we're so loaded with talent there, they'll rack up yards and points regardless who's coaching them. The reason this firing works is because SLowick is OUT.

[BroncoBuff]

He backed Slowick....after the defensive performance and scheme he backed him without hesitation. That proved to me how blind he was to how lost this team was and I'm willing to bet it's what shoved Bowlen over the edge. You made the right move Pat!!! Maybe we can stop the embarrassment and get back to playing real football again.Exactly ... he backed Slowick even after Slowick literally said, "I don't know the answer." :nono:

Mike had to go ... if just to get Slowick out.

[Ambiguous]

I'm on the fence about this until I find out who we hire. There better be a good plan behind this - if we end up hiring Crenell, Mangini, or some other crap I will be extremely pissed.

So I voted no immediately so I could see the pole, but really we need to see how this pans out.

Holy crap this thread will probably be bumped for years and years. Be careful what you say here guys. :)

[colonelbeef]

I'm on the fence about this until I find out who we hire. There better be a good plan behind this - if we end up hiring Crenell, Mangini, or some other crap I will be extremely pissed.

So I voted no immediately so I could see the pole, but really we need to see how this pans out.

Holy crap this thread will probably be bumped for years and years. Be careful what you say here guys. :)

Yessir!

I want those who were for or against to be recognized as such.

[troya900]

At some point in time Shanahan HAD to be held responsible for the piss poor showing of the Defense over the last several years. Yes, we all appreciate the offense that Shanny consistently showed us, but the porous D has been such a glaring weakness for awhile now it was inevitable.

[EmpireOrange]

Best effing - and ballziest decision I have seen in Sports, eva! I love me some Pat!

[Broncomutt]

Was hoping he would resign instead of getting canned.

My feelings are similar to those you feel when you have to put down an old dog. You hate to do it, but it needed to be done.

Thanks for the memories Mike!:( :( :(

[gadlaw]

You're nuts.

The Bengals have bad ownership that could give a crap about winning games.

People such drama queens! "Oh what shall we do without Shanny!"

Please...

Guess what? Some folks have different opinions than you do. While I don't think this organization could ever get anywhere near as dysfunctional and horrific as the organizations in Cincy or Detroit I also think that the firing at this time was a bad move. The team was better than last year's team and moving in the right direction. Some moves on the defense, a different defensive attitude, a new defensive coach and it would have been all good. Now we quite possibly start from the start, unless as Shanny said - the new guy keeps the Offense folks on board. Thinking the firing was a bad idea doesn't make anyone a drama queen. And it was a bad firing.

[gadlaw]

:rofl:

They're just more accurate, because honestly... this isn't "great" and it's not "terrible." In all likelihood, it'll be somewhere in between for a while.

That said, I'm surprised how close the poll is given the wording. People are more on board with reality than I thought.

'Your view' of reality. People can have other views that are not your views.

[Kaylore]

that's the point though, gotta make a judgment now. will be easy to point out next year when the Broncos go 5-11.

I really have no idea. I don't know who they're going to hire to coach, who they'll draft and who they'll sign as free agents. Even after passing judgment after that, I haven't seen that team, that has yet to exist, play and so am just as clueless. I think its silly to say we'll get a John Gruden type who lives off the achievements of Shanahan, that we'll be 11-5, 5-11 or whatever. We really don't know.

Here's what we do know: Under Pat Bowlen we've been to the Super Bowl 5 times and won two. Pat Bowlen has always had us competitive. No matter what happens we'll be at least be decent and if we suck, Bowlen won't let us suck for long.

[troya900]

Some moves on the defense, a different defensive attitude, a new defensive coach and it would have been all good.

This is the same old tired excuse over the last several seasons and it was getting old and stale and apparently Bowlen agreed. Every year it was do this, do that for the Defense and things will be turned around, yet just about every single move Shanny has made on the Defensive side of the ball has been a disaster and there is no indication of any improvement.

[Steve Sewell]

Funny enough, some jerk off is going to get handed a championship offense, with a ****load of FA money and draft picks to make the defense serviceable and then he'll be proclaimed the savior.

This is Gruden in Tampa all over again. Quick championship run off someone else's blood, sweat and tears and then maintain the franchise in bleh.

Good god, you speak about this as if Shanahan wasn't given any opportunties by ownership to acquire people through FA or the draft for all these years, and that he was finally getting some leeway. Really, some of you guys are just blind and delusional.

[gadlaw]

This is the same old tired excuse over the last several seasons and it was getting old and stale and apparently Bowlen agreed. Every year it was do this, do that for the Defense and things will be turned around, yet just about every single move Shanny has made on the Defensive side of the ball has been a disaster and there is no indication of any improvement.

Yah, everyone has an opinion, yours is the same old tired 'change everything now' opinion. That always works doesn't it?

[troya900]

Yah, everyone has an opinion, yours is the same old tired 'change everything now' opinion. That always works doesn't it?

Change everything now? I was on the keep Shanahan bandwagon for a long time. Shanahan has had numerous years to try and field even a halfway competent defense and he has failed miserably at it. At some point in time Shanahan had to be held accountable for this poor defense.

[cutman0122]

No issues with the reasons, just the timing of it.

[Rock Chalk]

that's the point though, gotta make a judgment now. will be easy to point out next year when the Broncos go 5-11.

How?

Whose to say Shanny wouldnt go 5-11 next year?

Douche.

[Rock Chalk]

I really have no idea. I don't know who they're going to hire to coach, who they'll draft and who they'll sign as free agents. Even after passing judgment after that, I haven't seen that team, that has yet to exist, play and so am just as clueless. I think its silly to say we'll get a John Gruden type who lives off the achievements of Shanahan, that we'll be 11-5, 5-11 or whatever. We really don't know.

Here's what we do know: Under Pat Bowlen we've been to the Super Bowl 5 times and won two. Pat Bowlen has always had us competitive. No matter what happens we'll be at least be decent and if we suck, Bowlen won't let us suck for long.

Apparently people dont seem to understand this. They missed the part where Bowlen repeatedly said its about winning. It has ALWAYS been about winning. With Bowlen it will ALWAYS be about winning. He wants Superbowls, he will do whatever is within his power and that is a lot, to win superbowls.

[400HZ]

Whether or not you like the move, you have to admire Bowlen for having the stones to pull the trigger on it. The bottom line is that he obviously expected more from his team than Shanahan was producing, who even in his down years was able to field a league-average team. Most owners aren't going to can a coach like that.

You guys that are saying it's a Gruden situation are delusional. Your "championship-caliber offense" was 16th in the league in points scored and must of been near the top in turnovers. Your defense was abysmal. Your team couldn't win any of several must-win games and had several embarrassing blowouts, even to cellar-dwellers like Oakland. Apparently that is unacceptable to Bowlen, and it should be. Denver has a new stadium and is near the top of the league in revenue. Bowlen certainly didn't place tight financial restrictions on Shanahan. He gave Shanahan the means and the time to field a championship caliber team, but Shanahan failed the past 10 years to deliver. Some of you homers probably felt like he was close, but then again you probably felt like he was close every year. The reality is that Shanahan was not close, at least in Bowlen's opinion, and that is why things played out the way they did.

[Orange_Beard]

You guys that are saying it's a Gruden situation are delusional. Your "championship-caliber offense" was 16th in the league in points scored and must of been near the top in turnovers. Your defense was abysmal. Your team couldn't win any of several must-win games and had several embarrassing blowouts, even to cellar-dwellers like Oakland. Apparently that is unacceptable to Bowlen, and it should be. Denver has a new stadium and is near the top of the league in revenue. Bowlen certainly didn't place tight financial restrictions on Shanahan. He gave Shanahan the means and the time to field a championship caliber team, but Shanahan failed the past 10 years to deliver. Some of you homers probably felt like he was close, but then again you probably felt like he was close every year. The reality is that Shanahan was not close, at least in Bowlen's opinion, and that is why things played out the way they did.

You could also say most of these things about the 8-8 chargers. Change a few names ....

[400HZ]

You could also say most of these things about the 8-8 chargers. Change a few names ....

Are the Chargers the organizational model that Bowlen is trying to emulate? I doubt it.