Pat Bowlen article on Bleacher Report

it puts forth a very good perspective on what’s been going on.

rec’d

Some very good points and I think the writer is really onto something!

Great article that I agree with totally. So good I am surprised it didn’t originate on MHR!

That the article came from a Chiefs fan!

Great find, thanks for sharing!!!!

I really enjoyed that read. Alton Rex brings to light some very interesting insight. Thanks for the find.

I always felt that Cutler’s departure from Denver was more from Pat Bowlen than Mcdaniels. When Bowlen said

I really would like to keep him here but if you are not going to be a happy camper, there’s no reason for you to be here".

He said this at the same time McDaniels was still trying clear the air with Cutler. Maybe the meeting between Marshall and Bowlen was more of a one sided, “You work for me, you make horrible personal decisions, tell me why I should let you stay with Broncos, and on top of that give you a raise? If you don’t want to be here any longer, I will trade you as long as I get resonable compensation. Let my secretary know when you decide and now get out of my office.” Something along those lines, ship up or get out.

Good article with a great perspective.

Rec’d

is the originality. It is so refreshing to read someone who has an original insight instead of just recycling the opinions of the mainstream. Of course it’s Bleacher Report so it’s not mainstream. And newspapers wonder why they are dying off.

Thanks PAB

but i love how all the writers at the bleacher report let their team bias seep through in their writing. they immediately start off with, “well, I’m an Eagles fan, but here’s what I think.” at least you know where they’re coming from, as opposed to the more mainstream writers who are forced to hide their bias

There is really only one thing I have learned with certainty this off season, don’t mess with Pat Bowlen. He rules Broncoland with an iron fist and will not tolerate insubordination. If he decides he wants a change, that change will happen. Yes, having mediocre season after mediocre season is part of what led to Shanny getting fired, but not wanting to relinquish the GM responsibilities and his stubbornness with Slowik were the straws that broke the camel’s back, IMHO. The Cutler decision was made when he refused to call back the man that signed his paychecks. I also find it interesting that BM met with Bowlen and not McD. Granted, it was during camp so I’m sure McD was busy, but still. I can’t help but think of the kind words BM said of Bowlen in his “good bye” blog. Perhaps that was his way of keeping the door open with the Broncos.
The bottom line is anyone this season that has tried in anyway shape or form to stand up to Bowlen is not longer part of the organization. Never piss off the guy who signs the checks.

I’m not sure I buy it though. I think the Broncos .500 record over the past three years is the reason Shanahan is gone and not player behavior (that and Shanahan’s refusal to give up any power over the team). It does add a nice spin to the situation however. I think Bowlen is as ‘win-centric’ as any other NFL owner. He may have wanted to change the culture; however, I doubt player behavior was his primary concern.

But what really puzzled me was how he tried to say Damian Nash’s tragic death reflected poorly on how Shanny ran the team. The man died during a charity basketball game – Damian Nash was a shining example of the mostly good guys we’ve had on the team, not one of the few “troublemakers” who get most of the press.

I agree with rollinthunder’s above comment – I think the mediocre seasons led to a need to remove GM Shanny, which also meant Coach Shanny was out.

My favorite line

Denver is a great city, and the Bronco’s are a noble team with a history worthy of protecting. If Mr. Bowlen has to run off a couple of punks to get his team back to where they become a jewel of the city rather than a focal point of tradgety and disgrace… I say he’s to be admired for the effort.

From the article:

If you look around the league, there are several teams you never see having off the field issues. Of those, the most successful are the Patriots. Josh McDaniels was the most attractive choice for Bowlen’s offensive mindset. It was a no-brainer.

Quoted from Sports Business Daily:

The Patriots have “another image problem” after OT Nick Kaczur reportedly aided federal officials in “their pursuit of a [drug] supplier” after being arrested himself on drug charges last month, according to Larry Weisman of USA TODAY. The Spygate scandal “sputtered to a close” last month, and now off-the-field player conduct “seems to be a burgeoning issue” for the club. The Patriots last season “found off-the-field distractions that did not serve the franchise’s best interests,” including Patriots QB Tom Brady fathering a child out of wedlock, S Rodney Harrison being suspended four games by the NFL for using HGH and WR Randy Moss being served a temporary restraining order. Since losing to the Giants in Super Bowl XLII, CB Willie Andrews and RB Kevin Faulk were both cited for possession of marijuana. Pro Sports MVP President David Chavez: “It’s like a black cloud continues to follow the Patriots, and it’s unfortunate. It reflects badly on the organization.”

The Pats have had their problems and distractions too…especially recently. Figured I’d point that out just to play a little devil’s advocate on the above statement. Don’t know if the BR writer knew about these or not.

I can see where he was trying to go here, but you’re going to get off-field distractions in the NFL on pretty much any team. I don’t think the fact that the Patriots “never” have off the field issues factored into the McD hiring much, if at all. The truth is, you’re going to see these everywhere. The McD decision was merely a football move from Bowlen…I’d argue you’d still get off-field issues under McD (if you had Josh coaching BMarsh the last few years instead). It’s more about the players honestly. You can’t “babysit” or be ordered to “babysit” in a league like the NFL made up of 20+ year old adults who have to handle their own lives accordingly (and yet many times are still too immature to do so).

I don’t think you blame Shanny for the Cutler situation either, for one. I also agree with jdk’s “babysitting” point and some of the other points presented previously. I will say, it’s an interesting perspective though, especially coming from a Chiefs fan. Personally, I’m not completely buying it, but that’s what opinions are for…you’ll get a different one from everybody (and that doesn’t necessarily always mean one person is more “right” than another either).

That is a very good article and our off the field situation have got to slow down. This is a team game and Bowlen and McDaniels are going to do everything they can to make the Broncos have the "team first’ attitude.

Very good post Michael. As hard as it is to do, change is really needed sometimes. As has been stated several times here is that Shanahan’s success was also his failure.

As has been stated several times here is that Shanahan’s success was also his failure.

a lot of folks forget that we have been without a top 10 draft pick longer than any other team in the NFL due to our consistently good record. There is a difficult side to that.

As a fan with common football knowledge the Broncos became too predictable on the field, so i can only imagine when other teams studied the tapes how dumb we looked. Cutler is a good player and I agree Shanny babied him, but i believe Bowlen and McDaniels wanted him to stay if he was willing to put more effort into mechanics, studying tape, etc. When McDaniels explained this to him he was done in Denver. (oh well I believe Orton is a good young qb with a lot of room to improve just as Cutler) Arm strength isn’t everything. I believe when Al Wilson got injured our team began to fall apart. Wilson was a great leader one of the best in the league. He held people accountable and put fear into teammates to do their jobs. Shanny never replaced Al, Lynch was a leader but not like Al. B Dawk will be this type of leader, I also believe Orton has strong leadership skills.
With leadership come respect and TRUE RESPECT GOES ALONG WAYS AMONGST MEN! I doubt many of the players on D last year respected Cutler when he would go 3 and out then pout by himself and blame the defense for the loss after the game.

With leadership come respect and TRUE RESPECT GOES ALONG WAYS AMONGST MEN! I doubt many of the players on D last year respected Cutler when he would go 3 and out then pout by himself and blame the defense for the loss after the game.

I never understood how a coach could let that kind of behavior go on, especially when he (Shanahan) was in Jake Plummer’s face so often.