Before the carousel of dud quarterbacks, before the Super Bowl appearances, before Peyton Manning, and before Tebow’s magical run, there was Josh McDaniels. Believe it or not, it’s been close to 10 years since Josh McDaniels was fired from the Denver Broncos.

Vance Joseph, Gary Kubiak, and John Fox have all come and gone since McDaniels was unceremoniously relieved of head coaching duties, but make no mistake which former coach many fans still regard as the worst in recent team history.

On Monday, the Cleveland Browns will meet with Denver’s notorious former coach to interview him for their current opening. Undoubtedly, questions will likely come up regarding his disastrous time in Denver. Here’s a look back at the destruction he left behind.

DISMANTLING
When Mike Shanahan was fired following the 2008 season, many Broncos fans felt that Denver had a roster that, under new leadership, could thrive into the future. Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, Peyton Hillis, Tony Scheffler, and punter Brett Kern comprised a young core that appeared poised to take the Broncos competently into the future.

While there is some dissent on just who was the biggest petulant child during the Cutler-McDaniels fight, fans can agree that it was a nasty harbinger of things to come. It wasn’t just Cutler that McDaniels couldn’t get along with, he single-handedly drove, traded, cut, or alienated that young core and, while he was at it, defensive coordinator Mike Nolan for being his unlikable incompetent self.

So who did Josh bring in to replace these fan favorites?

Who can forget the arrival of Kyle Orton in the Cutler trade? How about New England castoffs like Laurence Maroney, Jabar Gaffney, Le Kevin Smith, and Lonie Paxton?

Lonie Paxton? For whatever reason, McDaniels released long time long snapper Mike Leach in favor of former Patriot Lonie Paxton to the tune of a 5 year for $5.53 million contract. To put this breathtakingly stupid move in perspective, the Broncos current long snapper Casey Kreiter’s base salary in 2019 was just $800,000. Remember, this was Paxton’s contract BEFORE the current 2011 collective bargaining agreement. To put it into perspective, the salary cap was $60 million less then than it is today.

It’s important to note that Brett Kern, the punter that McDaniels ran off in favor of Mitch Berger (who flamed out after just one season), just helped punt the Patriots out of the playoffs on Saturday with the Titans. Yes, he’s still punting, going to the 2019 Pro Bowl, and was named a 2019 1st Team All-Pro. Remarkable.

Also worth mentioning is that Josh couldn’t draft Rob Gronkowski in 2010, so he brought Gronk’s brother Dan to Denver instead. Granted, he was able to unload his historically bad 2nd round draft dud Alphonso Smith to Detroit to get him, but still.

CHEATING
What’s lost in the current Patriots videotaping scandal is the fact that it’s actually the third such time it has happened involving a Josh McDaniels team. While the 2019 Patriots’ attempts to squirm out of the cheating charges may or may not be successful, make no mistake, Josh McDaniels’ Denver Broncos were found guilty of cheating... with the SAME guy that cheated for the Patriots during the very first Spygate scandal in 2007. From MHR at the time:

The Denver Broncos and Josh McDaniels have each been fined $50,000 for taping the 49ers’ pre-game walk through before the game at Wembley Stadium earlier in November, per Jason La Canfora of NFL Network.

La Canfora also reports that Steve Scarnecchia, who was on a leave of absence, was fired from the team, and will be under further investigation from the NFL and a ban from the league is not out of the question.

Scarnecchia was the man behind the camera for Spygate I, making him a repeat offender to the league. The league also indicated that if any more evidence comes to light, there will be further discipline from Commissioner Roger Goodell.

RENEGING ON THE COLTS
When Josh McDaniels agreed to coach the Colts in the 2019 season, I wont’t blame Colts fans for trying to talk themselves into thinking it was a good idea. He couldn’t be that bad, could he? Broncos fans are just being hyperbolic, right? From our sister Colts site, Stampede Blue:

Yet when Josh McDaniels’ time spent in Denver as the head coach is discussed, we tend to drop all the weight of blame directly on him with all the nuance of an argument about politics on Twitter. McDaniels certainly failed. That fact is not up for debate. Any Broncos fan will tell you, some very heatedly about all the areas he went wrong.

The argument I would like to make is that his failure was not as spectacular as it is made out to be. I would also argue that the Broncos share equal, or perhaps even greater responsibility for that failure than McDaniels himself.

Then a week later:

...and then:

If you have enjoyed reading this long-winded indictment of the cheating scoundrel that is Josh McDaniels, then you will love this Stampede Blue article entitled, “Colts Dodge Bullet: McDaniels Lacks Integrity, Belongs in New England,” wherein they painstakingly document every Patriots and McDaniels scandal and misstep over the last 20 years.

This is not the kind of man fans in Indianapolis want representing their team or their city. It is best that the team moves on to find someone else who will lead with the kind of ethical compass and integrity that reflects the fabric of the city of Indianapolis and is compatible with the blue blood that runs through the entire Colts fan base.

So the Cleveland Browns are getting ready to interview this man for their open head coach position on Monday. If that’s not the most Cleveland Browns thing ever, I don’t know what is. All I can say is, Josh McDaniels knows better to ask Broncos Country for a reference... because this article and the one from Stampede Blue is as positive as ones for him will ever be. Good luck, Joshy.

HORSE TRACKS

Josh McDaniels interview moved up to Monday - Dawgs By Nature
Browns interview was originally scheduled for January 10

'I can't say enough good things about Drew': Looking back at Lock's rookie season
Take a game-by-game look at Lock's first five starts with the Broncos.

Sacco Sez: Randy Gradishar deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame
As the Pro Football Hall of Fame's blue-ribbon panel considers their upcoming Centennial Slate selections, Broncos Team Historian Jim Saccomano writes that Randy Gradishar should get the call.

Joe Judge slated to interview with Giants Monday – ProFootballTalk
The Patriots' season ended on Saturday night and that means it's much easier for teams in need of head coaches to schedule interviews with their assistant coaches.

Tua Tagovailoa to announce decision Monday during Nick Saban’s press conference – ProFootballTalk
Tua Tagovailoa already announced he would make an announcement on his future Monday. Alabama announced Sunday the quarterback will announce his decision during Nick Saban's noon ET press conference.

Doug Pederson: No comment on Jadeveon Clowney hit, I didn’t see it – ProFootballTalk
The Eagles lost quarterback Carson Wentz in the first quarter of Sunday's game against the Seahawks when Jadeveon Clowney made a helmet-to-helmet hit at the end of a run. No penalty flag was thrown on the play, which was a decision that many took issue with at the time.

Only one team made the final eight in 2018 and 2019 – ProFootballTalk
The NFL's 12-team playoff field typically undergoes significant turnover. The final eight teams feature an almost complete overhaul from last year's quarterfinalists.

Brees: Crucial fumble was result of miscommunication - NFL.com
Drew Brees' storied career will land him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but his fumble against the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card Round on Sunday helped end his team's season far too early.

Sean Payton after loss: 'Tip your hats to Minnesota' - NFL.com
Saints coach Sean Payton didn't complain about the lack of replay on a potential offensive pass interference on the final play of their loss to the Vikings.

Kirk Cousins the best QB to lead underdog Vikings over Saints - NFL.com
Kirk Cousins and the Vikings shocked the Saints at the Superdome on Sunday to earn a spot in the Divisional Round. Jeffri Chadiha explains why Cousins was the perfect QB to lead an underdog Minnesota team against New Orleans.

Cowboys fire Jason Garrett: Will Jerry Jones adjust for next HC? - NFL.com
As Jerry Jones searches for a new coach after a massively disappointing season and prolonged divorce from Jason Garrett, Judy Battista says the Dallas Cowboys owner might have to change to land the right person for the job.

Mike Vrabel uses Bill Belichick's own NFL rulebook loophole against him in Titans win over Patriots - CBSSports.com
The Patriots coach is always one step ahead of the rest of us except for Saturday night

Alabama safety Xavier McKinney to skip senior season, enter NFL draft
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney will skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft.

Bill Belichick says now not the time to discuss Tom Brady's future with Patriots
Patriots coach Bill Belichick acknowledged Sunday morning that Tom Brady is "an iconic figure in this organization," but said now isn't the time to address Brady's future with the franchise.

Kirk Cousins delivers for Vikings in OT to pick up first playoff win
Quarterback Kirk Cousins led the Vikings to an upset win over the Saints on wild-card weekend, putting an end to the big-game narrative that has shadowed him throughout his NFL career.

Carson Wentz out against Seahawks with head injury
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz exited in the first quarter of Sunday's 17-9 wild-card loss against the Seattle Seahawks with a head injury and was ruled out.

Cowboys announce they won't renew Jason Garrett's contract
A week after their season concluded, the Cowboys announced Sunday that Jason Garrett will not be returning as their head coach.

Officials - Not enough contact to flag Vikings
Officials said there was not enough contact to call Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph for an offensive pass interference penalty on the last play of the game.

Bears guard Kyle Long, 31, steps away from game after 7 seasons
After appearing in just 30 regular-season contests dating to 2016, Chicago Bears right guard Kyle Long, 31, announced on Sunday that he was retiring after seven NFL seasons.