Denver Native (Carol)
01-01-2009, 08:11 PM
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_11348401
Shanny coming out ahead
Quit the crying already. Game on. Now that their quickie divorce is final, the new relationship between unemployed coach Mike Shanahan and Broncos owner Pat Bowlen is a deliciously down-and-dirty football game of one-upmanship.
Winner is the guy who gets back to the Super Bowl first.
And know what?
I'm betting on Shanahan.
"I have a sign on me: I'm looking for a job," Shanahan said Wednesday, less than 24 hours after reporting to Bowlen's office, thinking the boss was taking him to lunch.
Instead, Bowlen handed his coach a pink slip attached to a $20 million golden parachute.
"I may end up regretting this decision, but right now, I'm very comfortable," said Bowlen, searching for a new coach who's a perfect 10, but professing he had not given a single thought to a possible replacement.
Twenty million bucks to go away and start over at age 56?
Good golly. Next to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy and cuddling his newborn children, this had to be one of the greatest days of Shanahan's life.
After 21 years together, the last 14 with Shanahan as absolutely, positively, the 100 percent defining personality in a team complex bearing the Bowlen name, this was an overdue and necessary break-up of a sports marriage whose thrill was long gone.
"I run the show," Bowlen said.
But did it strike anybody else as odd when Bowlen and Shanahan took separate turns Wednesday to share their misty-colored memories of the way things were at Dove Valley, the fired coach looked so ready for his next challenge, while the franchise owner appeared to be frail, uncertain and broken?
There were whispers last week Bowlen had let it be known in his inner circle the end was near for Shanahan even before an embarrassing 52-21 loss against San Diego bumped Denver from playoff consideration for a third consecutive season.
"I guess nothing is forever," said Bowlen, seeking a new direction and another championship ring. But, quite frankly, he sounded lost about how to move forward.
There's no doubting the owner's commitment to doing Denver proud. Speaking into bright TV lights has never been Bowlen's forte. Now that we've dispensed with the polite praise, however, it must be noted the 64-year-old owner's vision for his team's future seems fuzzy at best.
So after dumping his best pal in the game, maybe Bowlen could use some advice for the lovelorn, so he doesn't run out and throw cash at John Elway to hang with him at the office.
Elway is a sexy name brand, not a nose-to-the-grindstone workaholic. Hiring the legendary quarterback to do anything except sell tickets for the Broncos or tutor Jay Cutler would be a mistake.
If Bowlen wants to beat Shanahan back to the Super Bowl, the Broncos need to shop for their next coach and general manager as a complementary hammer and saw for this rebuilding project, not as separate toys.
So think of New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo in tandem with respected football architect Charley Casserly, who gave "Spags" his first job in the league 25 years ago. Or Air Force coach Troy Calhoun, who joined the Falcons from the NFL, might fit nicely working with former Denver general manager Ted Sundquist.
You get the idea. Let's hope Bowlen does.
It was time for Shanahan to go, because Bowlen felt the coach's act had grown stale in Denver. Staying longer would have jeopardized their friendship.
"My goal is always to win the Super Bowl. My next job that
Share Your Analysis
Post sports columnist Mark Kiszla fields your feedback. Look for it in Kickin' It With Kiz every Saturday.
I go to will be based on one thing: What gives you the best chance to win? Because this thing's about winning," said Shanahan, far funnier and more nonchalant in his farewell than he ever allowed himself to be as the great and powerful Oz of Broncos Nation.
Shanahan, however, always has a pen and a do-list at his fingertips. While it's a trait that sometimes results in maxing out the charge card with impulse buys of free-agent flops Niko Koutouvides and Travis Henry, the coach's relentless pursuit of victory never naps.
If Shanahan can check at least one bag of his two-suitcase ego at the door, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would be a fool not to hire a new sheriff in Big D to make his team an instant Super Bowl favorite in 2009.
Hey, if we remember correctly, dumping Wade Phillips for Shanahan has a history of working out pretty darn well as a strategy for NFL success.
Once his sentimental tears were blinked away, here's why a coach without a job wore such a happy smile. The next football team that can lure Shanahan back in the sport will almost definitely have better talent than the group of players that got him fired.
I asked the owner of a team with a coaching vacancy how close he thought the Broncos were to winning the Super Bowl.
"We're not in the playoffs, so we are a long way away. But that could change in a hurry," Bowlen replied.
Strange as it seems, with the simple act of walking out the door in Denver, Shanahan immediately moved two big steps ahead of the Broncos in the chase for a championship.
Shanny coming out ahead
Quit the crying already. Game on. Now that their quickie divorce is final, the new relationship between unemployed coach Mike Shanahan and Broncos owner Pat Bowlen is a deliciously down-and-dirty football game of one-upmanship.
Winner is the guy who gets back to the Super Bowl first.
And know what?
I'm betting on Shanahan.
"I have a sign on me: I'm looking for a job," Shanahan said Wednesday, less than 24 hours after reporting to Bowlen's office, thinking the boss was taking him to lunch.
Instead, Bowlen handed his coach a pink slip attached to a $20 million golden parachute.
"I may end up regretting this decision, but right now, I'm very comfortable," said Bowlen, searching for a new coach who's a perfect 10, but professing he had not given a single thought to a possible replacement.
Twenty million bucks to go away and start over at age 56?
Good golly. Next to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy and cuddling his newborn children, this had to be one of the greatest days of Shanahan's life.
After 21 years together, the last 14 with Shanahan as absolutely, positively, the 100 percent defining personality in a team complex bearing the Bowlen name, this was an overdue and necessary break-up of a sports marriage whose thrill was long gone.
"I run the show," Bowlen said.
But did it strike anybody else as odd when Bowlen and Shanahan took separate turns Wednesday to share their misty-colored memories of the way things were at Dove Valley, the fired coach looked so ready for his next challenge, while the franchise owner appeared to be frail, uncertain and broken?
There were whispers last week Bowlen had let it be known in his inner circle the end was near for Shanahan even before an embarrassing 52-21 loss against San Diego bumped Denver from playoff consideration for a third consecutive season.
"I guess nothing is forever," said Bowlen, seeking a new direction and another championship ring. But, quite frankly, he sounded lost about how to move forward.
There's no doubting the owner's commitment to doing Denver proud. Speaking into bright TV lights has never been Bowlen's forte. Now that we've dispensed with the polite praise, however, it must be noted the 64-year-old owner's vision for his team's future seems fuzzy at best.
So after dumping his best pal in the game, maybe Bowlen could use some advice for the lovelorn, so he doesn't run out and throw cash at John Elway to hang with him at the office.
Elway is a sexy name brand, not a nose-to-the-grindstone workaholic. Hiring the legendary quarterback to do anything except sell tickets for the Broncos or tutor Jay Cutler would be a mistake.
If Bowlen wants to beat Shanahan back to the Super Bowl, the Broncos need to shop for their next coach and general manager as a complementary hammer and saw for this rebuilding project, not as separate toys.
So think of New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo in tandem with respected football architect Charley Casserly, who gave "Spags" his first job in the league 25 years ago. Or Air Force coach Troy Calhoun, who joined the Falcons from the NFL, might fit nicely working with former Denver general manager Ted Sundquist.
You get the idea. Let's hope Bowlen does.
It was time for Shanahan to go, because Bowlen felt the coach's act had grown stale in Denver. Staying longer would have jeopardized their friendship.
"My goal is always to win the Super Bowl. My next job that
Share Your Analysis
Post sports columnist Mark Kiszla fields your feedback. Look for it in Kickin' It With Kiz every Saturday.
I go to will be based on one thing: What gives you the best chance to win? Because this thing's about winning," said Shanahan, far funnier and more nonchalant in his farewell than he ever allowed himself to be as the great and powerful Oz of Broncos Nation.
Shanahan, however, always has a pen and a do-list at his fingertips. While it's a trait that sometimes results in maxing out the charge card with impulse buys of free-agent flops Niko Koutouvides and Travis Henry, the coach's relentless pursuit of victory never naps.
If Shanahan can check at least one bag of his two-suitcase ego at the door, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would be a fool not to hire a new sheriff in Big D to make his team an instant Super Bowl favorite in 2009.
Hey, if we remember correctly, dumping Wade Phillips for Shanahan has a history of working out pretty darn well as a strategy for NFL success.
Once his sentimental tears were blinked away, here's why a coach without a job wore such a happy smile. The next football team that can lure Shanahan back in the sport will almost definitely have better talent than the group of players that got him fired.
I asked the owner of a team with a coaching vacancy how close he thought the Broncos were to winning the Super Bowl.
"We're not in the playoffs, so we are a long way away. But that could change in a hurry," Bowlen replied.
Strange as it seems, with the simple act of walking out the door in Denver, Shanahan immediately moved two big steps ahead of the Broncos in the chase for a championship.