WARHORSE
03-22-2009, 04:16 AM
BOWLEN STAYING OUT OF DRAMA.
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_11968834
Fans want more from Pat Bowlen.
Come on, Pat. Get involved. Step in. Take a stand. Soothe the storm. Help the young head coach. Pacify the quarterback.
Where, oh where, rant passionate Broncos fans, is Pat Bowlen during McJaygate?
Let's say the public wins. Bowlen, the Broncos' owner, bows to pressure and gets in the middle of the rift between his new coach, Josh McDaniels, and his Pro Bowl quarterback, Jay Cutler. And let's say Bowlen succeeds in forging a peace settlement.
Has anyone thought about the possible repercussions of the owner solving disagreements between coaches and players?
Bowlen's approach in the Cutler drama is consistent with how he's run the Broncos since he bought the franchise 25 years ago Monday.
He oversees the organization; the head coach runs the team. And if one area bleeds into another, it's always about the team.
"I'm in the building and I'm in the room," Bowlen said. "But we have a young coach who is in charge of football operations and he's going to handle this.
If I can offer advice, I'll do that. But I'm not going to step on him in the middle of this thing. That would not be smart.
"This is his first big challenge and I'm definitely in his camp. He'll handle it."
Although McDaniels is only 32, Bowlen saw enough maturity, energy and wisdom to hire the New England Patriots offensive coordinator to replace Mike Shanahan as the Broncos' head coach on Jan. 11.
Dove Valley has been in a perpetual state of transition ever since. Shanahan had gained so much authority during his 14-year coaching era with the Broncos, he made unilateral decisions. Last year, Shanahan worked out a two-year contract extension with one of his assistant coaches. Nothing extraordinary there, except Bowlen wasn't notified until later.
Regaining control of his franchise is one reason Bowlen dismissed Shanahan on Dec. 31. Since then, Bowlen has rebuilt a system of checks and balances inside team headquarters. McDaniels reports to Bowlen, as does general manager Brian Xanders and chief operating officer Joe Ellis.
The proposed trade that would have sent Cutler to Tampa Bay and New England quarterback Matt Cassel to Denver? It never crossed Bowlen's desk, which McDaniels said should signify he never seriously considered making the deal.
Nevertheless, Cutler was stung when he heard about it. Under Shanahan, Cutler was treated as a franchise quarterback — but more than once the head coach tore into his talented, if undisciplined, quarterback behind closed doors.
Cutler, though, never felt like anything other than his team's most important player. Shanahan built his roster around his gifted passer. The Broncos' top two picks in the 2008 draft were an offensive tackle and wide receiver. Indeed, when Cutler went to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl six weeks ago, he paid for his rookie left tackle, Ryan Clady, and rookie receiver Eddie Royal to join him.
Six weeks ago? The Pro Bowl must seem like six months ago to Cutler fans.
When McDaniels arrived, he brought "Patriot Way" principles. The Patriot Way allows stars. (See Tom Brady and Randy Moss.) But the Patriot Way will go out of its way to remind Brady and Moss they are not bigger than the team.
Only McDaniels can reset the culture at Dove Valley as he wants it, and attempt to repair a fractured relationship with his quarterback without splintering the infrastructure of his roster.
It hasn't been easy. Some would call McDaniels-Cutler a feuding fiasco.
Bowlen understands that criticism, but has decided to observe, listen and discuss, and empower his young coach to handle it.
"Pat is fully engaged in the situation concerning the quarterback," Ellis said. "He converses with Josh and Brian on a daily basis."
The breakdown with McDaniels has caused Cutler to formally request a trade, a demand he made a week ago. At least 10 teams have called to express interest, and the Broncos are listening. They will arrive at the NFL meetings that start today in Dana Point, Calif., with the intention of holding on to Cutler, but keeping their options open if the coach-quarterback relationship is irreparable.
There was a time during this ordeal when Cutler wanted to speak directly to Bowlen. Fine, Bowlen said. Bowlen preferred to meet face to face in his Dove Valley office, but Cutler has been staying in Nashville, Tenn., where he starred at Vanderbilt. Bowlen arranged for Cutler to call him on March 7. Cutler never called.
Sure, there have been times when Bowlen wanted to tell management's side in this coach-quarterback dispute that has polarized Broncos Nation. But the controversy is so charged with emotion, nothing said publicly is taken at face value.
"He would prefer this get worked out privately, rather than in a dialogue with the media," Ellis said. "That said, he recognizes that our fans deserve an explanation, and he intends to give one. Once the issue reaches a resolution."
On Monday, Bowlen will celebrate his 25th anniversary as Broncos owner. The occasion will be marked by a series of league meetings in hotel conference rooms, and a quarterback drama hovering ominously over his franchise. As Bowlen deals with league matters, McDaniels will deal directly with the Cutler issue. However McJaygate plays out, Bowlen believes his coach will be the better for it.
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_11968834
Fans want more from Pat Bowlen.
Come on, Pat. Get involved. Step in. Take a stand. Soothe the storm. Help the young head coach. Pacify the quarterback.
Where, oh where, rant passionate Broncos fans, is Pat Bowlen during McJaygate?
Let's say the public wins. Bowlen, the Broncos' owner, bows to pressure and gets in the middle of the rift between his new coach, Josh McDaniels, and his Pro Bowl quarterback, Jay Cutler. And let's say Bowlen succeeds in forging a peace settlement.
Has anyone thought about the possible repercussions of the owner solving disagreements between coaches and players?
Bowlen's approach in the Cutler drama is consistent with how he's run the Broncos since he bought the franchise 25 years ago Monday.
He oversees the organization; the head coach runs the team. And if one area bleeds into another, it's always about the team.
"I'm in the building and I'm in the room," Bowlen said. "But we have a young coach who is in charge of football operations and he's going to handle this.
If I can offer advice, I'll do that. But I'm not going to step on him in the middle of this thing. That would not be smart.
"This is his first big challenge and I'm definitely in his camp. He'll handle it."
Although McDaniels is only 32, Bowlen saw enough maturity, energy and wisdom to hire the New England Patriots offensive coordinator to replace Mike Shanahan as the Broncos' head coach on Jan. 11.
Dove Valley has been in a perpetual state of transition ever since. Shanahan had gained so much authority during his 14-year coaching era with the Broncos, he made unilateral decisions. Last year, Shanahan worked out a two-year contract extension with one of his assistant coaches. Nothing extraordinary there, except Bowlen wasn't notified until later.
Regaining control of his franchise is one reason Bowlen dismissed Shanahan on Dec. 31. Since then, Bowlen has rebuilt a system of checks and balances inside team headquarters. McDaniels reports to Bowlen, as does general manager Brian Xanders and chief operating officer Joe Ellis.
The proposed trade that would have sent Cutler to Tampa Bay and New England quarterback Matt Cassel to Denver? It never crossed Bowlen's desk, which McDaniels said should signify he never seriously considered making the deal.
Nevertheless, Cutler was stung when he heard about it. Under Shanahan, Cutler was treated as a franchise quarterback — but more than once the head coach tore into his talented, if undisciplined, quarterback behind closed doors.
Cutler, though, never felt like anything other than his team's most important player. Shanahan built his roster around his gifted passer. The Broncos' top two picks in the 2008 draft were an offensive tackle and wide receiver. Indeed, when Cutler went to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl six weeks ago, he paid for his rookie left tackle, Ryan Clady, and rookie receiver Eddie Royal to join him.
Six weeks ago? The Pro Bowl must seem like six months ago to Cutler fans.
When McDaniels arrived, he brought "Patriot Way" principles. The Patriot Way allows stars. (See Tom Brady and Randy Moss.) But the Patriot Way will go out of its way to remind Brady and Moss they are not bigger than the team.
Only McDaniels can reset the culture at Dove Valley as he wants it, and attempt to repair a fractured relationship with his quarterback without splintering the infrastructure of his roster.
It hasn't been easy. Some would call McDaniels-Cutler a feuding fiasco.
Bowlen understands that criticism, but has decided to observe, listen and discuss, and empower his young coach to handle it.
"Pat is fully engaged in the situation concerning the quarterback," Ellis said. "He converses with Josh and Brian on a daily basis."
The breakdown with McDaniels has caused Cutler to formally request a trade, a demand he made a week ago. At least 10 teams have called to express interest, and the Broncos are listening. They will arrive at the NFL meetings that start today in Dana Point, Calif., with the intention of holding on to Cutler, but keeping their options open if the coach-quarterback relationship is irreparable.
There was a time during this ordeal when Cutler wanted to speak directly to Bowlen. Fine, Bowlen said. Bowlen preferred to meet face to face in his Dove Valley office, but Cutler has been staying in Nashville, Tenn., where he starred at Vanderbilt. Bowlen arranged for Cutler to call him on March 7. Cutler never called.
Sure, there have been times when Bowlen wanted to tell management's side in this coach-quarterback dispute that has polarized Broncos Nation. But the controversy is so charged with emotion, nothing said publicly is taken at face value.
"He would prefer this get worked out privately, rather than in a dialogue with the media," Ellis said. "That said, he recognizes that our fans deserve an explanation, and he intends to give one. Once the issue reaches a resolution."
On Monday, Bowlen will celebrate his 25th anniversary as Broncos owner. The occasion will be marked by a series of league meetings in hotel conference rooms, and a quarterback drama hovering ominously over his franchise. As Bowlen deals with league matters, McDaniels will deal directly with the Cutler issue. However McJaygate plays out, Bowlen believes his coach will be the better for it.