Denver Native (Carol)
03-25-2016, 05:57 PM
BOCA RATON, Fla. — Broncos president Joe Ellis walked through the Boca Raton Resort Club with repeated interruptions. An NFL owner congratulated him on the Broncos' season. A general manager followed suit. They appreciated the Broncos' Super Bowl 50 victory, even if it preyed on credulity.
A year ago at the owners meetings, executives groused about Denver, wondering aloud the sanity of mutually parting ways with coach John Fox, who had won four consecutive AFC West titles. It signaled, to critics, what was wrong with the cutthroat NFL.
Yet Ellis learned long ago that John Elway's instincts are almost always right. Elway believed a change could help, trusted that Gary Kubiak could shove the Broncos across the finish line. On Dec. 20 in the visiting locker room at Heinz Field, Ellis saw Elway's vision come to life as Kubiak stood in front of the players. The Broncos had squandered a 14-point halftime lead, and stunningly, were facing the possibility of becoming the first team to start 9-2 and miss the playoffs. What happened next shaped a season, providing a storied chapter in the organization's history.
"Gary called the team together and he bared his soul. He said guys, 'Are you in with me or not?' It was part anger, part emotion, part frustration, but a huge part passion," said Ellis, who was in the room. "He was putting everything he had into this and he wanted his players to join him. And they did. They responded and never lost another game."
rest - http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_29685868/joe-ellis-saw-john-elways-vision-come-life
A year ago at the owners meetings, executives groused about Denver, wondering aloud the sanity of mutually parting ways with coach John Fox, who had won four consecutive AFC West titles. It signaled, to critics, what was wrong with the cutthroat NFL.
Yet Ellis learned long ago that John Elway's instincts are almost always right. Elway believed a change could help, trusted that Gary Kubiak could shove the Broncos across the finish line. On Dec. 20 in the visiting locker room at Heinz Field, Ellis saw Elway's vision come to life as Kubiak stood in front of the players. The Broncos had squandered a 14-point halftime lead, and stunningly, were facing the possibility of becoming the first team to start 9-2 and miss the playoffs. What happened next shaped a season, providing a storied chapter in the organization's history.
"Gary called the team together and he bared his soul. He said guys, 'Are you in with me or not?' It was part anger, part emotion, part frustration, but a huge part passion," said Ellis, who was in the room. "He was putting everything he had into this and he wanted his players to join him. And they did. They responded and never lost another game."
rest - http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_29685868/joe-ellis-saw-john-elways-vision-come-life