Mike Shanahan's Shadow Looms Large in Denver

Regardless of the actual reasons for Shanahan’s firing, it was the right move. 

This was the right move for Bowlen, for Shanahan, for the organization and even for quarterback Jay Cutler (whether he would like to admit it or not) and the young talent currently flooding this team.

If there is one word that can accurately describe the Denver Broncos at this point in time, it is "stagnant."

With the ultimate patriarch in place, the organization has taken on a tone of monotony that does not lend itself to winning Super Bowls.  This can rub off easily on the many young players walking the halls of the team’s Dove Valley headquarters. 

Shanahan is now out and perhaps a breath of fresh air will sweep through the team’s enormous practice bubble and carry the Broncos out of the depths of 7-9, 8-8, and 9-7. 

Whether he realized it or not, Shanahan has left the Broncos in a good place. It is true that the entire organization revolved around Shanahan and Denver will now be forced to build from the ground up in terms of coaching and much of the administration.  However, if the Broncos have one thing going for them, it’s Jim Goodman.

While it is impossible to know just how much influence the VP of Football Operations/Player Personnel had over the fruitful drafts of the past few years, he was the team’s Director of College Scouting from until 2005.

It would seem that his insight went a long way in bringing in players like Cutler, Brandon Marshall, Elvis Dumervil, and Tony Scheffler in the 2006 draft as well as those that followed. 

I pray that Bowlen not only keeps Goodman and his son Jeff, but increases their power in terms of decision making.  Goodman’s presence would go a long way in helping a new coach to cut the period of “rebuilding” down. 

There is plenty of talent here, especially on the offensive side of the ball.  No one will question that.

It is now the job of Bowlen and Goodman to bring in a young exuberant coach (not Bill Cowher) to bring the potential of this team to fruition. 

Bowlen has stated that he does not wish to bring in a be-all-end-all coach with supreme power, so why not insert Goodman as top dog for personnel decisions and give the organization the adrenaline shot it deserves with one of the red-hot coordinators on the market like Steve Spagnuolo, Jim Schwartz, Jason Garrett, or Bill Musgrave?

There will be as much pressure on this new coach as there has been on every Denver quarterback since No. 7 left and I wish all the luck in the world to whoever comes in to fill the shoes on the Broncos’ sideline—it will not be easy.

While it may have been the right decision for the organization, this is an intensely loyal fan base that doesn't do well with change.  The new sideline commander will have plenty of struggles and plenty to live up to.

A new shadow has been created in Denver to stand along side that of John Elway, and its name is Mike Shanahan.

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