Related News
Home » Sports » American Football
Denver fires Shanahan for late-season collapse
Source: Agencies |
January 1, 2009, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MIKE Shanahan became the most stunning victim of the NFL coaching purge when he was fired by the Denver Broncos on Tuesday after a late-season collapse knocked the team out of the playoffs for the third straight year.
Shanahan joined Eric Mangini, Rod Marinelli and Romeo Crennel on the unemployment line after going 24-24 over the last three seasons, including three straight losses in 2008 that turned a three-game division lead to an 8-8 record. Despite that, and the 21-52 loss to the San Diego Chargers that ended Denver's season on Sunday, this was a shocker: The ouster of a 14-year coaching veteran who won two Super Bowl titles for Denver.
"After giving this careful consideration, I have concluded that a change in our football operations is in the best interests of the Denver Broncos," owner Pat Bowlen said.
Shanahan's record was 146-89, but the Broncos remained stuck at only one playoff victory since John Elway retired in 1999 after Denver's second championship.
This season was especially ugly. It included a historic collapse that saw Denver become the first team since divisional play started in 1967 to blow a three-game lead with three games left.
The Broncos' defense gave up 448 points, third worst in the NFL, including 112 during the three-game collapse at the end.
In years past, Shanahan had relieved defensive coordinators - Greg Robinson, Ray Rhodes, Larry Coyer and Jim Bates - in almost revolving-door fashion.
This year, as the defense floundered, it became obvious it wasn't just a coaching problem. It was an issue of talent on the field, and in Denver, Shanahan makes all the personnel decisions.
His top two draft picks in 2007, Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder, were barely a factor this season. Two of Denver's top veteran acquisitions from last year, Niko Koutouvides and Dewayne Robertson, also did very little.
Shanahan had three years left on his contract, worth about US$20 million.
Known as "The Mastermind" during his tenure with the Broncos, Shanahan shouldn't have much trouble getting another job if he's interested - and willing to part with the 3,200-square-meter house he's building in a fancy part of Denver.
Also, the San Francisco 49ers have fired Mike Martz as their offensive coordinator.
"After an evaluation period, I felt it was best to go in a different direction," head coach Mike Singletary said.
"This was not an easy decision because I appreciate Mike Martz and I enjoyed working with him. He is a true professional, and I wish him the best in the future."
Singletary released Martz two days after being permanently installed as San Francisco's head coach. He was appointed on an interim basis in October in place of the sacked Mike Nolan and guided the team to five wins in their last nine games for an overall record of 7-9.
The once-powerful 49ers, winners of five Super Bowl titles, have not recorded a winning season in the last six years.
Martz, a proponent of a wide-open passing attack who steered the St. Louis Rams into the Super Bowl in 2001 as their head coach, left San Francisco on good terms.
"I had an outstanding conversation with Mike Singletary this afternoon," he said. "I believe he will be an outstanding head coach in the National Football League. I wish him nothing but the best. I am not what he is looking for offensively. I understand that. This is just a part of professional sports."
Martz was fired as offensive coordinator by the Detroit Lions in January, one week before being recruited by the 49ers.
Elsewhere, the Houston Texas have fired three of their defensive coaches after surrendering nearly 25 points per game this year.
Coordinator Richard Smith, backs coach Jon Hoke and line coach Jethro Franklin were dismissed two days after the Texans finished 8-8 for the second season in a row.
"They're all fine coaches," head coach Gary Kubiak said. "They're even better people. (This is) a very difficult day for them and their families.
"Difficult on this guy, too, but bottom line is I've made a decision to move in a new direction and want to give them the opportunity to do the same thing as quickly as possible."
Shanahan joined Eric Mangini, Rod Marinelli and Romeo Crennel on the unemployment line after going 24-24 over the last three seasons, including three straight losses in 2008 that turned a three-game division lead to an 8-8 record. Despite that, and the 21-52 loss to the San Diego Chargers that ended Denver's season on Sunday, this was a shocker: The ouster of a 14-year coaching veteran who won two Super Bowl titles for Denver.
"After giving this careful consideration, I have concluded that a change in our football operations is in the best interests of the Denver Broncos," owner Pat Bowlen said.
Shanahan's record was 146-89, but the Broncos remained stuck at only one playoff victory since John Elway retired in 1999 after Denver's second championship.
This season was especially ugly. It included a historic collapse that saw Denver become the first team since divisional play started in 1967 to blow a three-game lead with three games left.
The Broncos' defense gave up 448 points, third worst in the NFL, including 112 during the three-game collapse at the end.
In years past, Shanahan had relieved defensive coordinators - Greg Robinson, Ray Rhodes, Larry Coyer and Jim Bates - in almost revolving-door fashion.
This year, as the defense floundered, it became obvious it wasn't just a coaching problem. It was an issue of talent on the field, and in Denver, Shanahan makes all the personnel decisions.
His top two draft picks in 2007, Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder, were barely a factor this season. Two of Denver's top veteran acquisitions from last year, Niko Koutouvides and Dewayne Robertson, also did very little.
Shanahan had three years left on his contract, worth about US$20 million.
Known as "The Mastermind" during his tenure with the Broncos, Shanahan shouldn't have much trouble getting another job if he's interested - and willing to part with the 3,200-square-meter house he's building in a fancy part of Denver.
Also, the San Francisco 49ers have fired Mike Martz as their offensive coordinator.
"After an evaluation period, I felt it was best to go in a different direction," head coach Mike Singletary said.
"This was not an easy decision because I appreciate Mike Martz and I enjoyed working with him. He is a true professional, and I wish him the best in the future."
Singletary released Martz two days after being permanently installed as San Francisco's head coach. He was appointed on an interim basis in October in place of the sacked Mike Nolan and guided the team to five wins in their last nine games for an overall record of 7-9.
The once-powerful 49ers, winners of five Super Bowl titles, have not recorded a winning season in the last six years.
Martz, a proponent of a wide-open passing attack who steered the St. Louis Rams into the Super Bowl in 2001 as their head coach, left San Francisco on good terms.
"I had an outstanding conversation with Mike Singletary this afternoon," he said. "I believe he will be an outstanding head coach in the National Football League. I wish him nothing but the best. I am not what he is looking for offensively. I understand that. This is just a part of professional sports."
Martz was fired as offensive coordinator by the Detroit Lions in January, one week before being recruited by the 49ers.
Elsewhere, the Houston Texas have fired three of their defensive coaches after surrendering nearly 25 points per game this year.
Coordinator Richard Smith, backs coach Jon Hoke and line coach Jethro Franklin were dismissed two days after the Texans finished 8-8 for the second season in a row.
"They're all fine coaches," head coach Gary Kubiak said. "They're even better people. (This is) a very difficult day for them and their families.
"Difficult on this guy, too, but bottom line is I've made a decision to move in a new direction and want to give them the opportunity to do the same thing as quickly as possible."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
