The end of a long road.

                        An era has ended in Denver.  The firing of Head Coach Mike Shannahan took many by surprise, but some  saw this one coming.  Could it have been the lack of post-season play for the past three years?  Possibly, but most  think the last straw was giving up a three-game division lead with three games left that finally ended Shannan's blue and orange days.  Say what you will about the man, but what he did for Denver was amazing.  Other than Mr. Elway, his name is probably going to be the most mentioned name in Bronco history. 

                      So where did it really go wrong for Mike?  I seem to go back three years ago, the year after Jake Plummer lead the broncos to the AFC Championship.  Shanny goes for a quarterback from Vanderbilt named Jay Cutler in the first round, basically telling Plummer his days were numbered.  Now, I am very excited about Cutler but when he made his starter debut I was not at all impressed, nor happy about forfeiting our playoff hopes and vowing to rebuild in mid-season.  I believe Denver was above a 500 record at the time and Plummer had one of his poor performances.  Cutler got the nod and started the rest of the season.  We finished with a 7-9 record when we should have at least made the post-season.  I used to believe Shannahan was a patient coach, but that was the year things took a nasty turn.  Please don't get me wrong about Cutler, I am a huge fan.  He will win this team Superbowl's once he gets a stable run game to back him. I just feel that Coach should have waited until the year after to start him.  Some say the experience was a good thing, but I beg to differ. 

                    That's not the only time Shannahan showed his lack of patience.  Remember a certain grey haired defensive coordinator by the name of Larry Coyer?  His first season with Denver was pretty descent.  Other than a few scary performances against Peyton Manning, he kept that defense in check.  After Shannahan fired him, we have been, to put it nicely, below average. 

                   Experiment after experiment went wrong for Mike and it proved maybe it was time to move on.  At one time a couple years ago, Champ Bailey was playing wide receiver.  Last year we had  Dominique Foxworth, a 175 pound corner-back, playing safety. Also, who could forget his gamble on Ohio State misfit, running back Maurice Clarett?  At the time, some of those moves seemed ok, but looking back, you start to put pieces together and agree with Pat Bowlen's decision. 

                   I admit, I was the last guy to want Mike Shannahan out of Denver, but now that Pat Bowlen pulled the trigger, I know it was for the best.  You will be missed Mike.