Broncos Fire Josh McDaniels

Added on Dec 07, 2010 by Scott in

NFL

It was only a matter of time. The Denver Broncos finally did the right thing yesterday and terminated head coach Josh McDaniels. Mired in the middle of a dreadful 3-9 season, the Broncos have regressed since McDaniels’ surprising 6-0 start in 2009. A series of draft day blunders, ill-advised trades, off the field issues and poor gameday coaching made owner Pat Bowlen’s decision an easy one. Running backs coach Eric Studesville will take over as interim coach for Denver’s four remaining games.

The hiring of McDaniels in January 2009 was deemed a bold move. At 32, he was considered by some pundits to be too green to assume control of both the sidelines and front office. The offensive coordinator of the Patriots record-breaking 2007 offense, McDaniels was a Bill Belichick disciple. However, like other former Belichick assistants, he was never able to achieve the same success as his mentor.

McDaniels traded away franchise quarterback Jay Cutler and stud wide receiver Brandon Marshall after alienating both players. He also dealt away running back Peyton Hillis to the Browns for first-round bust Brady Quinn, and shipped a 2011 fourth-round pick to the Pats for oft-injured running back Laurence Maroney. Hillis is having a pro Bowl caliber season with Cleveland. Maroney has been active for only four games and rushed for a paltry 74 yards.

Investing a first-round selection on Tim Tebow and getting fined $50,000 for failing to report a team employee who videotaped the 49ers walk-through in London were just two more transgressions that couldn’t be ignored. McDaniels’ privileged attitude and arrogant antics also rubbed many the wrong way. Bottom line: the negatives far outweighed the positives.

Texans head coach Gary Kubiak, who might be let go at season’s end, is rumored to be the leading candidate to permanently fill the vacancy. There are a handful of talented pieces in place, but whoever accepts the job will have to engineer a major overhaul in order to return the Broncos to the ranks of legit contenders.

Source: NFL.com