Shanahan Gets The Boot

Another National Football League Coach has been fired, what's new today in the NFL? We have already seen three coaches get fired ( Eric Mangini - Rod Marinelli - Romeo Crennel). You can put Denver Bronco (former) head coach on that list of unemployed. The Broncos fired Shanahan earlier today. 

This may have been one of the more surprising firings. Shanahan is one of only 3 coaches to ever lose a 3 game division lead with 3 weeks to go. Shanahan, 56, was 146-89 with the Broncos an he has won 2 Super Bowls. However, Shanahan was just 1-4 in the playoffs since Hall of Fame Quarterback John Elway retired in 1999. Many may have thought that Mike Shanahan was the "coach for life" in the Mile High City, but that was not the case. 

Shanahan was an offensive genius, but the defense was just disturbing to watch. The franchise goes out and gets all of the top free-agents and then they cannot compete on defense. Despite being in a week division in the first place, Denver had a 3 game lead going into Week 14. Then, just like the Dallas Cowboys, they did not show up against the San Diego Chargers (much like the Cowboys), and now they are sitting at home NOT IN THE PLAYOFFS. I mean how do you not show up for what is basically a "play in game" to get into the playoffs. 

I do think this firing was a little too fast. Shanahan was a class act who most people respect around the league. Along with Shanahan, former New York Jet's Coach Eric Mangini will get/do a great job wherever they land. That being said I think it was best for Shanahan to leave though because it gives him a chance of scenery if he gets hired somewhere. The Cleveland Browns seem to be looking in at Mangini, so Shanahan might land in Detroit (sorry Jason Garret) or he might land in Oakland if Al Davis fires Tom Cable. Then you ask, who is Denver's next coach Jamie? I say that Pat Bowlen had someone in mind before he made this move...so it is hard to tell. There is always a surprise, as Mortensen always says on ESPN. 

In conclusion, I would like to say that Mike Shanahan was a fantastic coach in Dnever. I was very surprised about the firing because I know everytime I read the Denver Post, all I hear is how good of a relationship Bowlen and Shanahan had. I think Shanahan will be a Hall of Fame coach someday and he will definitely land somewhere in the immediate future.