SB Nation Denver - Eric Studesville Introduced As Interim Head Coach, COO Joe Ellis Discusses Josh McDaniels Firinghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48907/denver-fave.png2010-12-07T13:34:41-07:00http://denver.sbnation.com/rss/stream/16239812010-12-07T13:34:41-07:002010-12-07T13:34:41-07:00Broncos Press Conference: Spygate 'One Of Many Factors' To Fire McDaniels; Bowlen Relinquishes Day-To-Day Role
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<p>After Eric Studesville’s portion of the press conference ended, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Broncos</a> chief operating officer Joe Ellis answered questions concerning Josh McDaniels’ firing and the direction of the team. Ellis mentioned that Spygate was “one of many factors” that led owner Pat Bowlen to fire McDaniels. Bowlen came to that decision sometime Sunday night after the Broncos’ latest loss. According to Ellis, Bowlen found this decision the hardest one of its kind that he had to make.</p>
<p>Ellis repeatedly stressed that the team had placed an unfair burden on McDaniels by giving him so much responsibility. Ellis strongly suggested that the new head coach will not have as much responsibility thrust upon him and that a support staff will be in place.</p>
<p>Ellis also confirmed what has been speculated about over the past few weeks: “Pat [Bowlen] asked me to come down. He’s at a point in his life where he wants to take a step back, let someone else run day-to-day operations.”</p>
<p>The interregnum has started.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/denver-broncos/2010/12/7/1862027/broncos-press-conference-spygate-josh-mcdaniels-fired-bowlen-reduced-roleRuss Oates2010-12-07T13:19:35-07:002010-12-07T13:19:35-07:00Broncos Press Conference: Eric Studesville Wants To Bring Excitement Back To Broncos Players
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<p>During the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Denver Broncos</a>’ press conference today, interim head coach Eric Studesville spoke about the direction he will have for the team over the last four games of the season. Without getting into specifics, Studesville said, “A change has been made. With change comes adjustments. We’re going to do some things different.” He went on to say that the team will do small things on the day-to-day level to bring excitement back to the players.</p>
<p>On if he spoke with Josh McDaniels: “Josh wished me the best of luck and supported me.” Studesville also talked with Perry Fewell, who became <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Buffalo Bills</a> interim head coach in 2009. Studesville was on the Bills’ staff that year.</p>
<p>Studesville, who asked his wife about taking the position, admitted this is a great opportunity for him (“All I can [do] is my best, right here, right now”), but this team and its fans are his top priority: “My No. 1 focus for the fans is putting a product on the field that we can be proud of.”</p>
<p>Studesville was “surprised and humbled and honored” to become the Broncos head coach, but is now ready to play the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a> on Sunday.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/denver-broncos/2010/12/7/1861988/broncos-press-conference-eric-studesville-interim-head-coachRuss Oates2010-12-07T13:01:42-07:002010-12-07T13:01:42-07:00Ellis: John Elway Is A Business Consultant With Denver Broncos
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<p>During today’s press conference, chief operating officer Joe Ellis confirmed that John Elway is a business consultant with the Broncos and that Pat Bowlen would be interested in having Elway join in on football operations. However, talks between the two have not progressed beyond the very early stages of interest.</p>
<p>Listening to Ellis, it sounds as though Elway is very much interested in joining the Broncos in a larger capacity. During the conference, Ellis said, “Conversations we have had with Elway clearly indicate he loves the Broncos and loves Denver.”</p>
<p>As it stands, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Denver Broncos</a> are concentrating on the next four games right now, but are in the process of evaluating how to best structure the organization. If John Elway is brought in he will need support as it is unclear what role the team would offer him. Dan Marino had been brought in to work with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Miami Dolphins</a> and failed to understand what it would take to work in the front office.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/denver-broncos/2010/12/7/1861950/john-elway-business-consultant-denver-broncos-front-officeRuss Oates2010-12-07T10:52:47-07:002010-12-07T10:52:47-07:00Air Force's Troy Calhoun Ends Speculation, Re-Commits To Academy
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<p>Troy Calhoun will stay at the Air Force Academy and not be considered for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Denver Broncos</a>’ head coaching position. In a statement released earlier today, Calhoun re-committed to <a href="http://gazetteafasports.freedomblogging.com/2010/12/07/calhoun-re-commits-to-air-force/8402/" target="new">"coaching the Falcons in 2011 and beyond.”</a> It appears as though Calhoun wants to create a legacy along the lines of Fisher DeBerry’s, which came to a close in 2006.</p>
<p>The Denver Broncos will hold a press conference at 11 a.m. MT with Chief Operating Office Joe Ellis and interim head coach Eric Studesville. It will be streamed online at <a href="http://www.denverbroncos.com" target="new">DenverBroncos.com</a> and <a href="http://www.denverpost.com" target="new">DenverPost.com</a>.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/denver-broncos/2010/12/7/1861609/air-force-troy-calhoun-ends-speculation-re-commits-to-academyRuss Oates2010-12-07T09:35:57-07:002010-12-07T09:35:57-07:00Air Force's Troy Calhoun Could Be Broncos' Leading Candidate To Replace McDaniels
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<p>Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun could be a leading candidate to take over for the fired Josh McDaniels. The <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_16794541" target="new">Denver Post's Jeff Legwold speculates</a> that Calhoun is likely at the top of the list of candidates.</p>
<p>Calhoun, a <a href="http://www.goairforcefalcons.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/calhoun_troy00.html" target="new">graduate of the Air Force Academy</a>, coached for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Denver Broncos</a> from 2003-2005. He served as an assistant on offense, defense and special teams before leaving for Gary Kubiak and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.battleredblog.com/">Houston Texans</a> in 2006. He then moved to the Air Force Academy in December 2006.</p>
<p>Calhoun has led Air Force to the four winning records and four bowl games since he took over for Fisher DeBerry. While he employs the triple option at Air Force, Calhoun uses it because that is the traditional offense at the Academy under DeBerry. Given his experience in the NFL, Calhoun should be able to establish an NFL offensive scheme.</p>
<p>While <span class="sbn-auto-link">Joe Ellis</span> will likely dance around naming coaches during today's press conference, hopefully we'll be able to gain some hints at who the team will look at. No matter what, Troy Calhoun should be interviewed.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/denver-broncos/2010/12/7/1861412/air-force-troy-calhoun-candidate-denver-broncos-josh-mc-daniels-firedRuss Oates2010-12-07T07:35:28-07:002010-12-07T07:35:28-07:00Confrontation Monday Between Champ Bailey, D.J. Williams And Josh McDaniels Prior To Firing
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<p>Denver's CBS4 Sports Anchor Vic Lombardi <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/#!/VicLombardi/status/12025162887073792">tweeted </a>that there was a <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2010/12/7/1861068/josh-mcdaniels-fired-confrontation-champ-bailey-dj-williams" target="new">confrontation </a>during Monday's practice between head coach Josh McDaniels, cornerback <span>Champ Bailey</span> and linebacker D.J.Williams.</p>
<p>McDaniels was fired by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Broncos</a> after that practice.</p>
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<p class="bbpTweet">NEW INFORMATION: A Broncos player tells me there was a confrontation on the practice field today btwn Josh and Champ/DJ Williams.<span class="timestamp"><a title="Tue Dec 07 06:06:36 +0000 2010" href="http://twitter.com/#!/VicLombardi/status/12025162887073792">8 hours ago</a> via <a href="http://blackberry.com/twitter" rel="nofollow">Twitter for BlackBerry®</a></span><span class="metadata"><span class="author"><a href="http://twitter.com/VicLombardi"><img src="http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/1169119808/images_normal.jpg"></a><b><a href="http://twitter.com/VicLombardi">Vic Lombardi</a></b><br>VicLombardi</span></span></p>
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<p class="bbpTweet">Not exactly a mutiny. But the player described it as very heated and contentious. Something about wind sprints.<span class="timestamp"><a title="Tue Dec 07 06:08:27 +0000 2010" href="http://twitter.com/#!/VicLombardi/status/12025628593233921">8 hours ago</a> via <a href="http://blackberry.com/twitter" rel="nofollow">Twitter for BlackBerry®</a></span><span class="metadata"><span class="author"><a href="http://twitter.com/VicLombardi"><img src="http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/1169119808/images_normal.jpg"></a><b><a href="http://twitter.com/VicLombardi">Vic Lombardi</a></b><br>VicLombardi</span></span></p>
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https://denver.sbnation.com/denver-broncos/2010/12/7/1861153/josh-mcdaniels-fired-denver-broncos-champ-bailey-dj-williams-confrontationMizzou Hoops2010-12-06T22:33:34-07:002010-12-06T22:33:34-07:00Sources: Denver Broncos Want John Elway In Front Office, Interested In Texans' Kubiak
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<p>According to an <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81cb2e3b/article/broncos-fire-mcdaniels-name-assistant-studesville-interim-coach?module=HP_headlines" target="new"><span class="caps">NFL</span>.com report</a>, the <span class="caps">NFL</span> Network’s Michael Lombardi reports that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Denver Broncos</a> will approach all-time great and former Denver Broncos quarterback, John Elway, about joining the front office:</p>
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<p>Sources close to the Broncos told <span class="caps">NFL</span> Network’s Michael Lombardi that the team is expected to approach former Broncos Super Bowl hero John Elway for a front-office position and that if Gary Kubiak were available, he would be the team’s first choice to coach the team next season.</p>
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<p>Hiring Elway to be part of the front office would be a huge move toward bringing back the fan base with the Josh McDaniels era over. He would provide instant credibility to fans who long for the glory days of the Denver Broncos competing for Super Bowl victories.</p>
<p>Would the Broncos be interested in looking to the past for their next head coach? Gary Kubiak, currently the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.battleredblog.com/">Houston Texans</a>’ head coach, was Mike Shanahan’s offensive coordinator with the Broncos for over a decade. Kubiak became the Texans’ head coach in 2006 and led the team to a franchise-best 9-7 season in 2009. The Texans are currently 5-7 this season. The Texans would need to fire Kubiak for the Broncos to pursue him.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/denver-broncos/2010/12/6/1860787/sources-denver-broncos-john-elway-front-office-position-texans-kubiak-head-coachRuss Oates2010-12-06T21:59:20-07:002010-12-06T21:59:20-07:00Josh McDaniels Releases Statement On Firing
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<p>On Monday night, former <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Denver Broncos</a> head coach Josh McDaniels released a statement through the team:</p>
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<p>“I am very grateful to Pat Bowlen and the Broncos’ organization for giving me the opportunity to be the Head Coach of such a proud franchise. I would like to thank all of the people who helped us over the last two years. I am especially appreciative of the efforts of every player, coach and member of the personnel department who worked so hard every day. I wish Pat Bowlen and the Broncos’ organization nothing but the best in the future.”</p>
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<p>In the end, McDaniels led the Broncos the way he wanted to do it, and now he exits on Pat Bowlen’s terms.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/denver-broncos/2010/12/6/1860716/josh-mcdaniels-releases-statement-on-firingRuss Oates