Kiszla: If Peyton Manning the QB, Adam Gase better fit at coach than Gary Kubiak

Transcription

1 Kiszla: If Peyton Manning the QB, Adam Gase better fit at coach than Gary Kubiak By mark Kiszla The Denver Post Jan. 15, 2015 If the Broncos want a 39-year-old Peyton Manning to run their offense in 2015 rather than retire to a Tennessee porch and contemplate a run for governor, then John Elway's choice as the next Denver coach is a no-brainer. Give the job to offensive coordinator Adam Gase, who interviewed Thursday for the vacancy created when John Fox fled the scene of a criminally bad performance in the NFL playoffs. Oh, there would be risks in hiring Gase. This would be his first head-coaching gig at any level. There would be the inevitable, and unavoidable, growing pains. But if there is truly no Plan B, and Elway sincerely believes Manning gives Denver a legitimate shot to win the Super Bowl next season, then Gase should be named this franchise's next coach, far ahead of Baltimore offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn or anybody else we've heard about on the team's wish list. Although he's an undeniably bright and aggressive football thinker, the 36-year-old Gase is far from a fully mature coach. Dealing with championship-or-bust stress and media secondguessing from knuckleheads like me would be tiresome everyday challenges for Gase, whose personality burns hot. While the fingerprints of Manning were on the water balloons heaved at Indianapolis, only to land with an ugly splat harmlessly out of bounds, Gase must share responsibility for an offense that looked extremely uncoordinated while sputtering to 13 points in a bad playoff loss. Gase is not perfect. But he's close to a perfect fit for Manning. They share a pedal-to-themetal offensive mindset and have built three years of history, from hours in the meeting room to record-setting Sundays and agonizing defeats. Pass on Gase as head coach now, and you can bet he's bound for Atlanta or elsewhere to serve as offensive coordinator with a new NFL team. We hold these truths to be self-evident: As a quarterback, Manning hates what he doesn't know, strives to control every variable and is devilishly obsessive with the details. There's

2 not a veteran QB on the planet, even one as brilliant as Manning, that would relish acclimating himself to a new offensive system with one and two years remaining in his pro career. Yes, Kubiak also is adept at dealing with the big ego and little quirks of an NFL quarterback. That skill was apparent to me as far back as 1983, when I spent a day hanging out with Koobs, an eighth-round draft choice from Texas A&M that made the Broncos not so much because of his strong arm, but because he was smart on the sideline and savvy enough to know how to mesh with a fellow rookie named Elway. While Elway's inclination is to operate a franchise like a fraternity house in which he's the social chairman gives me pause to wonder if Kubiak would be just another buddy tagging along behind old No. 7, his contributions as Baltimore's offensive guru gave the Ravens the best chance of any AFC team to visit New England and beat the Patriots in the playoffs. Watching the Ravens play football this season was akin to attending a film festival featuring the greatest scenes from the latter years of Mike Shanahan as the Broncos' mastermind, at a time when his trusty assistant Kubiak served not only as the quarterback whisperer, but the buffer that prevented a testy relationship between Jake Plummer and Shanny from spontaneously combusting. Baltimore ran the zone-blocking scheme that propelled journeyman Justin Forsett to stardom, in a flashback to Mike Anderson's single-cut romps through the Denver line a decade earlier. There was an element of misdirection, with the Ravens often faking a handoff on the end-around, another classic Broncos blast from the past. And, most important, Kubiak put Joe Flacco in a position to think less and use his athletic gifts more, with the same bootleg schemes that made Jake one dangerous Snake when he led Denver to the AFC championship game during the 2005 season. Kubiak could make all that stuff work in Denver, as well. But you know what? That is an offense designed for the skill set of Brock Osweiler, who's big and raw and capable of scrambling for a first down to move the sticks. It's far, however, from the ideal offense for Manning, whose next bootleg is a limp to the doctor's office waiting to happen. Nobody in the NFL universe has better insight into what's going on these days inside the mind of Manning, whether it's what offensive plays make him tick or what routes on the passing tree will put the QB's old arm and legs too far out on a limb for comfort.

3 If Elway wants to get on with the Osweiler era, give the coaching job to Kubiak or Rick Dennison, another longtime friend who learned offense at the knee of Shanahan. But if the Broncos are intent on persuading their broken-down, Hall of Fame quarterback to take the band out on tour one more time and head down the road to the Super Bowl, then what are the words that will be music to the ears of Manning? The next coach of the Broncos is... Adam Gase.

4 Gary Kubiak will be Broncos GM John Elway's top candidate if he's willing to interview By Mike Klis The Denver Post Jan. 15, 2015 If Gary Kubiak will change his mind about becoming an NFL head coach again for his good friend John Elway, there appears to be little question that he will become the man to beat for the Broncos job. Elway, the Denver general manager, notified the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday night that he wanted to interview Kubiak, their offensive coordinator. After successfully transforming the Ravens' slumping offense this season, particularly in the running game, Kubiak was on the shortlist of head coaching candidates for several NFL openings. He seemed to turn down all opportunities last week, when he sent out a statement saying that he would stay with the Ravens in But then Elway put in a call. If Kubiak accepts the Broncos' offer to interview here, he would immediately become the top candidate, according to NFL sources. However, the Broncos are putting together a well-rounded search. The team will interview Cincinnati Bengals secondary coach Vance Joseph on Friday, according to an NFL source. A backup quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes during the early 1990s, Joseph is a rising star in the coaching ranks who just finished his 10th season as an NFL defensive backs coach with the Bengals after stints with Kubiak's Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers. The Broncos made numerous phone calls in the past 72 hours and Joseph's name kept coming up. The Broncos' own offensive coordinator, Adam Gase, got the first chance to pull off an upset he had the first official head coaching interview Thursday with Elway. Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, who spent all day Thursday interviewing for a second time for the Atlanta Falcons' head coaching job, was scheduled to meet formally with the Broncos on Friday. Kubiak, 53, has deep roots with the Broncos, beginning when he was Elway's backup quarterback in Denver from What's important about that relationship is Kubiak understood who was No. 1 and who was No. 2.

5 Head coach of the Broncos became available Monday in part because the relationship between Elway and John Fox had deteriorated. Elway is the boss. The head coach answers to the boss. Kubiak already has worked with Elway under a similar arrangement. Kubiak got into coaching after his backup quarterback days were finished, and he was the Broncos' offensive coordinator from That's 20 years with the Broncos and living in the Denver area. Kubiak and his wife of 31 years, Rhonda, raised three sons here. Klint, Klay and Klein attended Regis Jesuit High School. Klint and Klay played football at Colorado State. Klein, who moved with Mom and Dad to Houston before his sophomore year of high school in 2006, played at Rice. Kubiak was the head coach of the Texans from 2006 until the last month of the 2013 season. One reason Kubiak has been hesitant about again taking on the stress of being a head coach is the health scare he suffered in November 2013 while he was coaching the Texans. Kubiak collapsed while trying to walk off the field at halftime of a game after suffering from symptoms common with the early signs of a stroke. But Kubiak didn't take any time away from football. With the Ravens, he installed the Broncos' former zone-blocking, one-cut run system and Baltimore went from being 30th in the 32-team league in rushing with Ray Rice in 2013 to eighth this season with journeyman Justin Forsett. Elway believes in the zone-blocking, one-cut system. If Kubiak becomes the Denver head coach, don't be surprised if Baltimore quarterbacks coach Rick Dennison follows him to again be the Broncos' offensive coordinator, as he was from Ravens linebackers coach Ted Monachino could also have a chance to become Denver's defensive coordinator. It would also make sense for the Broncos to retain quarterbacks coach Greg Knapp, whose background is steeped in the zone-block rushing system. But first things first. Austin, 49, will get his chance. Known for his smarts, sense of humor and terrific defensive schemes, Austin has extensive NFL coaching experience. In his first season as the Lions' defensive coordinator in 2014, the Lions ranked No. 2 to Seattle in total defense, No. 1 against the run and No. 3 in points allowed. Gase was the first to interview. Promoting him wouldn't hurt Denver's chances of having quarterback Peyton Manning return for the 2015 season. They worked well together the past three seasons.

6 Gase nearly got the head coaching job with the 49ers, but they decided Wednesday to promote their defensive line coach, Jim Tomsula. Since the 49ers' announcement, Gase, 36, has been in heavy demand to fill six or seven of the league's open offensive coordinator positions. The Broncos also have interest in Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, but the Seahawks would have to lose Sunday to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC championship game for Denver to have a chance at interviewing him Monday or Tuesday. The Broncos would like to announce their head coach by early next week so they can begin to fill their assistant coaching positions before many of the quality candidates get hired elsewhere. Candidates The case for Gase Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase staying put would help the chances of quarterback Peyton Manning returning too. General manager John Elway interviewed Gase on Thursday. No quote from the Raven Denver is waiting to hear whether Gary Kubiak wants to become its head coach. He turned down other head coach opportunities last week, but the Broncos might be the team he would consider. Austin in the running Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin's unit was tops against the run this season (69.3 yards allowed per game) and second in total defense (300.9). He has an interview with the Broncos set for Friday. Waiting for Quinn The Broncos also have interest in Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, but the Seahawks would have to lose the NFC title game for Denver to have a shot at interviewing him Monday or Tuesday.

7 Adam Gase to get the Broncos' first head coaching interview By Mike Klis The Denver Post Jan. 15, 2015 Before they look at external candidates, the Broncos want to sit down with one of their own. Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase will be the first to interview for the team's head coaching position, according to two NFL sources. The Broncos head coaching job became vacant Monday after the team and John Fox mutually parted ways. The interview will take place Thursday afternoon. Gase makes sense for several reasons. One, his return wouldn't hurt the Broncos' chances of having quarterback Peyton Manning return for the Gase and Manning worked well together the past three seasons. Another reason is four other NFL teams San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta and Buffalo thought highly enough of Gase to interview him for their head coaching positions. Gase nearly got the head coaching job with the San Francisco 49ers, but the team decided Wednesday to hire its defensive line coach Jim Tomsula. Since the 49ers' announcement, Gase, 36, has been in heavy demand to fill a number of the league's offensive coordinator positions. Gase had an informal discussion with Broncos general manager John Elway on Wednesday about the Broncos' job. His sit down with Elway on Thursday afternoon is an "official" interview. The Broncos also will interview Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin for their head coach job on Friday and hope to interview Baltimore Ravens' offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak. The Broncos sent notification to the Ravens on Wednesday night of their intent to interview Kubiak. Denver is waiting to hear whether Kubiak wants to become its head coach. He

8 turned down other head coach opportunities last week, but the Broncos might be the one team he would consider. Kubiak, 53, has deep roots with the Broncos and general manager John Elway. Kubiak was Elway's backup quarterback in Denver from Kubiak got into coaching after his backup days were finished and was the Broncos' quarterbacks coach or offensive coordinator from That's 20 years with the Broncos and living in the Denver area. However, Kubiak was head coach of the Houston Texans last season when he collapsed while trying to walk off the field at halftime after suffering from symptoms common with the early signs of a stroke. Although Kubiak was successful as Baltimore's offensive coordinator in 2014, the head coach position adds several more layers of stress. Elway wants to see if he can ease Kubiak's concerns. Kubiak helped coach the Broncos' famed zone-blocking, one-cut run system and brought it with him to Houston. In his first year in Baltimore, Kubiak's zone style helped the Ravens go from 30th in rushing with Ray Rice in 2013 to eighth this season with journeyman Justin Forsett. Elway, a Bronco through and through, believes in the zone-blocking, one-cut system. If Kubiak accepts the Broncos' invitation to interview, he likely would become Denver's top choice, according to an NFL source. As the Broncos wait to see if Kubiak will accept the opportunity to interview, Gase and the 49-year-old Austin will get their chances. Austin has extensive coaching experience with major college programs (Penn State, Wake Forest, Syracuse, Michigan, Florida) and the NFL (Seattle, Arizona, Detroit). In Austin's first season as defensive coordinator in 2014, the Lions ranked No. 2 to Seattle in total defense, No. 1 against the rush and No. 3 in points allowed. The Broncos' head coaching candidates also are expected to include Ravens' quarterback coach Rick Dennison and possibly San Francisco defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and former Buffalo Bills head coach Doug Marrone. Quinn and Austin also are considered finalists for the head coaching position with the Atlanta Falcons.

9 On second thought, Teryl Austin decides against interview with Broncos By Mike Klis The Denver Post Jan. 16, 2015 No doubt a bit fatigued after going through five long head coach interviews with four teams, Teryl Austin notified the Broncos he would respectfully decline the opportunity to discuss their head job. Austin, a long-time position coach until he had a tremendous first season as defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, previously interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers. He had a second interview Thursday with the Falcons that lasted seven or eight hours. Austin and Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn are considered the two finalists for the Falcons job. After his interview in Atlanta on Thursday, Austin notified the Broncos he was declining their invitation to interview for their head job. It is well known within the NFL industry that Gary Kubiak is the Broncos top choice. The Broncos are interviewing Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Vance Joseph for the head job today. Joseph was part of Kubiak s coaching staff in Houston for three years. If Kubiak becomes the Broncos head coach, Joseph may get a chance to become the Broncos defensive coordinator.

10 Broncos to interview Vance Joseph, NFL secondary coach and ex-cu quarterback By Mike Klis The Denver Post Jan. 15, 2015 The Broncos have set out to compile a well-rounded group of head coaching candidates to replace John Fox. As the Broncos made numerous calls and gathered information, they discovered Vance Joseph is a potential rising star among the NFL coaching ranks. The Broncos will interview Joseph for their head coaching position Friday, according to two NFL sources. Colorado football fans will remember Joseph as a backup quarterback to Darian Hagan in , then to Kordell Stewart in 1993 before switching to defensive back in He played defensive back for two years in the NFL, then started coaching with CU before breaking into the NFL as a defensive backs coach for the San Francisco 49ers in Joseph, 42, has also coached defensive backs for the Houston Texans and Bengals. While most head coaching candidates make the step from the coordinator position, it is not unprecedented for position coaches to be hired as head coaches. Pittsburgh s Mike Tomlin, Baltimore s John Harbaugh, Kansas City s Andy Reid and San Francisco s Jim Tomsula all got their first head coaching gigs directly from position coach.

11 Emmanuel Sanders becomes 10th Bronco in Pro Bowl By Mike Klis The Denver Post Jan. 15, 2015 Broncos receiver Emmanuel Sanders has been added to the Pro Bowl. He replaces Atlanta s Julio Jones, who is bypassing the game because of injury. It s hardly a surprise that Sanders was next in line after he finished the season with 101 catches, 1,404 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns. Sanders becomes the fourth of John Elway s four major free agent players signed in 2014 to make the Pro Bowl team, joining defensive end DeMarcus Ware, cornerback Aqib Talib and safety T.J. Ward. In all, 10 Broncos are Pro Bowlers, tops in the NFL. The others: quarterback Peyton Manning, receiver Demaryius Thomas, tight end Julius Thomas, left tackle Ryan Clady, linebacker Von Miller and cornerback Chris Harris. The Pro Bowl game will be played Sunday, Jan. 25 at the Super Bowl site of University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. The two teams will be selected Wednesday, and the Pro Bowl practices will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

12 Broncos to interview Gary Kubiak By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com Jan. 16, 2015 ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, a former Broncos quarterback and longtime assistant coach, will interview for Denver's head coaching position this weekend, according to league sources. One of the Broncos' other top targets, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, has removed himself from consideration for the job, according to ESPN's Josina Anderson. Austin had a second interview scheduled with the Broncos on Friday. The Broncos were also scheduled to meet with Cincinnati Bengals defensive backs coach Vance Joseph on Friday. Joseph, who played and coached at the University of Colorado in nearby Boulder, has not been a coordinator in his career, but he is a coach who has been repeatedly recommended to the Broncos as the team went about comprising its list of candidates. He was also an assistant coach on Kubiak's staff with the Houston Texans. The Broncos wanted to talk to Joseph in the framework of the head-coaching job, but he is also considered a leading candidate to be Kubiak's defensive coordinator should the Broncos hire Kubiak. Several sources in the NFL's coaching community said Thursday night that Joseph would be a top-level pick as a defensive coordinator because of his ability as a teacher. Offensively, if Kubiak isn't able to bring current Ravens quarterbacks coach Rick Dennison - - another former Broncos player and assistant coach and Kubiak's offensive coordinator with the Texans -- with him if hired in Denver, many in the league believe Kubiak would want Kyle Shanahan for the position. Kubiak was John Elway's teammate with the Broncos from 1983 (Elway's rookie year) until Kubiak was also a Broncos assistant coach, as offensive coordinator, on Mike Shanahan's staff from 1995 to The biggest question with should Kubiak be hired in Denver is what it means for quarterbackpeyton Manning. Kubiak has almost exclusively coached a version of the West Coast offense in his time as a play-caller, and that offense, with the quarterback on the move plenty, is not one Manning has run in his career. Kubiak was the Texans' coach for eight seasons, going in regular-season games. The Texans went to the playoffs following the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Kubiak was fired after the team went 2-11 in its first 13 games of 2013.

13 What the new Broncos coach needs to expect By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com Jan. 16, 2015 ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos have opened their search for a new head coach in earnest. And the elephant in the room is that John Fox is no longer the team s head coach after four consecutive division titles, 46 regular-season wins, and one Super Bowl trip. So if that s not what executive vice president of football operations/general manager John Elway wants, what kind of coach would fit the bill? Well, it will be one who better know the job description. A guy who understands the key words Since Fox and the Broncos parted ways," there has been some surprise by the move from Elway. Perhaps folks just weren t paying attention. On the day Elway was first introduced in his current job -- Jan. 5, he said this; When you go back to the culture of the Denver Broncos -- and the culture is winning, and the culture is competing for World Championships -- we have been there before and we know we can do it." He said this at Tuesday's announcement of Fox's departure: I look for a guy that s very smart, that s competitive, that is aching to win world championships like I am." Moral of the story? If you don t want to live the Super-Bowl-or-bust life, don t accept the job. A guy who can work with Elway. A guy Elway wants to work with. Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is really the only guy who lives a life similar to Denver's coach, as his general manager is Hall of Famer Ozzie Newsome. Elway casts a big shadow in this city; he s a Super Bowl winning quarterback who's led the Broncos to countless comeback wins. He s seen his Super Bowl dreams shattered more than once, lived life in the fishbowl, and has felt what it took to finally hoist the trophy. As a result he s going to have some ideas on the topic. The buzz around the Broncos complex is that Elway and Fox were drifting apart on personnel matters a bit, and there were some who believed Fox didn t think his voice was being heard enough on those matters. That s often the tone of the discussion after a football divorce, but either way Elway and

14 new head coach have to get on the same page -- that like-minded area Elway talked about Tuesday. A guy who knows expectations await The Broncos have 10 players in the Pro Bowl. There s plenty to work with on a roster that has won 38 regular-season games over the last three seasons. Elway and Fox shook hands and parted ways not because of how things went between September and December, but because Elway and team CEO Joe Ellis did not like what the playoff exits looked like. I think if there is one thing that you would like to have and you want to feel, at least in the last game, you want to feel like you go out kicking and screaming," Elway said. When you re right there and I think two years in a row it didn t feel like we went out kicking and screaming because of the fact the way we played the last game." A guy who can embrace some change The Broncos have 17 free agents. The list includes two of the team s Pro Bowl selections in wide receiver Demaryius Thomas and tight end Julius Thomas. But it also includes starters such as defensive tackle Terrance Knighton, safety Rahim Moore, wide receiver Wes Welker, guard Orlando Franklin, tight end Jacob Tamme, tight end Virgil Green, and linebacker Nate Irving. Add in the will-he or won t-he decision quarterback Peyton Manning will make, and the Broncos will have to show plenty of flexibility as they usher in a new coaching staff to go with plenty of new faces on the roster.

15 Emmanuel Sanders gives Broncos 10 Pro Bowl selections By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com Jan. 15, 2015 ENGLEWOOD, Colo. Whoever the Denver Broncos hire as head coach, he could get a good look at some of the team's high-profile members in the Pro Bowl. Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders became the Broncos 10th Pro Bowl selection Thursday, when he was added to game to replace Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones. Sanders, who was part of the team's offseason free-agent haul, finished the season with careerbests in catches (101), receiving yards (1,404) and touchdowns (nine). Sanders catch total and yardage total were both fifth in the league. Sanders, who had not had a 100-yard receiving game in his four years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, had seven for the Broncos this season. Sanders has repeatedly called his signing in Denver as a career move "to wide receiver heaven." Sanders now joins quarterback Peyton Manning, left tackle Ryan Clady, cornerback Chris Harris Jr., linebacker Von Miller, cornerback Aqib Talib, wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, tight end Julius Thomas, safety T.J. Ward and defensive end DeMarcus Ware as Pro Bowlers. Sanders, Talib, Ware and Ward were all free-agent signings this past offseason, and only Ware is older than 28. It is why when executive vice president of football operations/general manager John Elway described the Broncos' head coaching opening as being so attractive earlier this week. I feel real good about our roster," Elway said. I think contrary to what everybody thinks we ve got a good roster here. We ve got a relatively young roster... So I feel great about our football team." Of the Broncos Pro Bowl selections, most will be back with the team next season. Manning has yet to formally announce if he will be back -- Elway told him to take five-six weeks" to make the decision -- while Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents. Elway has said he d like to work on new deals for both players, but the Broncos figure to use a franchise player tag on Demaryius Thomas if a multi-year deal can t be worked out.

16 As other teams circle, Broncos will formally interview Adam Gase By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com Jan. 15, 2015 ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- As several teams line up to interview Adam Gase for their offensive coordinator jobs, the Denver Broncos moved quickly to talk with him about their head coaching job. Gase, who met briefly with Broncos executive vice president of football operations/general manager John Elway on Wednesday, was set to interview for the job Thursday afternoon and into the evening, if necessary. Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin will interview with the Broncos on Friday. They have formally requested permission to talk with Baltimore Ravensoffensive coordinator Gary Kubiak. As of Thursday afternoon, the Broncos were still waiting to hear back from Kubiak, who announced this past weekend -- before the Denver job was open -- that he intended to stay with the Ravens. For Gase, the Broncos interview comes as several teams had begun to express interest in him as an offensive coordinator. Three of the four teams Gase interviewed with during the Broncos playoff bye week -- the 49ers,Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears -- have either hired head coaches or are closing in on a candidate. The Bears are nearing a deal with Fox, while the Bills hired Rex Ryan. Gase also interviewed for the Falcons head coaching job, which has yet to be filled. Those in and around the Broncos say Gase has drawn interest in recent days from a widerange of teams to be their new offensive coordinator, including two (49ers and Falcons) who interviewed him for their head coaching jobs. The St. Louis Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars have also expressed interest. In the two seasons Gase has called plays for the Broncos, they have averaged 34 points per game, including an NFL single-season record of 606 points in The Broncos also topped 40 points 10 times in the past two seasons combined and topped 50 three times, including in back-to-back games early in the 2013 season. What about the inevitable question about how Gase would fare without Peyton Manning as his quarterback? Well, Manning has said Gase would raise the level of any offense. His 55 touchdown passes in 2013 were an NFL record and six more than he had thrown in any other season. Manning has also reached out to other teams, including the Cleveland Browns last season, to vouch for Gase.

17 "I don't think you need me to sit up here and campaign for him," Manning said. "Last year I talked to a couple teams on the behalf of him that reached out to me. That may happen again, so I'm certainly glad to share my thoughts... He deserves it, I think teams that he talks to will be impressed.'' Gase is also respected in football circles. He's had stints with Nick Saban at Michigan State and LSU and former Rams coach Mike Martz in the NFL. He was also instrumental in the deconstruction of the Broncos' offense in 2011 to build a read-option look for then-starting quarterback Tim Tebow. If the Broncos went with Austin as their head coach, he would be far more apt to try to keep Gase on his staff. Kubiak would be more involved in the offense, and many with the team believe he would want to bring Rick Dennison, the Ravens wide receivers coach and Kubiak s former offensive coordinator with the Houston Texans, with him to Denver if Kubiak were hired. And as far as the other teams hoping to get a shot at Gase? The Rams have an unsettled quarterback situation and will likely ask Sam Bradford to restructure his contract. He is coming back from ACL surgery. Meanwhile, the Jaguars offer Blake Bortles, who threw 11 touchdown passes and 17 interceptions this past season as a rookie starter for a 3-13 team. And for the 49ers and Falcons, Gase is known to have thoroughly outlined to those teams decision makers how he would help elevate the play of Colin Kaepernick or Matt Ryan. But first, he gets his shot to talk with the Broncos.

18 Broncos' first looks go to Teryl Austin, Gary Kubiak By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com Jan. 15, 2015 ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- So far, as John Elway searches for what he has called "the best guy" for his next head coach, the Denver Broncos have zeroed in on two available candidates -- Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak. Elway, the team s executive vice president of football operations/general manager, also talked with Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase this week, but the conversation was not a formal interview. Elway has said Gase is a "candidate" for the job. Gase has interviewed with four teams for head coaching jobs, and has drawn interest from several teams, including the St. Louis Rams,Atlanta Falcons and the San Francisco 49ers, to be the offensive coordinator. Gase interviewed Tuesday, for eight hours, for the 49ers head coaching job, but was passed over when the team promoted defensive line coach Jim Tomsula. Austin will interview with the Broncos on Friday. This season, Austin s first as defensive coordinator, the Lions finished No. 2 in total defense, No. 2 in scoring defense, and No. 1 in rushing defense. They allowed just 69.3 yards rushing per game. The Falcons have interviewed Austin twice and the Chicago Bears also interviewed him. The Broncos, as of Thursday morning, were still waiting for permission from the Baltimore Ravens to interview Kubiak. The Broncos put in a request Thursday, per league rules, to interview their former backup quarterback and offensive coordinator. Kubiak was Elway s teammate with the Broncos from 1983 (Elway s rookie year) until Kubiak was also a Broncos assistant, as offensive coordinator, on Mike Shanahan s staff from 1995 to When describing the kind of head coach he was looking for, Elway said: "I look for a guy that s very smart, that s competitive, that is aching to win world championships like I am. And I think there are a lot of things. You want to get like-minded people. I think that helps a lot, or even to have a great conversation, agree to disagree, but come out with the right decision for what s best for the Denver Broncos, which is our main goal. I know there are a lot of quality candidates out there."

19 Broncos offer unique situation for next head coach By Arnie Stapleton Associated press Jan. 15, 2015 ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) John Elway is looking for the right man to fix a 12-4 team, not a 4-12 debacle like John Fox inherited four years ago. Instead of starting from scratch with high draft picks and low expectations, Denver's next coach will step into a win-or-else pressure cooker where Elway walks the talk on "Super Bowl or bust" and wasn't good enough. The next coach will be expected to execute Elway's mantra to "not only win now, but from now on" and to do so with or without Peyton Manning, who's mulling his football future after a difficult stretch run. It'll help the successful candidate if his teams can show more fire in big games, too. Elway said Fox's squads didn't go down "kicking and screaming" like they should have in a stunning loss to Indianapolis at home last week or in their 35-point demolition in last year's Super Bowl. The new coach will inherit a talent-laden roster featuring an NFL-best 10 Pro Bowlers. Only two of them are among Denver's dozen unrestricted free agents, too: Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas, whom Elway pegged as his top priorities once he finds Fox's replacement. This situation is a little like when Jerry Jones replaced Jimmy Johnson with Barry Switzer back in the 1990s and asked him to keep the Dallas Cowboys championship express rolling right along. "We've got a lot of work to do but we have a good roster, we have depth and talent," team president and chief executive officer Joe Ellis told The Associated Press. "And we get some of the injured guys back, Danny Trevathan, Brandon Marshall, who wasn't 100 percent healthy last Sunday, so we should be optimistic. "And I think our fans should be optimistic about where we go next year." That goal remains the Super Bowl, no matter who it is calling plays or who's under center, said Elway, who has asked Manning not to make a rash decision about his future.

20 The roster features the Thomases, Emmanuel Sanders and Ryan Clady on offense and a star-studded defense led by Chris Harris Jr., Aqib Talib, T.J. Ward, DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller, all of whom were selected, along with Manning, to play in next week's Pro Bowl. The Broncos are the first team since the 1996 Carolina Panthers to have four free agent acquisitions named to the all-star squad in their first year with their new team. Elway said he will dive into free agency again this offseason. He'll also have eight or nine draft picks, depending on compensatory selections. "I think it all makes it an attractive opportunity for the next head coach, I really do," Ellis said. "I think the situation here is good." The new coach will be asked to mesh his system and create a chemistry to put the Broncos over the hump, and the sooner, the better. "John feels, and I believe he's right, we've got a good roster in place and we can compete for a championship, OK? And if that's the case, which we believe it is, what's it going to take to close the deal?" Ellis said. "And hopefully during the search we can find somebody that can articulate the answer the way John wants to hear it so we can bring somebody in here who can take us to a world championship, and do it the right way." Elway's search began Thursday when he interviewed offensive coordinator Adam Gase, who was passed up a day earlier for the 49ers' job that went to Jim Tomsula. Elway also has an interview lined up with coveted Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, and he's asked the Ravens if he can interview offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, who was his backup QB in Denver from Elway told Manning he wants him back in 2015, but he's not necessarily searching for a coach who can persuade the five-time MVP to return for a fourth season in Denver. "Peyton Manning is one of the game's greatest players today and of all time, and a player like that is entitled to make his decision as he sees fit," Ellis said. Ellis said the new coaching hire is entirely Elway's call and he can't envision differing with his selection. "John Elway was signed on to make those decisions, and John has shown strong acumen in every area in his job since he's taken it on," Ellis said. "He's going to make the right choice and we're going to go forward with that choice."

21 Sanders becomes 10th Broncos player named to Pro Bowl By Arnie Stapleton Associated press Jan. 15, 2015 ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) Four days after calling his season a failure because it won't end with a parade, Denver receiver Emmanuel Sanders was selected to play in his first Pro Bowl. Sanders replaces injured Atlanta wide receiver Julio Jones. This gives the Broncos an NFL-best 10 Pro Bowlers, including four free agent acquisitions safety T.J. Ward, defensive end DeMarcus Ware and cornerback Aqib Talib are the others. That ties an NFL record set by the 1996 Panthers, who had running back Michael Bates, cornerback Eric Davis, linebacker Kevin Greene and tight end Wesley Walls make the Pro Bowl team in their first year with in Carolina. Sanders caught 101 passes for 1,404 yards with nine touchdowns all career bests in his first season in Denver, which he called "wide receiver heaven" upon his arrival last spring. The Broncos' 10 Pro Bowl selections tied a franchise record set in 1998, when John Elway led the Broncos to their second consecutive Super Bowl title. Other Broncos selected to play in next week's all-star game are: quarterback Peyton Manning, left tackle Ryan Clady, receiver Demaryius Thomas and tight end Julius Thomas. On defense, cornerback Chris Harris Jr. and Von Miller both made the Pro Bowl after returning from ACL surgery. Of course, having a talent-laden roster like this made it all the more of a bummer when the Broncos bowed out of the playoffs last week with a loss to the Indianapolis Colts at home. Elway is looking for a new coach after parting ways with John Fox a day later. Sanders went to the Super Bowl with the Steelers following his rookie season in 2010 when Pittsburgh lost to the Green Bay Packers.

22 John Elway wants Peyton Manning back with the Denver Broncos By Lindsay H. Jones USA TODAY Sports Jan. 14, 2015 ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Denver Broncos general manager John Elway is meeting with reporters a day after the team parted ways with head coach John Fox. Here is a recap of some key talking points. -- Elway began his media session by thanking Fox, on behalf of himself and Pat Bowlen, the Broncos' longtime owner. "It really was a good run. When I first got the job four years ago, first thing I had to do was hire a coach," Elway said. "John was the perfect guy for the job at that time. The tenaciousness, his exuberance, his energy at that time, it was perfect. It was perfect at the time. I would like to thank him and his staff for four great years. Didn't get where we wanted it to get in four years." -- Elway said he and Fox had, "a great relationship." But Elway said it became clear that he and Fox did not agree on "what it takes to get to the next level." -- Elway also met with quarterback Peyton Manning on Monday, a day after the Broncos' divisional round loss to the Indianapolis Colts. In that talk, Elway told Manning that he wants the quarterback to return to the Broncos in 2015, when Manning will be 39 years old, but he advised Manning to take a few weeks to contemplate his future. Elway said he told Manning they should meet again in four or five weeks to see where Manning was at. -- Elway declined to speculate about Manning's health, and if he believes Manning's body will hold up in Elway said he has not yet contacted any candidates about the head coaching vacancy. "We'll start that right when we get done here," Elway said. -- Elway said the qualities he is looking for in a new coach include someone who is, "Very smart, competitive and aching to win a world championship like I am," Elway said. -- Elway said he doesn't not have a timeframe for hiring the next head coach. He added that Manning will be consulted throughout the search. "Candidates will want to know where Peyton is," Elway said. "I'll tell them what I'm telling you right now. We don't know what he's going to do. We'll have to wait and see." -- Elway said Fox's coordinators, Adam Gase and Jack Del Rio, will be considered candidates for the Broncos' head coaching vacancy.

23 -- Elway was asked what had been missing from the Broncos that kept them from winning a Super Bowl with their 2013 or 2014 teams. Elway didn't mention specifics, but he was clear about how disappointed he was that the team played worse in the postseason than it did in the regular season. "There is no one person to blame. Everyone is a participant in this," Elway said. "We have not chosen to peak at the right time. We have come out of the gate a lot faster than we finished. For us to do what we want to do, win a World Championship like Mr. Bowlen wants us to do, we have to be peaking at the right time." -- Elway closed his 26-minute news conference by addressing his Super Bowl expectations. For Elway, that is the only goal that matters. As he has often in his four-year tenure atop the Broncos front office, Elway referenced back to his playing experience, acknowledging that it is a "huge jump" to go from just making a Super Bowl to actually winning one. Elway lost three Super Bowls early in his career before finally winning titles in 1997 and "I believe that because I've been there, and I've seen the difference," Elway said. "So I do believe that there is a huge jump from just getting there and having the ability to win it. Can I put my finger on it? No. But I was around it and I saw it, so whether I know it consciously or subconsciously, I know what it feels like and I know what it takes, especially with players and a coaching staff to be able to do that. That's something where I can only speak for myself because of the opportunities I was provided by the Broncos and what I learned then and what I'm applying now." Background Elway spent more than an hour meeting with Fox on Monday afternoon, after Fox had already met with his players, and together they decided their partnership would no longer work. Together, they met with the coaching staff -- one final act in a relationship that began in 2011, when Elway made hiring Fox his first move after the former quarterback took over the Broncos' front office. Once those meetings were over, Elway was ready to face the future -- one that he has made clear must include more chances to win the Super Bowl. The fact that Fox led the Broncos' to four AFC West titles wasn't enough, not when the Broncos went 3-4 in postseason since Elway's focus now is on hiring a new head coach, and that search will begin externally, though he is expected to try speak with offensive coordinator Adam Gase. That new coach will set the rest of the coaching staff.

24 Klee: 'Kicking and Screaming' must be Denver Broncos new slogan By Paul Klee Colorado Springs Gazette Jan. 15, 2015 ENGLEWOOD Sunday night as most of Colorado was barfing up its dinner, the door swung open to the Broncos locker room at Sports Authority Field. John Elway, the GQstyled general manager, was first to emerge from the losers' abyss. He wore a snazzy orange tie, of course, and the look of a father figure who wasn't angry, just disappointed. And isn't that always worse? I hope Elway let them have it. I hope he sounded like my dad the morning after I broke curfew after high school prom. I hope he told the players to sack up or ship out. "I don't know why we didn't have more fire," Elway said Tuesday. You and the rest of this orange-blooded state, No. 7. That's the singular question that lingers after the Colts whipped the Broncos so thoroughly it's safe to wonder if the Broncos have any pride left: Where was the fire? They showed up like a wet blanket. Blame John Fox, if you want. He's a convenient target, and media, especially, are drawn to the lowest-hanging fruit like seagulls to a beach picnic. Easy snack. Nom, nom, nom. But if millionaire athletes need a father figure to motivate them on Sundays, the Broncos have the wrong kind of athletes. It was obvious in a press conference at Dove Valley that Elway was disgusted, disheartened and, yes, disappointed in the Broncos' pathetic performance in the playoff loss to the Colts. "At least in the last game you want to feel like you go out kicking and screaming," Elway said. The Broncos went out like they were too cool for school. "It does fall on the players," Elway added. It mostly fell on Fox, who lost his job and probably will coach in Chicago instead of Denver. So after Elway identifies the next coach of the Broncos, here's a wish he identifies the type of thirsty competitors who share Pat Bowlen's only objective in three decades as owner.

25 "Plan A is still the same," Elway said. "That's to win a world championship." These Broncos don't handle chaos well. My dad, who has since forgiven me about the prom ordeal, asked to compare the Broncos locker room after the playoff loss to the Ravens and the playoff loss to the Colts. Those are the losses that sent Fox packing. After the Mile High Mistake against Baltimore, the locker room sat in a state of shock and utter disbelief. That one hurt. After the Colts defeat, it was more like a state of relief. These Broncos reminded me of the new, mellower crowd at Mile High. They acted as if success were preordained, as if a championship-caliber roster ensures a championship. The Colts scratched and clawed. The Broncos didn't kick and scream. "Disappointing," Elway said. Here are a few ideas to reverse the trend: - Bring back Peyton Manning under two conditions: He has proper health and the same drive to endure the grind of a 19-game season. "The bottom line is we want Peyton back," said Elway, who added that Manning would be involved with the coaching search. Unless Elway has a Pro Bowl quarterback hidden away in a Cherry Hills broom closet, I don't see another option at quarterback that guarantees 11 wins, Manning's career average. Do you? - Give Manning a blank check. "I've always taken a pretty accurate look and fair evaluation of myself," Manning said Sunday. If Manning, who will be 39, appraises himself as a $19 million quarterback, keep it that way. If not, trim his salary and spend the money on building a powerful offensive line. At 37 and 38, Elway won a pair of Super Bowls while playing behind five linemen who could have paved the Eisenhower Tunnel. - Cut ties with Aqib Talib and his massive contract. He's a better player than he showed against the Colts; he's also a polarizing influence in the locker room. After T.Y. Hilton rolled up Talib like a victory cigar and smoked him, Talib snapped at anyone who dared to question his performance. Players paid like stars must own it. - Pay Demaryius Thomas like the star he is. Also include a clause that states: If Colts cornerback Vontae Davis thumps you like he did again Sunday, the next game check goes to the charity of DT's choice. He's a charitable guy, anyway. Elway picked the right man to sweep up the mess left behind by Josh McDaniels. "John (Fox) was the perfect guy for the job at that time," Elway said. Now he needs the Mike Shanahan to his own Dan Reeves. "I think there is a huge jump from being in the Super Bowl and winning the Super Bowl," Elway said.

26 Fox wasn't the reason the Broncos have failed in their Super Bowl quest. Then what has been missing from the Broncos? It's a quality that sabermetrics and statgeeks can't quantify, so they don't like it. It's an attribute that folks who haven't competed in sports can't grasp, so they trivialize it. "Can I put my finger on it? No," Elway said. "But I was around it and I saw it." He knows what it is. If the Broncos go out, fine. But go out kicking and screaming. They didn't, and that's what is disappointing.

27 Ramsey: Peyton Manning losing battle with undefeated aging process By David Ramsey Colorado Springs Gazette Jan. 15, 2015 Peyton Manning has conquered four neck surgeries and 190 NFL opponents. He will not conquer age. No athlete wins this battle. Age defeated Michael Jordan, John Elway, Joe Montana, Wayne Gretzky and Patrick Roy. Manning will lose, too. The question is if age already has won. On Sunday, in a loss to the Colts that will long live in Bronco infamy, Manning wandered through an alarmingly pitiful performance. He spent the first half overthrowing Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. In the second half, his arm lost its power and accuracy, a bad combo. He looked every minute of his 38 years. He looked finished as an elite NFL quarterback. Those words might sound harsh, but John Unitas and Brett Favre once crossed the same finish line. If Manning has not completed his long, dazzling, inspiring run as one of the NFL's top five quarterbacks, he is perilously close. Yes, Manning played hurt Sunday against the Colts. But the Packers Aaron Rodgers played just as hurt (at least) against the Cowboys. Rodgers threw for 316 yards and three scores while leading the Packers to the NFC title game. The massive gap between Manning's and Rodgers' Sunday performances is easy to explain, and forgive. Rodgers is seven years younger than Manning. I don't want to watch a broken-down Manning play quarterback in Denver. I suspect most Bronco fans share my view. Little in sports is more painful than watching a once-stupendous athlete who fails to realize it's time to go.