Cleveland and Detroit’s respective terminations of Romeo Crennel and Rod Marinelli came as a surprise to no one ; had the New York Jets not terminated Eric Mangini yesterday, certainly there would’ve been an outcry from some quarters. But the Broncos’ decision to can Mike Shanahan after 14 seasons in charge of Denver is nothing short of what Chet Coppock would call “a bombshell”, despite the former Raiders assistant failing to win more than one playoff game since John Elway’s departure. While the Crypt Keeper points to Bill Cowher possibly succeeding Shanahan, ESPN colleague Woody Page argued earlier in the day that Pat Bowlen “doesn’t have the backbone to fire Shanahan.” Presumably, an apology column is being penned at this very hour.
Correction: they won one playoff game in the post-Elway era. They beat the Pats a few years ago, I think during the Plummer years.
indeed, Jan. 14, 2006. Denver 27, Pats 13. I certainly regret the error.