As a diehard Broncofan, I was shocked when a text came to my cell phone stating that Mike Shanahan had been fired from the Denver Broncos.  After 14 years, owner Pat Bowlen decided it was time for a change and needed a new direction.  After 3 years of picture perfect mediocre football (24-24 in those 3 years) it makes sense to make a change.  After watching the press conference earlier today, Bowlen looked like a fool.  I lost count on how many times he said that "it was time for a new direction" and refused to elaborate why.  His press conference was nothing more than another owner taking time and really saying nothing. 

I was troubled by Bowlen's message for a few reasons.  The first one is that he didn't clarify what was wrong with the direction the Broncos were going in.  Granted, as we Bronco fans know, mediocrity doesn't get it done.  Putting a defense on the field that gave up 152 points in its final 3 games is far from acceptable.  Why not just come out and say that?  Did he not want to throw his good friend Shanahan under the bus, and sugar coat the truth?  Does he think Bronco nation is full of idiots?  Just come out and say that you haven't liked what you've seen on the field for the past 3 seasons.  We can accept that.  Heck, even Shanahan admitted he didn't get the job done. 

The second, and maybe more troubling, is that he hasn't started any kind of coaching search, or settled on how the front office will be structured.  Are you kidding?  You make this decision less than 48 hours after the Chargers embarrassed your franchise and haven't thought about who the next coach would be?  This is beyond troubling for an organization that has had 3 coaches in 25 years.  I'm not saying to name your guy, but you decide to terminate a legendary figure in your organization and Bowlen came across as if he had no clue what direction he was going to take the search for a head coach, or a GM/VP of Player Personnel. 

Third, he mentioned that Jay Cutler told him he was not upset with the decision, which contradicts Cutler's quote in the Rocky Mountain News, that he doesn't like the decision at all.  Frankly, I believe what he said in the paper, and was paying lip service to the boss and telling him what he wants to hear. 

Overall, I think this is a decision that had to be made if Shanahan would not have given up the player personnel duties.  To borrow from Bill Parcells, he can cook, but isn't all that great at shopping for the groceries.  See drafts from 2001-2005 and 2007 is all the proof needed.  I don't see Shanahan giving that up, so the move was made. 

Bronco fans, we had better hope that Bowlen puts together an extensive search for the right coach.  If it's as bad as he looked today, we may become bottomfeeders in the NFL.