Is it time for the Broncos to move on from John Elway?

John Elway is notorious for having no Plan B. When the opportunity arose to sign Peyton Manning Womens Justin Simmons Jersey , Elway knew he must go all-in. When the team was embarrassed in Super Bowl XLVIII, he knew he needed to fix his defense. When the team surrendered in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs, he knew he needed a new head coach. All of those decisions led to the Denver Broncos winning Super Bowl 50. As Adam Malnati and I said on the latest MHR Radio Podcast, since Elway screamed, “This one’s for Pat,” it has never been more apparent that Elway has no Plan B that will put this team back on the right course. Given the last three seasons, he has no Plan A either.Fans are right to question whether the Broncos legend has any clue what he’s doing as the current president of football operations and general manager. That is especially true at quarterback, where he’s made repeated epic failures since Manning retired. In that same time period, after Manning, not a single free-agent signing by Elway has paid off. Up until this most recent draft class, Elway has amassed an impressive collection of player busts — not of the statue variety. Elway does share some of the credit for this year’s stellar 2018 draft class with a former head coach who took a role in the front office earlier this year. Speaking of the most recent draft, this was the class to get your franchise quarterback. But there was allegedly only one who caught Elway’s eye: Sam Darnold. That highlights something that doesn’t wash. As a player, Elway never left anything to chance. He made the impossible happen no matter the circumstances. But Elway hasn’t followed that approach with the quarterback position post-Manning. Other than the move he made to acquire Paxton Lynch, Elway has followed a sit-back-and-relax strategy. We watched the New York Jets jump over Elway and the Broncos to get the quarterback Elway was fond of. There were no bold moves. He didn’t do what the franchise needed by acquiring a rookie quarterback who could lead the team into the future. Instead, he pinned his hopes on another trash quarterback who will likely have a short-lived role with the team. Then there’s Elway’s decision to not only hire Vance Joseph, but bring him back for this season. And what about the decision to jettison Wade Phillips in favor of Joe Woods?It would have been easier to list the things Elway has done well since Manning retired. Bringing Gary Kubiak to the front office is about the only thing I can think of, and I’m not sure that was Elway’s decision. There is no doubt the Broncos need to fire Joseph and get his incompetence as far away from the franchise as possible. Might as well give Woods the axe as well. As for who replaces Joseph, go with Tom McMahon, who has coordinated the only functional unit for Denver since training camp. Allow McMahon to do for the Broncos what he’s done for the special teams. Once the season is over, go all-in on hiring Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator John DeFilippo as the next head coach. That’s only the start — Denver needs to contemplate moving on from Elway. There has been talk about moving Kubiak back down to the field to replace Joseph. However, Joseph is merely a symptom of the larger affliction. Joseph didn’t hire himself, bring him back for a second season or make all of these horrible personnel decisions. That rests with Elway. The other aspect to consider in all of this: Will a new head coach, who wants the ability to make personnel/roster decisions, be able to coexist with Elway? There was a time not that long ago where this rank failure would be unacceptable. Moves would be made to correct these constant embarrassments. Since Manning retired, Elway has been given the benefit of the doubt time and time again. That tends to happen when your legendary resume includes a Super Bowl win and playing in two Super Bowls in three seasons — not to mention a Hall-of-Fame playing career. But in a “what have you done for me lately league,” Elway couldn’t lead the Broncos in the right direction with a compass, map and tour guide to assist him. This all reminds me of the “lifetime contract” Mike Shanahan had in Denver. Pat Bowlen still made the tough but necessary decision to move on from the coach who brought the first two Super Bowl wins to his franchise. That’s the bigger issue right now: Mr. B is no longer there to make the tough decisions. There is no leadership at the top. For all intents and purposes, the Broncos are a headless horseman. If Bowlen were around, he would know the move that needs to be made, and he would make it no matter how tough or unpopular it may be. If it needed to happen, he would move on from Elway. The MHR Radio Podcast is now on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Acast, Stitcher, TuneIn and a few other podcast hosts. Please subscribe to the one that fits your fancy, and also rate and review what you hear.NFL Power Rankings: Week 6 Another week down, and another week of despair for Broncos Country. What in the world did we just witness on Sunday? Sure, I predicted in last week’s rankings that the Broncos would lose and be on a 4 game skid that ends in Arizona. But after seeing how lifeless our offense was and how gashed our defense was, I’m having a really hard time believing this current 3 game skid (and lets be real, the Rams will trounce us) won’t turn into a 6 game losing streak as the Broncos enter the bye.Recently we held a QB roundtable and I voiced my thoughts on what needs to be done. In the comments, someone was talking out their ass about why you don’t turn to Kelly because of his draft status and that he was never evaluated worth a damn (i.e. lack of talent). My response was:Later down when people contested my stance, kindsvaderpulled in some articles about Chad Kelly saying he’s the best senior QB in the nation and then Mike Mayock saying that Denver just got a 1st round QB. Here’s the thing: Yes, I realize a change at the QB position wont solve this team’s problems. But it sure will be a step in the right direction. The coaching staff needs to be put out to pasture or be told to coach as if they aren’t afraid of losing. If we can devise a scheme that makes Von Miller invisible for 4 straight weeks, to me, that’s on the coaches. If we stick our players in such awful positions to have enormous play after enormous play unfold as we stand helpless, that’s on the coaches. So yes, I know a change at the QB isn’t everything, but its a start. Brandon Marshall is either hurt or simply lost 10 steps and needs to bebenched. Roby needs help big time. Von needs to be allowed to attack the QB.Bolles needs to be benched, and our QB needs to be swapped out. Bill Musgrave needs to coach like he’s not afraid either. If we can do that, then we have a shot atturning this season around. But the catalyst needs to start at the team’s most important position: Quarterback and trickle down from there.Again Authentic Von Miller Jersey , the Cardinals signed a high money QB only to make the change when it was clear it wasn’t working. The Browns did the same. Is Vance Joseph really that scared and spineless to make last year’s mistake yet again? If he doesn’t see this team taking on water, then he needs to be the first head coach to be fired, because he’s too dense and dumb to get out of his own way. But we sank Kubiak’s last season by sticking with a loser at QB for far too long. We sank Joseph’s first season by sticking with a loser QB too long. Are we really watching him make the exact same mistake and sink his second and likely last season by sticking with a loser QB too long? If the freaking Browns and Cardinals can figure it out, then the Broncos need to be able to or we’re even worse than those two teams have been (and they’ve been baaaaaaaad). Now onto the rankings. Remember, I’m ranking teams as they stand TODAY. Not a culmination of last year or the last decade. If they look like they are world beaters today, they’ll be ranked high regardless of what their record is. After-all, if we went by record alone, then Power Rankings wouldn’t exist!1. Los Angeles Rams:I still put the Rams here even though they sometimes go the distance. Like the Chiefs v Broncos, the Rams barely squeaked by a division foe. Simple as that.2. Kansas City Chiefs:As I thought, the Chiefs whipped up on the Jags. This team is LEGIT and yet more proof that just because you have a super young and unproven QB starting, it doesn’t mean you gave up on the season. ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION JOHN ELWAY AND VANCE JOSEPH?!?!?3. Jacksonville Jaguars:There’s no shame in losing to the Chiefs. Especially in Arrowhead.4. New England Patriots: Welcome back to the lofty perch you’ve been sitting on for the last 17 years. Once again, this team looks to start tightening their grip on the necks of their AFC East foes as they start dominating a pathetic division once again.5. New Orleans Saints:Drew Brees is one of the best ever. I remember always debating the “we should try to get Brees” from New Orleans talk the last few years. Hey Scotty, you always tell me “he’s too old” and “he’s declining so we should stay away”. Umm, hows that looking now? I’ll take 43 points from our QB, you wouldn’t?6. Baltimore Ravens: Are the Browns better than the Ravens? Maybe, but I need to see more from both sides consistently. This is why the Ravens are still here and the Browns aren’t above them.7. Minnesota Vikings:Stupid Eagles. That is all.8. Chicago Bears:Welcome back from your Bye. You moved up slightly via everyone else sucking.9. Carolina Panthers:Don’t look now, but they are finding their offensive groove. That can make this team really scary. 10. Green Bay Packers: How much do you drop a team for 4 missed FG’s? They say kickers aren’t players, so I want to not really punish them. But then again, QBs are no longer players either, they’re cupcakes. But 4 missed FGs is 4 missed FGs. And a loss is a loss. Especially to Detroit. 11. Cleveland Browns:They won a divisional game at home against the Ravens. Divisional games are always coin flips. Their defense held the Ravens to 9 points, which is amazing. Their offense only scored 12, which isn’t the best, but the Ravens are really good. If this team can keep their defense stout and their offense rounds into form, 11 will be the lowest they are the remainder of the year. See what Baker is doing? How will Chad Kelly not be that for Denver? How?12. Pittsburgh Steelers:You’re really messing up my “Tomlin gets fired and Elway hires him to win us some Super Bowls” strategy there Pittsburgh. So stop winning!13. Philadelphia Eagles:If the Eagles aren’t proof that the team that ended the year isn’t the same team that enters the new year, I just don’t know what is.14. Cincinnati Bengals:Congrats, you beat the Dolphins, which is no hard feat! I’ve called the Dolphins frauds all year, and they’re proving their 3-0 start was as much of a fluke as Denver’s 2-0 start.15. Atlanta Falcons:Attention NFL teams who are struggling: Play the Falcons, and you’ll win. What’s that movie called? With Jessica Alba? Oh yeah, “Good Luck Chuck”... where anyone who dates Dane Cook, well, the next person they date they marry. This is the Falcons. Anyone who plays them, breaks their losing streak.16. Los Angeles Chargers:Don’t look now, but the Chargers are trending up at 3-2.17. Detroit Lions:Eh, call me un-inspired. 18. Tennessee Titans:I don’t remember who gave me crap about the Titans being ranked so low. Said to keep ranking them low so they can make me eat my words... How’s that working out for the Titans? 19. Indianapolis Colts:These guys still have a lot of work to do. They need their offensive weapons back, and they really need to protect Andrew Luck better.20. Washington Redskins:I never thought I’d see the day when an NFL record was broken and it wasn’t against the Broncos. So thank you Washington for being on the wrong side of history this time. 21. Dallas Cowboys:This is surely too high of a ranking, but everyone else isn’t reallyany more deserving as of yet.22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Stay safe Tampa. That’s all. Just stay safe.23. Seattle Seahawks:Normally I really want to see the Seahawks lose (Never Forget 48), but I REALLY wanted to see them lose Sunday so I wouldn’t have to put the Chiefs as the best team in the NFL. Whew, thanks for dropping the ball Seattle.24. Miami Dolphins:See Tampa. Stay safe. 25. Houston Texans:Nice win, now put a few more together guys!26. Buffalo Bills:Holy crap, am I really seeing the Bills on these rankings before I’m seeing Denver? Yep, this isn’t a typo. The Bills often times look like they don’t even know how to play football, yet here they are.27. New York Giants:Giants unraveling Week 5 edition. Or is it like, week 32 edition? It’s been a few year of this. 28. New York Jets:Crowell - 219 yards rushing. Need I say more?29. Denver Broncos:Please, for the love of everything holy, when the Broncos are down by 20+ at halftime, can we stop this madness of trotting out Siemian Keenum and make a damn change to spark the offense and motivate the defense? Or have you really learned NOTHING from last year VJ? 30. Oakland Raiders:Well, at least when it gets really really dark in Broncos Country, we can count on the Raiders losing. 31. Arizona Cardinals:The only real question here is “after they surely beat the Broncos, will they still be second to last? Will the Broncos be ranked 32?” 32. San Francisco 49ers:The prophecy has come true: #1 overall pick for the 49ers coming up.